Planet of the Apes

To my surprise, the book is significantly different from the original movie. Read the book first, then watch the 1968 movie, then watch the "Rise of the Planet of the Apes" (2011) and you'll be in science fiction heaven!

I had always wanted to read this after growing up with the original movie series. We all know movies never match up with the books but I was stunned how different the book was from the original movie. Very entertaining and quite surprising for those of us who thought we knew the story.

Most people are obviously going to be familiar with the movie, but the book is a great read. It's different from the movie in several ways, but is neither better nor worse for it. It's an incredibly quick read - I finished the whole book in approximately six hours, and enjoyed every second of it. I was actually sad when it was over. I'm a huge fan of post-apocalyptic books, and I would definitely count "Planet of the Apes" among my favorites.

SPOILERS

Pierre Boulle, responsible for the Planet of The Apes franchise, also wrote a book which served as the basis for the 1957 Oscar winning movie ofthe same name.

A enjoyed the book a lot, really. But there's an different atmosphere whenc ompared to the movie.

As a book, it's fascinating. It's a fast read, with enough characterization but, at heart, you'll sometimes feel this is almost pulp novel. Don't get me wrong: it is not.

Most of the changes made for the movie worked, all of them. Japanese Colonel Saito is less cliched. Joyce's character is much more important and well developed in the book thanin the movie, but it works. The greatest change was the Shears character. The movie only used the same name for a completely different character. But the essence was completely kept. Of course, the most obvious change was the ending itself. In the book, the mission fails. In the movie, the bridge blows.

I'm searching for other books by Pierre Boulle in English language.

A recent re-viewing of the 1968 film, a childhood favorite of mine, prompted me to buy and read the book. This does seem to be one of the rare cases where the film is better. There's a great deal more action, more story, period, in the film, and, of course, Charlton Heston, who was awesome. (My five year old, to my wife's dismay, is running around quoting, 'Take your stinking hands off me, you damn dirty ape!' and my eight year old is pounding the ground, saying, 'Damn you all to hell!') The book, as other reviewers point out, is slower and more speculative. That would have suited me fine, had the speculation been interesting. But the speculation is not interesting; it seldom rises above dorm room musings. And there isn't enough story here, the main character is not interesing enough, and the memorable images of the film are largely absent. Still, it wasn't an unpleasant read, and, if you harbor nostalgia for the film, perhaps owned the lunch box as I did, it's probably worth the very small amount of time required to read the book. I've avoided the recent movie version and will continue to avoid it, Marky Mark being absolutely no Chuck Heston. (Jeff Bridges is no John Wayne either but the recent True Grit film is watchable and, though on the whole inferior, does have aspects which improve upon the original.)

I honestly really liked this book. It actually kept my attention and was easy on the eyes. I would definitely recommend this book to any one else that wants to know how this "Planet of the Apes" actually began.

If you love the Planet of the Apes movie franchise and have never read the book by Pierre Boulle then you're in for a great and all time classic science fiction reading! It will truly make you appreciate the original 1968 movie. The books are always much better than their movie counter parts and this is no exception.

I love the original Planet of the Apes movie from the late-60's with Charleston Heston and the twist at the end of that movie. The original book is quite different from the movie in many ways (some different characters and settings), but has its own twists and turns along the way. Translated from French to English, the book is a very enjoyable read and gives the reader pause to consider how we treat our fellow creatures in light of what we think of ourselves. If you liked the movie, I think you'll like the book just as much, but for different reasons.

Too much character description, bad ending, repetitive with one char considerations on another.
His Planet of the Apes was relatively more enjoyable, THIS... was a kind of slow torture. Like get to the chase and quit studying your navel. I might only consider this as a study in writing but not a good read or story. I hated the ending and only finished reading it because I started it.

I simply cannot find the words worth of this book. I really appreciated the original film version, not being in a situation to read the book, but when I did, I was blown out of the room! Layers upon layers of social and philossophical statements really delighted me, and were layed in such a form that would not stand in a way of lightness of reading. Brilliant!

I love the original movie with Charleston Heston! So, I will not share my views (which are not necessary) on the remake with Marky Mark. The book is dated in certain expressions and descriptions. But, overall it is a good story. I did find the amount of violence and technology to be above what was visualized onscreen. Nova 's role was more significant than the theatrical version. Nova was more subdued and less interesting than in the book. I wish they would have kept the first time Taylor discovers Nova! I won 't spoil it. But, it is engaging when read!

I did feel that the end was surprising and yet cheated at the same time. I would have felt better if the end was unknown or left to the reader 's imagination. But, it is worth reading and I am glad I own it.

GET YOUR STINKIN PAWS/HANDS ON THIS BOOK AND READ IT!

THIS WAS A FANTASTIC NOVEL ABOUT 2 ASTRONAUTS WHO GO THROUGH A BEND IN TIME AND END UP IN EARTHS FUTURE. 1 DIES AND THE OTHER EXPLORES HIS SURROUNDINGS(NOT REALIZING HE IS ON EARTH). EVERYTHING AROUND HIM IS A DESOLATE WASTELAND.

HE SOON DISCOVERS THAT APES RULE OVER MUTE HUMANS. I DON'T WANT TO GIVE TOO MUCH AWAY. READ IT FOR YOURSELF!!

Michael Avallone begins his novelization of "Beneath the Planet of the Apes" with a dedication to Pierre Boulle, whose novel inspired the first film. While the original film hewed fairly close to the original novel, the second went in a vastly different direction. The original "Planet of the Apes" took time to set up ideas and explore the world so that its anti-war and anti-nuclear weapons message would make sense. "Beneath the Planet of the Apes" forgoes this subtlety, introducing a second astronaut who has traveled to the future in search of Taylor. The two discover an underground society of mutated humans who worship the ultimate atom bomb in the ruins of New York City in the Forbidden Zone. The mutated humans speak in a double-talk that would make Orwell proud, praising the peace promised by the atom bomb. Meanwhile, the Apes plan an assault on the Forbidden Zone when several of their scouts go missing and one returns with stories of walls of fire and earthquakes. As the Apes march off to war, a group of chimpanzee students block their paths in protest. This was likely intended to continue the anti-war metaphor, but its overt nature more resembles a farce than anything else. As if this were not bad enough, Avallone's portrayal of his female characters is demeaning at best and outright sexist at many points. I've always felt this was the weirdest and most out-of-sorts of the "Planet of the Apes" films and the book, being the first novel in the series after Boulle's masterpiece, does nothing to rectify that.

Typical mid-20th century space/sci-fi opera. Predictable plot even though it greatly differs from the Heston film (haven't seen the more resent reboot).
All in all I guess I'm glad I plowed through it, but I would not have been left unfulfilled had I tossed it aside after the first chapter.

Typical mid-20th century space/sci-fi opera. Predictable plot even though it greatly differs from the Heston film (haven't seen the more resent reboot).
All in all I guess I'm glad I plowed through it, but I would not have been left unfulfilled had I tossed it aside after the first chapter.

After (re)watching various APES films over the last few months, I thought it would be fun to read the novel. I was aware the movies strayed from the original's content, so I was anxious to check it out. But unlike the majority of fans, I find PLANET OF THE APES novel to be simplistic, predictable, and surprisingly flawed.

I'll try to keep it short, but be prepared for SPOILERS.

APES begins with a couple of space travelers finding a literal "message in a bottle," hurtling by. They retrieve the bottle, which includes a lengthy account. The male traveler begins to read, repeatedly scolding the female to "stop interrupting me!", as she reacts surprised to the mention of "humans" and "intelligent men on earth" in the text.

The tale is about 3 earth men who travel off to Betelgeuse. While only 2 years pass for them, thousands transpire back on earth (relativity, etc.). The men arrive at Betelgeuse to find a habitable planet. They land. They find cities and life, and humans. But as you know, the humans are primitive and the apes advanced.

The 3 earth men are attacked by the primitive humans and absorbed into the group, only to be then hunted by intelligent apes. One man dies, another is lost, and our narrator gets captured. He's locked up, and spends the better part of the novel proving his intelligence to Zira, an intelligent chimpanzee observer. His knowledge of math allows him to reveal his intelligence and he is ultimately set free to live amongst the apes.

Perhaps the most interesting part of the novel is when our narrator finds his lost comrade, a scientist and philosopher, locked in a zoo cage and irreversibly reduced to primitive man. This sets the premise for the book's ending.

Two random events then transpire:

First, Cornelius (Zira's companion), reveals his discovery of ancient ruins, consisting of human-like artifacts and a working "China doll." Human ruins on Betelgeuse are coincidentally near-identical to those found on earth, to where one might think they are the same planet. Cornelius realizes that intelligent humans once lived on his planet, too, laying ground to his theory that intelligent apes descended from man.

Second, the narrator's mate, Nova, gives birth to a healthy boy (they were locked in a cage together for months, prior).

The chimpanzees revel in their scientific abilities. The author even goes through great pains to describe the workings of space travel. Yet somehow, the pivotal scene in the book is completely unscientific. In a human vivisection lab, Cornelius reveals they have managed to tap into the human collective unconscious through a female. She is able to channel past thoughts of intelligent humans from thousands of years ago. These voices outline a straightforward progression of the fall of man and the rise of apes. Cornelius' theory regarding the ruins and ape evolution is confirmed.

In parallel, the baby human develops like an intelligent human, as opposed to the primitives. He is seen as a threat by the apes. The potential for intelligent man to rise again. So Cornelius devises a plan to help the narrator to leave the planet with his mate and son, back to his ship in orbit. Strangely, while explaining his plan, Cornelius repeatedly orders his wife Zira to "stop interrupting me!"

The narrator, mate, and son board their ship and fly back to earth. Another two year trip for them, and another few thousand years for people back on earth. He lands, everything looks run down, and he's greeted by not a human, but a gorilla. Duh-duh-DUH! The same fall and rise happened on earth as on the monkey planet. Not a big surprise, by any means. The bottle's story abruptly ends at this point.

We then return to the original couple of space travelers. They, too, now reveal themselves to be chimps and find the story in the bottle to be ridiculous. Intelligent man... How absurd!

What I find ridiculous is, given that our narrator lands on earth to find himself again at the mercy of apes, when does he write out his account of the journey? Does he fly back in to space, to launch his bottle? Essentially, if he were stuck on ape-earth, caught by the gorillas, he'd never write the story and launch it in a bottle. But if he were able to escape earth and write out this account, he'd be free. So where is he now? That, to me, would be the more interesting story.

Finished reading this few wks ago, these apes movies and books just have some addicting appeal, yes. And Charlton Heston too. Good sci fi read. Seems this and others are a commentary on race/prejudice or equality like the Twilight Zones and Blade Runner by Philip K Dick ( Do Androids Dream of Electronic Sheep? ). Don't know if I'ld read again, but it was yet good, but if you've seen the movie you know the trip. Yet I enjoyed Jaws by P Benchley and read it three times. Yes, if you like the ape thing and like to re-visit POA movies then this is worth the read. The translation statement is no big deal nor are language differences mentioned. Good One Time Read.

I did consider the concept of tight concise writing as some other customer wrote, thought of this while reading.

I would not however recommend Bridge Over the River Kwai, I also bought and read. Finished it because I started it, hated the ending too. I mention this because you'll probably go here too after the POA.

Planet of the Apes

Pierre Boulle was born and raised in France. After graduating as an engineer he moved to Malaysia to work in 1934. In 1939 he was called up for WW II. After the defeat of France he fled to Singapore to join the Free French. Sent back to Indochina he was captured in 1943. He escaped in 1944 to serve in the Special Forces. His first novel told about a prisoner of war camp, “The Bridge over the River Kwai”. His biography of wartime is “My Own River Kwai”. This 1963 novel has 38 chapters in its 268 pages. Don’t peek at the last chapter!

This novel is set in the future. A couple travel in outer space by ships powered by light-radiation from stars. Jinn and Phyllis find a message in a bottle. The manuscript warns of a menace to the human race. Ulysse Meron tells of a trip in 2500 on a cosmic ship to a distant star with other people (Chapter 2). They find planets that are similar to earth (Chapter 3). They land and find a human footprint on planet Soror! When they see her she is unclothed. Later this woman attacks and kills Hector, their pet chimpanzee (Chapter 5). They find other humans, unclothed and living like animals. They are frightened of clothing and strip the visitors (Chapters 6,7).

There was a strange noise in the morning that panicked the humans. There were gunshots. They were shocked to find a large-sized gorilla dressed in clothes (Chapter 9)! Human bodies littered the cleared space. Levain became a victim. Meron escaped the shooters only to be caught in a net. These gorillas were accompanied by chimpanzees, like servants (Chapter 10). They chatted and their faces expressed sentiments. Trapped humans were put in cages (Chapter 11). The were fed. The captives arrive in a city occupied by apes (Chapter 12). Meron bowed and talked to an ape to attract attention. The next morning a female chimpanzee inspected him (Chapter 13). The captives are tested for conditioned reflexes (Chapter 14).

A higher ranked orangutan came to watch Meron and note his intelligence (Chapter 15). He is given more tests (Chapter 16). They studied the amorous behavior of humans (Chapter 17). Nova was put in the same cage with Meron. Then he draws on a notebook to impress Zira, the simian scientist (Chapter 18). Meron drew a picture of the solar system with Earth. Zira taught Meron the simian language and explained society on Soror: chimpanzees, gorillas, and orangutans. Zira takes Meron out to show him the town (Chapter 20). It was similar to Earth’s towns. Meron may be in danger because his launch was discovered. Humans are used for scientific research.

Zira advises Meron of the possible problems for him (Chapter 21). He can now read and speak the ape’s language and understand their society and ranking (Chapter 22). Meron plans a speech before the scientific Congress (Chapter 23). He visited a zoo to see the caged animals: felines, pachyderms, reptiles, birds, and humans. One was Professor Antelle, the leader of their expedition, who was like the other humans. Meron was introduced to the meeting (Chapter 24). He spoke to them, telling them he was a rational creature from planet Earth where humans dominated (Chapter 25). He was applauded. The Grand Council immediately released him (Chapter 26). He is given clothing and taken to a night club where he signed autographs.

Part Three has the remaining twelve chapters. Excavation uncovered an ancient city with a curious relic! Is this story a plea against animal experimentation? Is it a warning against a revolution like “Animal Farm”? Or a comment on human prejudice?

An absorbing tale that proceeds at a relaxed pace.
This isnt a sci-fi story so much as a study on the ideas of intelligence , origin of species and evolution of civilisation,it
begins in the 25th century yet its cultural references smack more of turn of the 19th century .
The protagonists observations of ape culture from their truly innovative approach to human biology , and the reason they HAVE
such a keen and over developed interest in the subject to the behavior of the apes at the stock-exchange and how man
demonstrates comparable behaviors in similar situations , is amusing and unsettling in what it seems to suggest.Its
well,however, that this story stays away from 'hard sci-fi' because its plot plays out headlong and heedless of its
cockamamie presumptions :
Procreation with an alien whose evolution parallels homo-sapiens to such an exacting degree that they're easily genetically
compatible ? I gotta say , THATS far more amazing than the idea of a beta-species achieving dominance over an alpha-species
as a result of some adaptation to social conditioning. But the idea that the technology and culture of a civilization that
was 'suddenly' dominated by Betas would stagnate for 10,000 because they're simply 'aping' the behaviors of their
progenitors and cant adapt fluidly past their original servant mind-set is pretty damned presumptuous of the author . Such a
civilization ( one built by 'humans' for humans and to serve human interests would without being adapted in any MEANINGFUL
way would crash with the first pandemic , crop failure , ice-age or what have you . Intelligence begets not only intelligence
but adaptive thinking , Its a species ability to solve problems on the fly which aids it in enduring plagues , famines,
catastrophes. These observations were never central to the plot of this story though and as a story , its really pretty
good, its also skillfully narrated as this is an audiobook, one worth listening to again sometime.

The Charlton Heston POTA film is amazing as well ,
YOU BLEW IT UP !!! DAMN YOU DAMN YOU ALL TO HEELLLLLL !!! <------- Blew my mind when I saw that as a teenager
Linda Harrison was a GREAT Nova s well !

The Bridge Over the River Kwai

Pierre Boulle trained as an electrical engineer then went to Malaya in 1936 as a rubber planter. He joined the French forces in 1939 Indo China, then joined the Free French forces in Singapore. His book “My Own River Kwai” tells of his adventures, which parallel the story in his famous novel. It won the French Prix Ste Beuve and later was adapted into a famous film. It is fast paced as some mystery novels. Its four Parts have 25 chapters.

Boulle begins by stating “saving face” (refusing to acknowledge mistakes) was as important to the British as the Japanese. This is human nature, not part of any national culture. British prisoners were to build a railway to link the Bay of Bengal to Bangkok and Singapore. Could Colonel Nicholson's personality be defined as ‘snobbery’? After being ordered to surrender Nicholson rigorously enforced the rules to provide irreproachable conduct. Anyone who left to continue the resistance was posted as a deserter. He insisted on following international law after being physically assaulted; he wanted to show the British officers were still in command. The prisoners were moved from Singapore to a prison camp in the jungle. They were overworked and underfed. No medical supplies were available for their malaria, dysentery, beri beri, and jungle sores.

General Yamashita told the prisoners they would mend the error of their ways by building a railway. Work keeps a man physically fit. “Be happy in your work” else they would be punished severely. The film softened the harsh treatment of the British prisoners. Colonel Nicholson objected to his officers doing manual labor and went on strike; he was punished. The British officers worked on its design and implementation to build a better bridge. Nicholson sought the advice of those who had been experts in civilian life. The purpose of the bridge over the River Kwai was to allow Japan to invade India and win the war. Those who did not perform their work would be shot. The British prisoners succeeded in building the bridge. The book's ending was modified for the film.

Boulle also wrote "The Ears of the Jungle" about another war. [The bridge in the film was styled after the railway bridge over the Firth of Forth, a unique cantilever bridge. “Colonel Nicholson” got the maximum effort out of his men by challenging them to be the best they can be. “General Frank Savage” used this same technique in “Twelve O’ Clock High”.]

The Bridge Over the River Kwai

Pierre Boulle trained as an electrical engineer then went to Malaya in 1936 as a rubber planter. He joined the French forces in 1939 Indo China, then joined the Free French forces in Singapore. His book “My Own River Kwai” tells of his adventures, which parallel the story in his famous novel. It won the French Prix Ste Beuve and later was adapted into a famous film. It is fast paced as some mystery novels. Its four Parts have 25 chapters.

Boulle begins by stating “saving face” (refusing to acknowledge mistakes) was as important to the British as the Japanese. This is human nature, not part of any national culture. British prisoners were to build a railway to link the Bay of Bengal to Bangkok and Singapore. Could Colonel Nicholson's personality be defined as ‘snobbery’? After being ordered to surrender Nicholson rigorously enforced the rules to provide irreproachable conduct. Anyone who left to continue the resistance was posted as a deserter. He insisted on following international law after being physically assaulted; he wanted to show the British officers were still in command. The prisoners were moved from Singapore to a prison camp in the jungle. They were overworked and underfed. No medical supplies were available for their malaria, dysentery, beri beri, and jungle sores.

General Yamashita told the prisoners they would mend the error of their ways by building a railway. Work keeps a man physically fit. “Be happy in your work” else they would be punished severely. The film softened the harsh treatment of the British prisoners. Colonel Nicholson objected to his officers doing manual labor and went on strike; he was punished. The British officers worked on its design and implementation to build a better bridge. Nicholson sought the advice of those who had been experts in civilian life. The purpose of the bridge over the River Kwai was to allow Japan to invade India and win the war. Those who did not perform their work would be shot. The British prisoners succeeded in building the bridge. The book's ending was modified for the film.

Boulle also wrote "The Ears of the Jungle" about another war. [The bridge in the film was styled after the railway bridge over the Firth of Forth, a unique cantilever bridge. “Colonel Nicholson” got the maximum effort out of his men by challenging them to be the best they can be. “General Frank Savage” used this same technique in “Twelve O’ Clock High”.]

The Bridge Over the River Kwai

Pierre Boulle trained as an electrical engineer then went to Malaya in 1936 as a rubber planter. He joined the French forces in 1939 Indo China, then joined the Free French forces in Singapore. His book “My Own River Kwai” tells of his adventures, which parallel the story in his famous novel. It won the French Prix Ste Beuve and later was adapted into a famous film. It is fast paced as some mystery novels. Its four Parts have 25 chapters.

Boulle begins by stating “saving face” (refusing to acknowledge mistakes) was as important to the British as the Japanese. This is human nature, not part of any national culture. British prisoners were to build a railway to link the Bay of Bengal to Bangkok and Singapore. Could Colonel Nicholson's personality be defined as ‘snobbery’? After being ordered to surrender Nicholson rigorously enforced the rules to provide irreproachable conduct. Anyone who left to continue the resistance was posted as a deserter. He insisted on following international law after being physically assaulted; he wanted to show the British officers were still in command. The prisoners were moved from Singapore to a prison camp in the jungle. They were overworked and underfed. No medical supplies were available for their malaria, dysentery, beri beri, and jungle sores.

General Yamashita told the prisoners they would mend the error of their ways by building a railway. Work keeps a man physically fit. “Be happy in your work” else they would be punished severely. The film softened the harsh treatment of the British prisoners. Colonel Nicholson objected to his officers doing manual labor and went on strike; he was punished. The British officers worked on its design and implementation to build a better bridge. Nicholson sought the advice of those who had been experts in civilian life. The purpose of the bridge over the River Kwai was to allow Japan to invade India and win the war. Those who did not perform their work would be shot. The British prisoners succeeded in building the bridge. The book's ending was modified for the film.

Boulle also wrote "The Ears of the Jungle" about another war. [The bridge in the film was styled after the railway bridge over the Firth of Forth, a unique cantilever bridge. “Colonel Nicholson” got the maximum effort out of his men by challenging them to be the best they can be. “General Frank Savage” used this same technique in “Twelve O’ Clock High”.]

Planet of the Apes (1963) by Pierre Boulle is one of the best 15 novels written in the 20th century. Boulle seems to ‘ape’ Jonathan Swift, Aldous Huxley, and Jules Verne (pun intended), specifically Gulliver’s Travels, Ape and Essence, and Gil Braltar. The novel tells the tale of three cosmonauts from Earth who visit the planet Soror orbiting the star Betelgeuse, in which great apes are the dominant intelligent and civilized species, whereas humans are reduced to a naked, mute, animal-like state. The three French cosmonauts, Ulysse Merou, Antelle, and Arthur Levain, brought along a chimpanzee pet with them, named Hector, who is promptly killed.
Bonobos are not specifically mentioned in the novel. Some of the motifs are evolutionary biology, social stratification, and great ape personhood. (Ham the astrochimp was the first primate in space, 10 weeks before Yuri Alexeyevich Gagarin in 1961.) Planet of the Apes may have been the last novel read by President JFK?

I wanted to like this book. Considering its place as a classic and the source for a famous, award-winning movie, I expected it to be something …more? Instead, it was dull, too much telling, stereotypical characters that felt like wooden dolls tromping across a stage. I understand it was based on the author’s experience as a POW under the Japanese. In particular, he claimed it was a French captain’s collaboration with the Japanese that he based Colonel Nicholson on. However, history does not support this.
Perhaps the writing doesn’t translate will in to English, which is why the writing is dull and the characters trite. The story has promise, the class of honor and patriotism. But the characters never felt real enough to engage the reader, and draw them into the conflict.
So much potential, wasted due to poor writing. Read it if you want to read a classic about this time on our history, as there seems to be a lack of fiction about it, but don’t expect anything spectacular.

I know different media calls for different handling of the story. And most movies do not live up to the book. However some exceed the book. Surprise neither movie can live up to the book. If you thought that the movie 1968 versions are insightful, surprising and shocking the first time you see it. Then you defiantly have lower expectations than the reader does. Especially with such a botched ending. The later movie version was more of an action film yet the ending was much closer to the book. I will not go into the technical or psychological differences, as you will want to discover these for your self as you read "Planet of the Apes"

While sailing around in their solar energy powered spaceship, a bottle is picked up. In the bottle is the message. "I am confiding this manuscript to space, not with the intention of saving myself, but to help, perhaps, to avert the appalling scourge that is menacing the human race. Lord have pity on us." And the story unfolds.

They laugh at this ridicules tale.
Whether if it is believable or not is up to you.