The Planet of the Apes

by Pierre Boulle
The Planet of the Apes cover
Good Books rating 3.5
Technical
  • ID: 4998
  • Added: 2025-10-22
  • Updated: 2025-10-22
  • Reviews: 3
Reviews
thehaughtyculturist.com · Unknown · 2025-10-22
thought-provoking 4.00

The Planet of the Apes by Pierre Boulle is a thought-provoking and satirical novel that explores themes of humanity, intelligence, and societal structures. The reviewer appreciates the book's clever narrative and its ability to challenge readers' perceptions of what it means to be human.

The Planet of the Apes by Pierre Boulle is a clever and satirical novel that delves into the complexities of humanity and intelligence. The reviewer finds the book's narrative structure to be particularly engaging, as it unfolds through a series of reports and documents. This approach adds a layer of intrigue and mystery, making the story feel like a puzzle to be solved. The reviewer also appreciates how Boulle uses the story to challenge readers' perceptions of what it means to be human, raising thought-provoking questions about society and our place in the world. While the book may not be as action-packed as its film adaptations, the reviewer finds it to be a rich and rewarding read that offers plenty to think about. The reviewer also notes that the book's themes and ideas are still relevant today, making it a timeless piece of literature.

Quick quotes

    The novel's narrative structure is clever and engaging, making the story feel like a puzzle to be solved.

    Boulle uses the story to challenge readers' perceptions of what it means to be human, raising thought-provoking questions about society and our place in the world.

    The book's themes and ideas are still relevant today, making it a timeless piece of literature.

facebook.com · Unknown · 2025-10-22
enjoyable 4.00

The reviewer enjoyed 'Planet of the Apes' for its intriguing exploration of history and evolution, recommending it for its enjoyable plot and thought-provoking questions about human civilization. They were pleasantly surprised by the book, having initially been hesitant due to their usual preference for non-science fiction.

The reviewer initially had reservations about reading 'Planet of the Apes' due to their usual preference for non-science fiction books. However, they were pleasantly surprised by the book and enjoyed the way the author explored history and the question of evolution. The plot, which revolves around a spaceship landing on a planet where apes rule and humans are savages, was found to be enjoyable and thought-provoking. The reviewer appreciated the book's exploration of the distinction between civilizations that develop by imitation and not by independent evolution. They also found the questions about human civilization raised by the book to be interesting. Overall, the reviewer recommends 'Planet of the Apes' to all readers for its enjoyable plot and thought-provoking questions about human civilization.

Quick quotes

    I loved the _Planet of the Apes_ movies so it was a no-brainer when I saw the book as an option!

    I enjoyed reading _Planet of the Apes_ and the way the author explored history and the question of evolution.

    I recommend this quick science fiction to all readers because of its enjoyable plot and interesting questions about human civilization.

cinrambler.wordpress.com · Unknown · 2024-02-10
mixed 2.50

The Planet of the Apes novel by Pierre Boulle is a frame story that doesn't hold up as well as the 1968 movie or other classic science fiction. The ape civilization feels unoriginal, and the book could have been much shorter without losing impact.

The Planet of the Apes novel by Pierre Boulle is a frame story that begins with a message in a bottle discovered by a married couple in space. The story follows a journalist stranded on a planet where apes have taken over and humans have regressed. The novel's world-building feels unoriginal, and the ape civilization resembles Earth in the late 1950s or early 60s, lacking creativity. The frame story is unnecessary, and the novel could have been cut to half its length without losing much. While the 1968 movie is better, the novel sparked several good movies and great parodies, which is more than most books can claim.

Quick quotes

    The novel could have been cut to half its length without losing much.

    The ape civilization seemed like that — as if Boulle somehow didn’t have the budget to make any changes.

    The novel sparked several serviceable movies and multiple great parodies.

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