“Passion for Leibovitz” is a book that is recommended for reading at the philological faculties of universities around the world. This is a bright representative of the post-apocalyptic genre, which raises issues that are relevant at all times.
Writer Biography
Little is known about the life of the author of one of the most important books of world science fiction. Walter Michael Miller Jr. was born on January 22, 1922 in the American town of New Smyrna Beach in Florida. His parents were convinced Catholics, and the boy was brought up in an atmosphere of deep religiosity.
After school, Walter Miller continued his studies at the University of Tennessee, but his plans were hindered by the entry of America into World War II. As a radio gunner, the future writer made more than fifty sorties in Europe and the Balkans.
One of the most dramatic events in Miller’s life is associated with military service. In 1944, he took part in a barbaric bombardment that razed the Monte Cassino Monastery, founded in the 6th century by Saint Benedict himself. For a Catholic believer, this was a serious shock. Later in the novel “Passion for Leibovitz” he will turn to this memory.
After the war, Miller graduated from the University of Texas at Austin and got married to Anna Louise Becker. He began to write fantastic stories after he had an accident in a car. In total, two collections and one Miller's novel Passion for Leibovitz were published during his lifetime. The book ending the cycle, "St. Leibowitz and the Wild Horse", the writer did not have time to finish. Terry Byss did it for him.
Creating a novel
By 1955, Walter Miller wrote more than thirty stories that were published in science fiction magazines. Already in the writer's early works, the theme of lost scientific knowledge and its preservation is touched. The novel “Passion for Leibovitz” consists of three such revised stories.
The first one was published in the journal Fantasy & Science Fiction. A year later, continued, although at first Miller did not plan this. When the third story was published, the writer realized that he had created the finished work.
In 1960, a hardcover novel, Passion for Leibovitz, was published, and reviews from readers and critics were enthusiastic. A year later, he was awarded the prestigious prize in the field of science fiction literature "Hugo".
Post-apocalyptic as a genre
The first book, which can be attributed to the post-apocalyptic, was written in 1926 by Mary Shelley, the author of the famous "Frankenstein." It was called The Last Man. But the genre gained popularity after the Second World War. He was approached by such prose masters as Jack London, Herbert Wells, Roger Zhelyazny, John Christopher.
Post-apocalyptic works take place in a world whose civilization has been completely or partially destroyed by a global catastrophe. It can be nuclear weapons, man-made disasters, natural disasters. Gloomy colors and pessimistic moods prevail.
Plot of the novel
The action of the novel by Walter Miller's “Passion for Leibovitz” is stretched in time for a whole millennium. After nuclear apocalypse, mankind has revolted against scientific and technical discoveries. And only monks from the Albertian Order of St. Leibowitz are trying to save grains of knowledge of a deceased civilization.
Members of the order do not understand even half of the words in technical documents that accidentally fell into their hands. But, as in the Middle Ages, they become custodians of knowledge and culture.
Each part of the novel has its own time and characters. But they are interconnected by the main topics of the book, by finding the answer to the question of what is salvation for mankind. Miller masterfully intertwines religion, philosophy, history and science.
His whole romance, even the darkest and most tragic parts, is permeated with love for man and faith in the power of his mind and will. At the same time, the author seasoned the text with a touch of humor and irony. In the last part of the novel, humanity closes the circle, repeating the same mistakes that led to the disaster. The question of whether Earth civilization has a future remains open.
“Passion for Leibovitz” was a significant milestone in the development of science fiction literature. They inspired the authors of later books, movies and video games. Walter Miller remained in the memory of readers as the author of just one novel. But this book had a great impact on world culture.