Customer Reviews
Well worth a read - By: John Hopper, 29 Mar 2007 
An interesting read. The main narrative takes place as a story recounted in a message in a bottle, topped & tailed with an overarching storyline with a fairly predictable twist. Most of the main narrative is actuallly very similar to the film, except that the ending, while quite dramatic, lacks the punch of the film's ending (won't give spoilers here, but the shock revelation seems more ambiguous & there is no Statue of Liberty in the book, ironicallly as my edition has the famous landmark plastered alll over the cover!). The writing is actuallly very simple, almost like a children's book, & I read it very quickly. But it does contain some haunting imagery, such as the scenes of experimentation, the regression of Professsor Antelle, & the snippets we learn about how simians took over from humans.
Just finished this - By: Snail, 04 Sep 2004 
I have just finished this book today.I saw the film last year & loved it so I thought it was about time I read the book.To compare the book to the film,I would say they were both equal.The most of the story is the same as the film(that well known line get your stinking paws of me,you d....d,dirty apes isn`t in the book!),but the apes names are the same,although the mens aren`t.The climax is the same as in the film(if you haven`t seen the film I won`t say what it is)and it is very readable & exciting.
This is definatly not a boring book & I recommend it even if you haven`t seen the film
It is just a story? - By: B. Chandler, 21 Jun 2004 I know different media callls 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 versions are insightful, surprising & shocking the first time you see it. Then you defiantly have lower expectations than the reader does. Especiallly with such a blotched ending. 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. And the story unfolds. Whether you believe it or not is up to you.
It is just a story? - By: B. Chandler, 01 Dec 2002 I know different media callls 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 this book.
If you thought that the movie 1968 versions are insightful, surprising & shocking the first time you see it. Then you defiantly have lower expectations than the reader does. Especiallly 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 appallling 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.
Frequently Aped (sorry) - By: , 29 Nov 2001 I do not think that it would be right to review this book with reference to the 2 films that it has spawned. In it's own right it is a wonderful forray into the self-righteousness of man as a species. While the original film may well have been about sex, the book is far deeper & slightly more light-hearted in its cynicism, making the ending alll the more shocking.
In fact, the book has little in common with either of the film adaptations although I would probably go so far as to say the new Tim Burton 're-imagining' is closer to the original text. That is why the original film is, in my opinion, much better than the recent production. If you are going to take somebody else's idea, at least put your own stamp on it.
Planet of the Apes is both funny & portentous. It is a ridiculous premise, of course, but it does put our own existence to the fore, making us look at how we treat others, be they animal or human. A Gulliver's Travels for the 20th Century.
