Aldous Huxley, “Ape and Essence”, 1948 was an apocalyptic, dystopian science fiction novel. The politics of “mutually assured destruction” in the Nuclear Age is the subject of this satire of warfare. “William Tallis” is the name of the first character; and, he has written a Hollywood screenplay in Los Angeles County. Two movie industry moguls go looking for “Tallis” in LA’s high dessert; however, Tallis died 6 weeks after writing the screenplay. The story then advances surreally 100 years into the future to discussion of “The Thing”. “The Thing” was a releasing of disease-causing, radiation gases in warfare.
Nuclear and chemical warfare (at the hands of intelligent baboons) is the depiction of warfare in this satire. 100 years after “The Thing” we encounter “Dr. Poole” post “World War III”. “World War III” had reduced Earth to a wasteland by “The Thing”. Scientist, “Dr. Poole” finds the tombstone of “William Tallis” of 100 years earlier and the story comes to senseless end.
Aldous Huxley, “Ape and Essence”, 1948 was an apocalyptic, satire of warfare in the Atomic Age. Huxley’s portrait of humanity is merely “intelligent baboons” predates: Pierre Boulle, “Planet of the Apes“, 1963. However, Adlous Huxley and Pierre Boulle both present similar satire of “Atomic Apes” is nothing but a joke.
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