Walter M. Miller Jr.
Walter M. Miller Jr.
=====================
Full Name and Common Aliases
---------------------------------
Walter Michael Miller Jr. was an American science fiction author, best known for his novel A Canticle for Leibowitz, a post-apocalyptic tale of survival, hope, and redemption.
Birth and Death Dates
-------------------------
Miller was born on January 2, 1923, in New Haven, Connecticut, and passed away on June 9, 1996, at the age of 73.
Nationality and Profession(s)
---------------------------------
Nationality: American
Profession(s): Science fiction author, novelist, short story writer, essayist
Early Life and Background
------------------------------
Miller was born into a family of modest means. His father, Walter Michael Miller Sr., was an insurance salesman, while his mother, Elizabeth (née Miller), was a homemaker. The young Miller was raised in a devout Catholic household, which would later influence the themes and tone of his writing.
Miller developed a passion for reading at an early age, devouring books on science, history, philosophy, and literature. He attended high school in New Haven before enlisting in the United States Marine Corps in 1942. During World War II, Miller served as a radio operator in the Pacific Theater, participating in several battles and earning a Purple Heart.
After the war, Miller studied English literature at Yale University, graduating with honors in 1950. He went on to earn his master's degree from the university in 1951, but his academic pursuits were cut short by the onset of World War II.
Major Accomplishments
---------------------------
Miller's writing career spanned over four decades, during which he published numerous short stories and novels that explored themes of science fiction, philosophy, and faith. Some of his notable works include:
A Canticle for Leibowitz (1959) - a post-apocalyptic novel set in a world devastated by nuclear war
Saint Leibowitz and the Wild Horse Woman (1997, published posthumously) - a sequel to A Canticle for Leibowitz
Miller's writing was widely praised for its philosophical depth, literary merit, and exploration of complex themes such as free will, determinism, and the human condition.
Notable Works or Actions
---------------------------
In addition to his novels, Miller published numerous short stories and essays in various science fiction magazines. Some notable works include:
"I Bear an Engraved Invitation" (1951) - a short story that explores the theme of fate vs. free will
"The Pro" (1954) - a short story that examines the role of chance and probability in human life
Miller's writing was also notable for its use of Catholic theology and philosophy, which added depth and complexity to his stories.
Impact and Legacy
-------------------------
Walter M. Miller Jr.'s impact on science fiction and literature cannot be overstated. His novel A Canticle for Leibowitz is widely regarded as a classic of the genre, influencing numerous authors and works in the years since its publication.
Miller's writing has also been praised for its exploration of complex themes and ideas, which have resonated with readers across cultures and generations. His legacy extends beyond his literary contributions to inspire others to explore the intersection of science fiction, philosophy, and faith.
Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered
--------------------------------------------
Walter M. Miller Jr.'s quotes are widely remembered for their philosophical depth, literary merit, and exploration of complex themes such as free will, determinism, and the human condition. His writing continues to inspire readers, authors, and scholars alike, making him one of the most enduring figures in science fiction literature.
Quotes by Walter M. Miller Jr.
Walter M. Miller Jr.'s insights on:
Simpletons! Yes, yes! I'm a simpleton! Are you a simpleton? We'll build a town and we'll name it Simple Town, because by then all the smart bastards that caused all this, they'll be dead! Simpletons! Let's go! This ought to show 'em! Anybody here not a simpleton? Get the bastard, if there is!
Listen, my dear Cors, why don't you forgive God for allowing pain? If He didn't allow it, human courage, bravery, nobility, and self-sacrifice would all be meaningless things.
You'll be asked to be the ass He rides into Jerusalem, but it's a heavy load, and it'll break your back, because He's carrying the sins of the world.
You don’t have a soul, Doctor. You are a soul. You have a body, temporarily.
But the princes, putting the words of their wise men to naught, thought each to himself: If I but strike quickly enough, and in secret, I shall destroy those others in their sleep, and there will be none to fight back; the earth shall be mine.Such was the folly of princes, and there followed the Flame Deluge.
![[...]How can a great civilization have destroyed itself so completely?""Perhaps,"said Apollo, "by being materially great and materially wise and nothing else.](/_vercel/image?url=https:%2F%2Flakl0ama8n6qbptj.public.blob.vercel-storage.com%2Fquotes%2Fquote-718782.png&w=1536&q=100)
[...]How can a great civilization have destroyed itself so completely?""Perhaps,"said Apollo, "by being materially great and materially wise and nothing else.
The monk's ultimate goal is direct union with the Godhead. But to aim at that goal is to miss it altogether. His task is to rid himself of ego so that consciousness, once its usual discordant mental content is dumped out of it through ritual prayer and meditation, may experience nonself as a living formlessness and emptiness into which God may come, if it please Him to come.
Steel screams when it's forged, it gasps when it's quenched. It creaks when it goes under load. I think even steel is scared, son. Take half an hour to think? A drink of water? A drink of wind? Totter off awhile. If it makes you seasick, then prudently vomit. If it makes you terrified, scream. If it makes you anything, pray.
M'Lord, I know from history that once upon a time in a much earlier Church, a vocation to the priesthood meant a call from the bishop, not necessarily a call from God. And I heard the Bishop of Rome himself call you to be that which you have now become by ordination and consecration.