Conquest of the Planet of the Apes, characters by Pierre Boulle
8 out of 10


Although not as meaningful, enticing, gripping as the original Planet of the Apes, this sequel does offer food for thought.

In a future that seems possible, if not probable, humans decide to use and abuse apes which are taken into slavery.
After all, mankind has destroyed so many species and is in the process of making the whole planet uninhabitable, hence this premise is credible.

The apes, for which viewers cheer, instead of for humans, have a chance.
This is Caeser, the son of Cornelius and Zira, protagonists of the first Planet of the Apes.

He is brave, super intelligent, resilient and resourceful.
While vicious humans try hard to have him and many other apes tortured, inprisoned and killed, Caesar finds the brilliant strategy to defend his mates and eventually win over the enemy.

Indeed, in the plot there is the notion that with time travel, human leaders know that in the future, it would be the apes that are in control and men and women have lost the supremacy that they are using, as we see in the present, to destroy the climate and perhaps make this planet just like the myriad of cold rocks that travel through the universe without any form of life on them.

A fantastic read that was perfect as a commentary for the times when it was published. To be fair, it was a novelization of the movie, yet it used the original, darker ending that was omitted from the film. The novel cuts better.

What's even better, and profoundly sad, is that this book is still relevant today in the age of Trump and the white supremacists he surrounds himself with and motivates. A book for our times...perhaps a handbook...

Have I told you how much I love the Planet of the Apes movies? Yes I have. And so you know that obsession trickles to the books. And here we are.