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Summary: French SF: Before the films, there was the novel
Review: I must confess I read the novel after seeing both the films (the 1968 and 2001 versions). The differences between the film and the novel are typical. The novel has more interesting speculation and less action. Of the two films, the 1968 film is the better adaptation. The 2001 adaptation is at best "loosely" based on the novel; indeed there are only a few concepts in common and almost none of the plot. The 2001 film is more of a simple action movie with few of the ideas that make the novel so appealing.As the back summary claims, the climax does indeed rival that of the 1968 film but it was the same ending as the 2001 film, more or less. I enjoyed the taste of irony that Boulle created with his ending whereas the 2001 film ending was simply confusing. The theme of the book is whether humanity represents the pinnacle of evolution and the way humans treat animals. By reversing roles on the protagonist, the formerly civilized man is considered to be a "mere animal" by the apes who have a technological civilization equal to that of Earth, the reader is forced to consider the idea that maybe humanity is not the highest form of life. One of the best scenes of the novel is where the protagonist and one of his ape friends tour a medical testing facility where humans are used as the instrument of medical research in much the same way humanity uses apes and other animals for research on Earth. Indeed, providing such fresh perspectives to age-old problems (in this case, animal rights) is one of the things science fiction can accomplish when it is top form. The discussions of evolution (macro-evolution is a given in the novel) in the book are fascinating; some of the more open-minded apes start to think that perhaps ape civilization originally emerged from an antecedent human civilization. The speculation that human-ape civilization may cycle over long periods of time provides a foundation for the conclusion of the novel. The 2001 film has the same ending but no supporting explanation, thus making it incomprehensible. The fallen nature of man is highlighted by the apparent pacifist nature of ape society; in their past they had wars but by the time of the novel war was gone and violence almost unheard of, contrasting the behavior of the humans. This is one of the few non-English science fiction novels I have read. I have read some Verne but 19th fiction is a whole different style. Lest there be any confusion, this edition is translated into English. I wonder what other sorts of French, German or other cultures have produced science fiction that is comparable to this (i.e. in exploring remarkable themes in the context of well paced plot)?
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Summary: Apes: The Genuine Article
Review: I found that I had to set aside all my prior notions of the world of Apes because Pierre Boulle's novel is worlds apart from anything seen on film, both in its intricacy of plot as well as depth of interaction between characters. There is a side to the space traveller Merou that never appeared with his film counterpart Taylor, and the relationship that develops between Merou and Zira is sensational and thought-provoking in its disguised comment on racial prejudice. If you are a science fiction fan, please read this book!
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Summary: Better than the movie? Absolutely!!
Review: The first thing that you will notice about this book is that it is short. Very short. Don't let the size fool you, though. As a sci-fi story, "Planet of the Apes" captures your imagination immediately. Unlike the original Charlton Heston movie, "Planet of the Apes" does indeed take place on another planet. Unlike the current movie, the humans don't talk--not even a little! The description of this new world (it's told in the first person) reminds me very much of Jack Vance novels, and actually has some of the Jonathan Swift "Gulliver's Travels" flavor to it. The book also has many of the socio-political themes that we saw in all of the movies. The issues of bigotry, racial (or, in this case, species) supremacv, and slavery are present throughout the novel. One more thing--remember how shocking it was when you saw the sunken Statue of Liberty in the first Planet of the Apes movie? Well, the book has a couple of moments in it that are just as thought provoking. Do not hesitate. If you liked the Planet of the Apes movies, or if you like Sci-Fi authors like Dick, Vance, Heinlen, etc., check this book out!
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Summary: This is the baby that started it all.
Review: I read this book in the version that has Taylor (Charlton Heston) and the other astronauts on the front cover with the large profile of a gorilla. It is the same book here(I.E. the original Pierre Boulle book). Although the book is only somewhat similar to the original movie, one cannot read the book without respecting it and feeling a sense of nostalgia. The book is imaginitive and well written. I do not read fiction but made an exception for this book due to being a POTA fan. I highly recommend it to see where Mr. Zanuck, Mr. Heston, and Mr. Serling got their original ideas for the movie from.
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Summary: Don't Damn These Dirty Apes
Review: After seeing both versions of this classic tale, I just had to get my hands on the original. "Planet of the Apes," was written before the original movie by a French writer named Pierre Boulle and was used as a model for all of the numerous movies. I went into the book not knowing what to expect and I wasn't let down. "Planet of the Apes," follows the travels of three French astronauts and their chimp in a time period where space travel is as common as driving cars. They travel to a distant star much resembling the Sun and explore a planet in it's orbit that looks like Earth. Once landing on the planet, they discover the up-side-down world where humans are non verbal savages and apes are the rulers of the planet. Their ship is destroyed and they are become stranded on this strange planet where humans are used for scientific purposes. The main character Ulysse Merou(nothing at all like Charlton Heston) befriends two ape friends in hopes of defining himself as a civilized human, not a savage one. The book is very well written and has very good characters. Although the story recieved little acclaim, it certainly will fufill the hunger for authentic "Planet of the Apes." With a surprise ending, unlike the movies, the book defines itself as one of the greatest books of it's time and a good model for books to come. I recommend this book to all science fiction lovers and literature lovers.
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Summary: As good as it looks
Review: This is a well written book, excellent translation, and if I'm not mistaken this is the original and most familiar Planet of The Apes book translated from French. What can I tell you, another excellent Novell by Pierre, with breath taking plot and wild imagination. If you like Animal Farm, this book is a must.
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Summary: Must read for fans of the movies.
Review: One thing I found interesting is that the book actually has a very similar ending to the newest movie. It may even help explain the movie's ending.
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Summary: Better than either movie
Review: Pierre Boulle's book tells a very different story than either of the movies. The ending has a twist that bears more similarity to Tim Burton's vision than the original movie. It seems that each movie picked out bits from the source material but neither was very true to Pierre Boulle's vision. I don't want to give away too much, but suffice it to say that the ape society in the book is much more advanced than they were depicted in either movie. Language is also a barrier that was not addressed in either movie. If you enjoyed either movie I would recommend giving this a read. Even if you didn't enjoy either movie, this is an excellent social commentary and in many ways is very humbling. You won't be disappointed.
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Summary: A Beautifull and Strange Journey
Review: Planet of the Apes has written it's golden name in history thanks to the excellent film that was made in 1968. Nevertheless, the original novel is a little gem that has high value by itself.
Pierre Boulle wrote this book more as a fable than a Science Fiction novel. He wanted to comment on many aspects of society's present (and possible future) by constructing an upside-down world.
Thus, while Planet of the Apes is very original and amusing, it is mostly an intense social essay full of wit. It is a novel to make you think while you are being entertained. What else could we ask for?.
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Summary: Original move=close, new movie=not even close by a mile!
Review: We can listen to Tim Burton go on and on about how his new version of the movie was a "re-imagineering" of the original, but the fact is that it still carries the title of this book...to which it will always be compared. If Burton didn't want comparisons to this book, he should have given his movie a different title, or given a disclaimer like "Loosely based on Pierre Boulle's novel." But enough about Burton's brainless movie. The only comparisons that can be made is with the orginal move, to which it compares fairly well.
Boulle's PotA is a much more civil place. The main characters (who are parelleled in the movie minus some of the French names) get there by time travel, but not the "time anomaly in space" type argument, but by simple Einstienian time dialation due to travel near the speed of light. It takes them 350 years Earth time to get there (700 years round trip)...which equates to 2 years ship time. The planet is, of course, polulated by Apes, but they are not the savages portrayed in the movie. Instead they treat humans as we would treat deer, or cattle, or any other animal. Many of the scenes/situations from the original movie were taken from the book...but there are also exceptions. When they learn that the main character is intelligent, they are very gracious and open with him...setting him free, giving him a place to live, letting him study with them, etc. But for reasons I won't give away, they eventually want him off their planet. The ending, while sort of a mixture of the Heston and Burton films, is still a surprise...but easily predicted.
Sometimes I thought the main character was extremely arrogant and that Boulle preached and lectured a little with his prose, but I still enjoyed reading the original. If you're a fan of either movie, give it a read.
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