Battle for the Planet of the Apes

Years after a nuclear war ended human civilization, the chimpanzee Caesar rules an ape city where surviving humans work as servants and laborers. He spends his days trying to hold the peace between the two species.

His own camp is not united. The gorilla general Aldo wants humans kept to labor alone, and he sees an opening to take power from Caesar.

Outside the city lies the radioactive Forbidden City. Mutated humans live there under Governor Kolp, who regards the apes as a threat and prepares for war.

Award Books issued this 1973 paperback by David Gerrold, a novelization of the fifth Planet of the Apes film. It follows the film's plot, with conflict and betrayal driving it toward a final battle.

Caesar has to weigh how far his own people can be trusted. He also has to decide what a peace is worth when nobody else seems to want it, and whether the two species can live side by side at all.