 The novel was published by J. B. Lippincott & Co. as a hardcover in 1960 (although the copyright is 1959), and demand for the book was sufficient to prompt two reprints within the first year. In 1961 it was awarded the Hugo Award for Best Novel by The World Science Fiction Convention. Since then A Canticle for Leibowitz has had new editions and reprints issued in paperback and hardcover more than 40 times, and has never been out of print. It regularly appears on "best of" lists and has been recognized three times with Locus Poll Awards for best all-time science fiction novel.
