18. Planet of the Apes

Book 18: Planet of the Apes by Pierre Boulle (B)

So, this wasn't exactly the story I remember from Tim Burton's movie (and by the way, there's a new Planet of the Apes film coming out called Rise of the Planet of the Apes which seems to explain how the planet of Soror became overrun and ruled by apes). Yeah, it's like Burton just got the idea of a ape-ruled planet from the book. But it's no surprise. Have you seen Charlie and the Chocolate Factory?
In Boulle's classic novel, three men decide to explore the solar system of Betelgeuse. After landing on a planet, they find humans physically like them. Mentally, they are like wild animals unable to communicate with language, tearing into animal flesh like the big cats, and showing no signs of mental comprehension. The following day, the human pride is attacked by apes dressed to the nines and the main character is taken off to the main city. There, he learns that mankind has a evolutionary mental downfall and that apes excelled. They evolved into speaking, thinking beings that control the entire planet. 
The story has a downright scary ending that left me shuddering.

I believe the main point of this story was to prove how cruel and unusual operating on animals is. This concept was pointed out several times throughout the novel with the main character's disgust and opposition toward the scientist apes operating on human beings to study the brain. The following conversation is between the main character and his ape ally.
"And you carry out these experiments on men!"
"Of course. Man's brain, like the rest of his anatomy, is the one that bears the closest resemblance to ours. It's a lucky chance that nature has put at our disposal an animal on whom we can study our own bodies. Man serves us in many other fields of research, as you'll come to realize... At this very moment we are undertaking an extremely important series of experiments" (104).
Boulle uses a world of apes experimenting on men to show a unique point: what if apes were just as aware of the world as us humans on Earth in today's world?? Would it still be ethical to operate on them in horrible ways? Removing their sense of self. Removing their sense of motherhood and protecting their own offspring. Giving them human diseases to fund human cures.Which scientists go further than what's actually "humanely" allowed already?
If you want something to think about, pick up this book!