Tuesday, February 12, 2013

The Apes of Wrath -- Richard Klaw, Editor

I'm not saying that Rick Klaw is obsessed with apes, but I'm not saying he's not, either.  It doesn't matter, because he's put together a great collection of ape-related fiction and nonfiction here.  Rupert Wyatt's foreword and Klaw's brief introduction will get you in the mood for what's to come, including reprints and originals.  

Some things you know will be included, like Poe's "Murders in the Rue Morgue" and an excerpt from Tarzan of the Apes, but there's a lot more good stuff. In the nonfiction area there's Mark Finn's "The Men in the Monkey Suit," about Hollywood's gorilla men, and Scott Cupp's "The Four-Color Ape," about apes in the comics.  And Jess Nevins' "Apes in Literature," which covers a lot of territory in the space of a few pages.

The fiction's all fine, and you'll recognize most of the names: Howard, Cave, Lansdale, Farmer, Waldrop, Flaubert.  Yes, Flaubert, the Madame Bovary guy.  Kafka and Aesop, too.  Apes know no literary boundaries.

If you like apes, this if the book for you.  It's also the book for you if you just like good reading. Check it out.

Update: There's a good interview with editor Klaw here.

3 comments:

Bud said...

I'm neutral about apes, but if Lansdale, Waldrop and Farmer are there, I'm in!

Rick Klaw said...

Bill,

Thanks for the great review.

One small correction to your review: Rupert Wyatt wrote the foreword.

Unknown said...

I made the correction. That's what I get for relying on my failing memory.