Planet of the Apes - Pierre Boulle

    1963; 249 pages.  New Author? : Yes.  Translator: Xan Fielding.  Genres : Dystopian Sci-Fi; Movie Tie-In; Time Travel.  Overall Rating : 8½*/10.

 

    It’s 2500 CE, and the universe beckons!

 

    Earthlings have figured out how to build spaceships that can travel at close-to-the-speed-of-light velocity, and the first trans-galactic flight in underway.  The destination is the giant star Betelgeuse, where hopefully we’ll find orbiting planets.  Maybe we'll even find life.

 

    Since the ship’s speed is still less than that of light, it will take them more than a year to get there.  Meanwhile several hundred years will have elapsed back on Earth.  Once the ship arrives at Betelgeuse, it will come to a stop, and the astronauts' time rate will return to normal.  They’ll scout whatever planet they find, then speed back to almost light-speed, spending another year (their time) getting back to Earth.

 

    If they encounter sentient extraterrestrials, I wonder what they’ll look like.  Little green men with great big eyes?  Jello-like blobs of goo?  Bipedal humanoids resembling us Earthlings.?

 

    Guess again, guys

 

What’s To Like...

    Planet of the Apes is a 1963 standalone novel originally written by the French author Pierre Boulle.  In 1968 it was adapted into a critically acclaimed and immensely popular movie starring Charlton Heston.  The overall story concept is the same for both, although the plot thread details differ quite a bit.

 

    The story opens, and closes, with a third-person POV account of a couple out sailing in space who come across a floating bottle containing a sheaf of papers.  That turns out to be the journal of one of the astronauts that made the trip to Betelgeuse, and so is written in the first-person POV.  It makes up the middle 34 chapters in the book.

 

    Given the book and movie’s title, it is no spoiler to reveal that humans and apes swap places as the dominant sentient species.  Pierre Boulle uses this to demonstrate just how savage the top species can treat other animals.  For example, he examines topics like hunting and killing animals for sport; laboratory testing on animals; and whether a sub-species can actually “create” original thoughts rather than merely mimic the actions of the dominant species.

 

    Three types of apes have evolved on the planet orbiting Betelgeuse: brutish gorillas, science-oriented orangutans, and innovative chimpanzees.  They have achieved a tenuous coexistence, albeit rivalries remain.  See the second excerpt below for an example of this.  But all apes agree that their evolutionary dominance of humans is a natural and logical outcome.  After all, apes are blessed with four functional appendages; those savage humans have only two.

 

    The ending is both horrifying and hopeful, and leaves open the possibility of a sequel.  Both the movie and the book contain a startling plot twist to close things out, although they are substantially different.  AFAIK, Pierre Boulle never penned any more books in this setting, but there are more than a dozen movie and television spinoffs of the 1968 film, many of which were later adapted into print version.

 

Ratings…
    Amazon:  4.5/5 based on 1,994 ratings and 418 reviews.

    Goodreads: 3.99/5 based on 48,554 ratings and 3,379 reviews.

 

Kewlest New Word ...

Cynosure (n.): a person or thing that is the center of attention or admiration.

 

Excerpts...

    It was a classical hunting scene.  Here again the apes worked methodically.  They placed the bleeding bodies on their backs, side by side, in a long row as though along a chalk line.  Then, while the she-apes uttered little cries of admiration, they applied themselves to making the game attractive.  They stretched the arms down along the sides of the bodies and opened the hands with the palms facing upward.  They straightened the legs, arranging the joints so as to give each body a less corpselike appearance, corrected a clumsily twisted limb, and reduced the contraction of the neck.  Then they carefully smoothed down the hair, particularly the women’s, as some hunters smooth down the coat or feathers of an animal they have just shot.  (pg. 63)

 

    “There are three distinct families, as you have noticed, each of which has its own characteristics: chimpanzees, gorillas, and orangutans.  The racial barriers that used to exist have been abolished and the disputes arising from them have been settled, thanks mainly to the campaigns launched by the chimpanzees.  Today, in principle, there is no difference at all between us.”

    “But most of the great discoveries,” I persisted, “were made by the chimpanzees.”

    “That is true.”

    “What about the gorillas?”

    “They are meat eaters,” she said scornfully.  (pg. 117)

 

Kindle Details…

    Planet of the Apes is currently priced at $5.99 at Amazon.  I only see one other English translation of a Pierre Boulle novel available in e-book format: a dystopian tale titled Desperate Games.  It sells for $9.99 and is 191 pages long.

 

What is it that characterizes a civilization?  Is it the exceptional genius?  No, it is everyday life.  (pg. 192)

    There is no profanity in Planet of the Apes, although that’s the norm for 1960s science-fiction novels.  There’s a bunch of nudity, but hey, that’s to be expected of herds of savage beasts.  At one point laboratory sex tests are run on captive humans.  None of this was lewd.

 

    I didn’t spot any typos in the book, and I didn’t feel like anything was lost in translation.  As mentioned, the book version differs from the movie version, but that just means you have two ways of enjoying the introduction to this scenario.  The movie contains more action scenes; the book relies more on thoughts and dialogue to make its points.  Both are effective, and I’ve enjoyed both.

 

    8½ Stars.  One last thing.  Pierre Boulle authored about three dozen books in his lifetime, all in French.  Planet of the Apes was one of his two biggest hits.  The other one is equally impressive, both as a novel and as a blockbuster movie: The Bridge Over the River Kwai.  Alas, it seems it isn’t available in e-book format.

A Perilous Undertaking - Deanna Raybourn

    2017; 336 pages.  Book 2 (out of 10) in the “Veronica Speedwell Mystery” series.  New Author? : No.  Genres : Historical Mystery; Murder Mystery; Victorian England.  Overall Rating : 9*/10.

 

    It’s an open-&-shut case.  The jury found Miles Ramsforth guilty of murdering the aspiring young painter Artemisia beyond a shadow of a doubt.  They discovered him standing over the body, with Artemisia’s blood all over his hands and clothes, and holding the murder weapon.  He didn't even bother to deny it.

 

    Nevertheless, Veronica Speedwell has been summoned by a member of England’s upper crust, the Lady Sundridge, who is asking Veronica, along with her cohort, Stoker, to do some investigating—being discreet of course—into the possibility that Miles is innocent.

 

    Lady Sundridge doesn’t give any reason why she thinks Miles might not have done it, nor does she reveal if there’s anyone in particular whom she suspects is the real killer.  But Veronica accepts the assignment anyway.  It pays to do the upper class's biddings.

 

    Here’s hoping you uncover evidence of Miles’s innocence quickly, Veronica.  If you don’t Miles Ramsforth will hang a week from now.

 

What’s To Like...

    A Perilous Undertaking is set in Victorian London in 1887, and is told from the first-person POV, Veronica’s.  I loved the "historical feel” to it, which was also true of the other book I’ve read in this series, A Curious Beginning, which is reviewed here.

 

    The Mystery aspect is equally impressive.  The reader gets to tag along with Stoker and Veronica, as they skillfully assess the psyches of a bunch of possible suspects, deftly encouraging them to hear and answer their questions.  The witty repartee between Stoker and Veronica is definitely an added treat in this series.

 

    Initially, very little progress is made by our sleuthing duo.  Then they receive a threatening note, unsigned, of course, letting them know that someone wants them to cease their investigation.  It’s too bad Veronica and Stoker have no idea exactly what’s riling up the anonymous note-writer.

 

    The character development is outstanding.  It was a blast meeting people from all classes of Victorian London society, including several artistically talented folks.

 

    The ending is also top-notch: it’s tense, exciting, and replete with plot twists and intrigue.  The mystery storyline is wrapped up first, then the interrelationship issues are dealt with.  It’s interesting to watch Stoker and Veronica both struggle to come to grips with their roles in their partnership.

 

Ratings…
    Amazon:  4.5/5 based on 6,000 ratings and 382 reviews.

    Goodreads: 4.09/5 based on 33,332 ratings and 3,356 reviews.

 

Kewlest New Word ...

Eminence grise (n.) : a person who exercises power or influence in a certain sphere without holding an official position.

Others: Epergne (n.); Ballad monger (n.); Grig (n.); Murine (adj.).

 

Excerpts...

    “You don’t believe the public should have access to the accumulation of human knowledge?  To the accomplishment of art and exploration?”

    A small smile played across her mouth.  “You think the common man cares about such things?  No, child.  The common man cares about a full belly, warm feet, and a sound roof.  But I like your idealism.  It’s charming, as long as you promise to lose it before you turn thirty.  A woman past thirty cannot afford ideals.”

    “A cynical view, I think,” I told her.

    She pulled a face.  “Stoker, the child thinks me a cynic.”

    Stoker gave her a bland look.  “The child will think worse of you when she gets to know you.”  (pg. 42)

 

    He snorted.  “You are transparent as glass, Veronica.”

    “Whatever do you mean?”

    He laid the paper aside and rose to his feet, coming to stand at my elbow.  I did not look up from my moths.  “I mean that you think you can twist me round like those insipid lovers of yours.”

    I reared back.  “They were not insipid!  Do give me a little credit, Stoker.  I would never conduct an affair with a fellow who could lay claim to that word.”  (pg. 175)

 

Kindle Details…

    A Perilous Undertaking presently sells for $5.99 at Amazon.  The rest of the e-books in the series range in price from $1.99 to $14.99.  Deanna Raybourn has several other series for your reading enjoyment; the prices of those e-books are anywhere from $1.99 to $13.99.

 

“I say, miss, are you talking to a turtle?”  (pg. 109)

    There’s not a lot of profanity in A Perilous Undertaking; I counted just six instances in the first half of the book.  However, some “adult situations and toys” are encountered, much to Veronica’s astonishment.  She also gets introduced to a couple of drugs, with hilarious results.

 

    I didn’t note any typos, which is a noteworthy feat.  I can’t think of anything else to quibble about.

 

    In summary, A Perilous Undertaking kept me turning the pages from beginning to end, and met my expectations in all these literary aspects: History, Mystery, Character-building, and Storytelling .  I’m looking forward to reading more of Veronica Speedwell's adventures.

 

    9 Stars.  One last thing.  At one point, an ancient general named Holofernes is referenced.  I had never heard of him, but thank goodness for Wikipedia.  It turns out he was an Assyrian general who appears in the apocryphal Book of Judith.  It was fun reading about their encounter.

The Catiline Conspiracy - John Maddox Roberts

   1991; 204 pages.  Book 2 (out of 13) in the “SPQR” series.  New Author? : No.  Genres : Historical Fiction; Intrigue; Roman History; Suspense.  Overall Rating : 7*/10.

 

    Rome, 63 BCE.

 

    Somebody has stashed a bunch of swords and shields in the Temple of Saturn.  Decius Caecilius Metellus the Younger (let’s just call him “Decius” from now on) wants to know who.

 

    Well, Decius has every right to ask; he’s a quaestor in charge of keeping tabs on the inventory of offerings at the temple.  Granted, his main purpose is to deter people from walking away with those offerings, and weapons are rarely if ever given as donations.  But hey, a job’s a job.

 

    It’s funny though, those swords and shields are not of the highest quality.  Why would someone think Saturn would be grateful for used weapons?  And maybe whoever they belonged to just wants to temporarily hide them, not to donate them to Saturn.

 

    Someone who might want to overthrow the current government in Rome.

 

What’s To Like...

    The Catiline Conspiracy is the fifth book I’ve read in John Maddox Roberts’ “SPQR” series.  The 13 books present the crime-solving adventures of Decius chronologically, but I don’t think it’s necessary to read them in order.

 

    If you like reading deeply researched Historical Fiction, you’re going to love The Catiline Conspiracy.  John Maddox Roberts paints a vivid picture of life in Rome at the height of the Republic, showing the daily life of both the upper-class Patricians and the common people.  There's also plenty of Suspense and Intrigue in the storyline, if those genres float your boat.

 

    I liked the way the issue of slavery is dealt with.  Despite a quaestor being a low-level public official, Decius owns several slaves, all of whom are content with their position in life.  The famed Spartacus Slave Revolt had occurred just a few years before (71 BCE), which perhaps impacted how the Roman citizens now treated their servants.  I also appreciated the mention of Hannibal and enjoyed learning about the out-in-the-sticks rival empire called Parthia.

 

    Early on, Decius's neighborhood is jolted by a sudden spate of killings, and he is appointed to figure out who did what.  His sleuthing method reminded me of Peter Falk’s Columbo character—attend get-togethers where ambitious powermongers are gathered, and ask nonthreatening but insightful questions.  Hey, it worked for Columbo, and it works here.

 

    The ending is logical, albeit not particularly exciting.  The commoners that were swept up in the conspiracy fare poorly, but the powers manipulating them seemed to all get away.  Perhaps that was the message John Maddox Roberts wanted to leave us with.

 

Kewlest New Word ...

Myrmidons (n.) : followers or supporters of a powerful person.

Others: Rapine (n.); Sacerdotal (adj.), Extramural (adj.); Lustrations (n.), Sophistry (n.).

 

Ratings…
    Amazon:  4.2/5 based on 275 ratings and 41 reviews.

    Goodreads: 3.91/5 based on 1,703 ratings and 102 reviews.

 

Excerpts...

    I saw a man walking toward me through the rejoicing throng.  He wore a purple-striped senator’s tunic and his feet were bare.  I groaned.  A Senator’s tunic coupled with bare feet meant one thing: Marcus Porcius Cato, the most formidably boring man in Roman politics.  He attributed all the ills of the day to our failure to live as simply as had our ancestors.  He regarded himself as the exemplar and embodiment of antique virtue.  The early Romans had not worn shoes, so he didn’t either.  (pg. 8)

 

    “He wants a return to the evil days, when Romans killed Romans in the very streets of Rome?  I always knew he was pernicious, now I know that he is mad.”  He looked at me with a frosty smile.  “This has been most sagacious, Decius.  I know of no other man whose mind works like yours, sifting evidence and placing seemingly disparate facts together to construct a—how shall I put it?—a model of how things might have happened.  You should have been a philosopher.”  (pg. 157)

 

“Asklepiodes, you must let me kill you.”  (pg. 150)

    The Catiline Conspiracy was a slog for me, mostly because I was expecting it to be a Historical Mystery where I could tag along with Decius and try to solve the murders before he did.  That was a mistake on my part; there is very little Mystery-Investigating here.

 

    Cussing is almost non-existent —just two damns in the whole book.  There is one roll-in-the-hay, plus one “adult situation”, but neither is done lewdly.  I only spotted two typos, which is actually quite clean, since this particular version was published in 1991, and I doubt auto-correct was around back then.  One plot thread remained unresolved: a budding romantic relationship between Decius and one of the characters.  I imagine this gets further developed in the next book in the series.

 

    So learn from my misstep, and read this book for its most excellent Historical Fiction aspect.  Ignore the fact that our protagonist does almost zero sleuthing.  I suspect that John Maddox Roberts’ found his planned plotline was hampered by historical facts.  See the next section re this.

 

    7 Stars.  One last thing.  In doing research for this review, I was astounded to find that it is based on historical fact.  Catilina really did exist, and he really did head a failed attempt to seize control of the Roman Empire in 63 BCE.  Read the Wikipedia article on this here.  Catilina’s biography really does limit what John Maddox Roberts can do with the storytelling.

Pursuit of the Apocalypse - Benjamin Wallace

    2018; 187 pages.  Book 3 (out of 6) in the “Duck and Cover” series.  New Author? : No.  Genres : Post-Apocalyptic Thriller; Action-Adventure; Dark Humor.  Overall Rating : 9*/10.

 

    The chase is on!

 

    The bounty hunter Mr. Christopher has kidnapped the lovely Erica, and is on his way Alasis, where the Evil Lord Invictus will be happy to pay him handsomely for the fair maiden.

 

    Our hero, Jerry, aka “The Librarian” (his occupation before the bombs began to fall), aka Erica’s companion, is determined not to allow that to happen.  Mr. Christopher has a sizable head start, but Jerry has a souped-up Ford Mustang that is capable of jaw-dropping speeds.

 

    Mr. Christopher is aware he’s being pursued., and has taken steps to thwart that endeavor.  He’s placed some thugs in Jerry’s path, promising them money if they bring him the head of The Librarian.  Come to think of it, Lord Invictus has made the same offer to some of his minions.

 

    And let’s not forget that this is a post-apocalyptic wasteland.  There are plenty of mean and desperate people out there who will be happy to kill a lone traveler like Jerry, for no money whatsoever.

 

What’s To Like...

    Pursuit of the Apocalypse is Book Three in Benjamin Wallace’s 6-volume, maybe completed “Duck and Cover” series.  The reader travels along with both the chaser and the chased, through what used to be the American Midwest, and what is now devastated badlands where the few survivors of the nuclear war are trying to become civilized again.  At one point the chase goes through Amarillo, Texas, but it’s now known as Bomb City.

 

    A 200-page chase scene may sound a bit tedious, but Benjamin Wallace packs it full of exciting fight scenes, fascinating characters, bizarre critters, and some great imagery of what a post-apocalyptic civilization would look like.  The author’s world-building of a metropolis called Tolerance was particularly well done; their extensive “town rules” will leave most who pass through there confused and condemned. 

 

    Several of the characters encountered will keep you guessing whether they are “black hats” or “white hats”.  The ursinologist Martha Rainford and her trio of “houseguests” were fun to meet, and Coy and Willie added a neat comedic touch (think “Dumb and Dumber”, and see the first excerpt, below) that keeps the storyline's tone from becoming too dark.  I also liked that the women characters, both good and evil, are all "strong".  In a post-apocalyptic world, if you’re weak, you’re doomed.

 

    The straightforward plotline also allows Benjamin Wallace to subtly blend in some of his own views.  I chuckled at his opinions about Nickelback and NASCAR, and was happy to see that Play Stations had somehow survived the Armageddon.  The author also comes up with some great acronyms, including “CRAP” and “SSB”.  To learn what those stand for, read the book.

 

    The ending is suitably exciting and stops at a logical place in the saga.  Several readers hated one of the final storyline twists, but I’ve seen other movies/books have made use of the plot device, so I was okay with it.  To give any details about it would be a spoiler.

 

Ratings…
    Amazon: 4.4*/5, based on 664 ratings and 177 reviews.

    Goodreads: 4.12*/5, based on 860 ratings and 70 reviews.

 

Excerpts...

    “So you’re saying a woman might get upset if she sees me looking at her boobs.  But the same woman might get mad if she sees me not looking at her boobs?”

    “Exactly.”

    Coy finally dropped his chin and, after a moment of trying to process the new information, shouted, “That doesn’t make any sense.”

    “Right.  So look but don’t look, and don’t look but do look.  But whatever you do, don’t get caught.”

    “Don’t get caught doing what?”

    “Looking.  Or not looking.  Or both.  Or either.”  (loc. 5231)

 

    A great many horrors were unleashed on the world when it ended with a bang.  Entire stockpiles of weapons were thrown about.  Everything from biological agents, experimental chemicals, and good old nuclear fallout drifted in the winds of the new landscape.  Some caused plants to grow wild and become sentient.  Others stripped the land of its vegetation altogether.  Some even turned dumb animals into brilliant tacticians.  But there never was such a thing as a dumb bomb.  (loc. 6447)

 

Kindle Details…

    Knights of the Apocalypse goes for $7.99 right now at Amazon.  The other books in the series also cost $7.99, except for Book 6, Champion of the Apocalypse, which is priced at $9.99.  You can also purchase the first three books in a bundle, for just $9.99, and which is how I read this.  Benjamin Wallace has penned several other series; those e-books are generally in the $7.99-$9.99 range.

 

“I was good at science.  I only barely failed it.”  (loc. 6782)

    The cussing is moderate.  I counted 14 instances in the first 20%, including a couple of f-bombs.  In the second half of the book, and after I had ceased counting them, the rate of profanity increases, thanks mostly to a character named Carrie.

 

    I was pleased to see that the rate of typos dropped off markedly compared Books 1 and 2.  I noted just three lapses, so kudos to whoever did the editing!

 

    That’s about all I can quibble about.  For me, Pursuit of the Apocalypse was another strong entry in this series, which I’m reading in order.  There’s plenty of action, zero slow spots, and lots of fascinating characters to meet as everyone struggles to remain alive in a world gone mad.

 

    9 Stars.  One last thing.  Coy and Willie have a brief but entertaining debate as to whether something called a “net gun” exists.  I’m happy to find out that such an apparatus does exist, much to the chagrin of another character.