Radio Drama Revival

Showcasing the diversity and vitality of modern audio drama

Fred’s Fuze: A Canticle for Leibowitz

By

Sansa FuzeTitle: A Canticle for Leibowitz
Author: Walter Miller, Jr. (Adapted)
Producer: NPR
Type: Audio Drama
Genre: Adaptation of a Novel
Availability: Hard to Find

My Two Cents: Hats off to Chris Dueker for getting me a copy of this classic series released by NPR. Listening to this is tragic not just because of the story (which is a powerful testament to the screwiness of our species and the solipsism of our world), but because this kind of work isn’t being produced anymore. NPR captures a remarkable and distant sound here that isn’t BBC or OTR or anything resembling MAD. It’s its own vibe which sadly only captured by this remarkable drama.

If you’ve never read the novel, A Canticle for Leibowitz is one of the earliest post-apocalyptic stories set in a nuclear future where monks preserve the last bastion of knowledge for when humans will be fit enough to appreciate it again. Imagine Fallout if instead of ultra-violence the protagonists were pacifists. Like, if Mad Max had gone into the priesthood instead of grabbing a dune buggy.

The whole “sound” of Leibowitz is much different than many productions today — the whole audio portrait is subdued, quiet, understated. Compare than to the flash-bang of Hollywood and even most audio drama today. The simple, sparse sound effects and pervasive but muted music underscore a simple time, of simple people, where the truth of the story is allow to bubble up rather than smash you in the face with a mallet. I’m in love with Carol Colin’s narrator. She has transformed the entire idea of the narrator in audio drama.

I’m not sure where you can legitimately get this nowadays, but I recommend you do. It’s an epic journey (7.5 hrs) but well worth the trip.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. ianc says

    I second this heartily. One of my favorite novels and one of my favorite adaptations into an audio work. Well worth the eight hour journey.

  2. Lise says

    I have been trying to find this recording for years. I heard it on NPR when it was originally broadcast. I can’t remember how long ago that was, but it was way before podcasts or even desktop computers. If anyone knows where to get it, please post it here.

  3. Fred says

    HHmmm… I have a copy that is grey market – I suspect that it’s one of those things you need to search for on eBay. If only NPR was doing more shows like this today!

  4. Rosanna says

    I was hearing about this everywhere and was intrigued. I have this thing about apocalyptic drama… from “On the Beach” all the way to the current “We’re Alive”.
    Like you said; I couldn’t find it anywhere.
    But there’s quite a few left on Ebay at this time and I await my copy.
    Very cool.

  5. Fred says

    Great! The effort to hunt this production down will be well worth your time – it’s a spectacular show, really shows you what NPR *could* be doing if they chose to invest in radio drama

  6. sonesta says

    Just finished listening to this marvellous dramatic production of one of the books that I have always treasured. What a marvellous interpretation. And the narrator is just incredible, as are the actors. Truly first class.