History YMMV / ACanticleForLeibowitz

* TechnologyMarchesOn:
** At one point, Abbot Zerchi turns off a television with such anger that he breaks the knob off. Possibly justified in that this occurs almost 1800 years in the future, after technology has re-emerged.
** Anti-ballistic missile systems started emerging in the 1970s, more than a decade after publication. The Asian Coalition would have to be very sneaky or very lucky to [[spoiler:surprise-nuke Texarkana]] if anything like NORAD was re-emerged. On the flip side, even today low-altitude cruise missiles are tough to detect and neutralize.

%% ** Also Abbot Zerchi in Fiat Voluntas Tua.
* {{Tearjerker}}:

-->"Sic transit mundus." (Thus passes the world.)

* ValuesResonance: Today [[http://www.businessinsider.com/a-priest-has-found-a-unique-method-of-combatting-isis-2016-1 Catholic clergy are still preserving the legacy of the past from those who want to destroy it]]

** Anti-ballistic missile systems started emerging in the 1970s, more than a decade after publication. The Asian Coalition would have to be very sneaky or very lucky to [[spoiler:surprise-nuke Texarkana]] if anything like NORAD was re-emerged. On the flip side, even today low-altitude cruise missiles are tough to detect and neutralize.

* IAmNotShazam: There are some tantalizing hints that the Old Jew may be [[spoiler:Leibowitz himself]] at first (note the Hebrew initials he scrawls on a rock - [[spoiler: L.Tz.]]) but later in the story he denies this and explains he's only a distant relative.

* {{Anvilicious}}: Surprisingly averted, especially given the focus on the Catholic Church.
** There ''is'' a considerable anti-euthanasia tract in ''Fiat Voluntas Tua'', but even then the people on either side of the argument are both portrayed as having nothing but the best intentions.

** There ''is'' a considerable anti-euthanasia tract in ''Fiat Voluntas Tua'', but even then the people on either side of the argument are both portrayed as being having good intentions.

** Abbot Zerchi trying to persuade a mother not to euthanize her child. The child is stated to be so badly burned by the atomic blast that her gender is not apparent until her mother refers to her as such. Also note that the mother is referred to as "the girl," (implying she is very young herself) and has also been diagnosed as so irradiated as to be untreatable.

** There *is* a considerable anti-euthanasia tract in ''Fiat Voluntas Tua'', but even then the people on either side of the argument are both portrayed as being having good intentions.

* HarsherInHindsight: A large portion of the last section's plot has the main character strenuously advocating against euthenasia, arguing that life is too sacred to destroy for "convenient mercy." The author Walter M. Miller would eventually commit suicide after suffering a severe crisis of faith.

* HarsherInHindsight: A large portion of the last section's plot has the main character strenuously advocating against euthenasia, arguing that life is too sacred to destroy for "convenient mercy." The author Walter M. Miller would eventually commit suicide.

** Also Abbot Zerchi in Fiat Voluntas Tua.

** Abbot Zerchi trying to persuade a mother not to euthanize her child. The child is stated to be so badly burned by the atomic blast that her gender is not apparent until her mother refers to her as such. Also note that the mother is referred to as "the girl," (implying she is very young herself) and has also been diagnosed as so irradiated as to be untreatable.

** [[DownerEnding The ending.]]

** The fate of Emily/Emma Leibowitz and the trapped people in the shelter Francis finds.

%% ** [[DownerEnding The ending.]]
** Abbot Zerchi trying to persuade a mother not to euthanize her child. The child is stated to be so badly burned by the atomic blast that her gender is not apparent until her mother refers to her as such. Also note that the mother is referred to as "the girl," (implying she is very young herself) and has also been diagnosed as so irradiated as to be untreatable.

* JerkassWoobie: '''''Brownpony.'''''
** Also Abbot Zerchi in Fiat Voluntas Tua.

** Also Abbot Zerchi in Fiat Voluntas Tua.
* WhatHappenedToTheMouse: The fate of Benjamin (and his true nature) is left unclear, as is that of Rachel.