Saint Leibowitz and the Wild Horse Woman
Cover of 1997 Bantam Dell Pub Group paperback book.
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| Author |
Walter M. Miller, Jr. Terry Bisson |
|---|---|
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Genre | Science fiction novel |
| Publisher | Bantam Dell Publishing Group |
| Media type | Print (paperback) |
| ISBN | |
| OCLC | 36581949 |
| 813/.54 21 | |
| LC Class | PS3563.I4215 S25 1997 |
| Preceded by | A Canticle for Leibowitz |
Saint Leibowitz and the Wild Horse Woman (1997) is a science fiction novel written by Walter M. Miller, Jr. It is a follow-up to Miller's 1959 book A Canticle for Leibowitz. Miller wrote the majority of the novel before his death in 1996, and it was completed based on Miller's notes and outlines by Terry Bisson.
The novel is set chronologically some eighty years after the events of the second part of A Canticle for Leibowitz, "Fiat Lux" (c. 3254 AD).
In the novel, the city of New Rome has been captured and allowed to decay by the Empire of Texarkana, led by the emperor Filpeo Harq. The Papacy, in exile from New Rome, now resides in the city of Valana. The story chronicles the plan of a cardinal-deacon and his closest allies to unite the remaining independent nations in North America against the Empire, and to restore power to the Church.
The main character of the novel is Brother Blacktooth "Nimmy" St. George, a monk at Leibowitz Abbey. Brother Blacktooth, a former Nomad, is fluent both in Nomadic and Churchspeak. Unsatisfied with his job as a translator of ancient texts, and haunted by his roots as a Nomad, Blacktooth becomes increasingly restless. He feels pulled between the two societies: that of the church, and that of the wanderer. Blacktooth's reputation as a misfit compels the Abbot of Leibowitz, Jarad, to seek his expulsion from the order, while Blacktooth's unique linguistic skills attract the attention of the visiting Cardinal Elia Brownpony (called the Red Deacon since he was never ordained as a priest). Brownpony requires a translator in his travels in order to deal diplomatically with unruly Nomad tribes, the Grasshoppers and Jackrabbits. Thus, Cardinal Brownpony decides to enlist Nimmy's services, saving him from disgrace at the hands of Jarad.
Brownpony and Nimmy set off to the conclave, along with Brownpony's other servants: Wooshin (aka "Axe"), a mysterious warrior from the Orient, and Chur Hongan (aka "Holy Madness"), his Nomadic driver. Soon afterward, the reigning Pope dies. A conclave of cardinals is called to elect a new one, including a Cardinal Abbess from N'Yok (New York). The Church had been exiled from the holy city of New Rome in previous decades because of an invasion by the king (or "Hannegan") of Texark. As a result, all papal affairs were conducted in the city of Valana, beyond the reach of the Texark empire.
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