Planet of the Apes (novel)

Lore & Background

The novel tells the story of three human explorers from Earth who visit a planet orbiting a star in the constellation Orion. They find a world where great apes are the dominant intelligent and civilized species, while humans are reduced to a savage animal-like state. The plot follows Ulysse Mérou, a French journalist, who is captured by apes and discovers their stratified society: militaristic gorillas, conservative orangutans, and liberal chimpanzees.

Reader's Guide

The novel's significance lies in its creation of a foundational concept for the Planet of the Apes media franchise, which began with the 1968 film adaptation. The book's frame story, in which chimpanzees Jinn and Phyllis discard the manuscript as fantasy because they find intelligent humans unbelievable, adds a layer of irony. The novel was adapted into two films: the 1968 version and a 2001 remake that more closely reflected the original novel's ending. An earlier draft of the 1968 screenplay by Rod Serling more closely adapted the novel's imagery of ape society.

Did You Know?

• The novel was published in France in 1963 by Éditions Julliard.
• The first English translation, by Xan Fielding, was published in the US in June 1963 as Planet of the Apes.
• The UK edition was first published in January 1964 as Monkey Planet, then re-issued as Planet of the Apes in August 1973.
• An abridged version appeared in Saga: The Magazine For Men in May 1964.