Planet of the Apes: Tales from the Forbidden Zone

It wasn’t just one of the best twist endings in all of cinema, it was the start of a phenomenon spanning a half-dozen films, two TV series, and more. It was Planet of the Apes, and, for the first time, short stories set throughout the two-thousand-year history of the simian universe have been collected in one place for aficionados and newbies alike.

Tales from the Forbidden Zone spans everything from the what ifs raised by the original film to explorations of ape history and science, plus musings on what else might have survived the catastrophic events that left apes in charge and mankind scurrying for safety in fields or beneath shattered city streets. There are stories from the viewpoints of apes, humans, and mutants alike, all contributing to the rich tapestry of this strange variant version of Earth.

And if you’re new to the Planet of the Apes story, fear not. Most of these tales can be enjoyed sans backstory, and even the more complex ones — delving into time travel and predestination — offer chances to catch up along the way.

So hurry up and get your stinking paws on this collection, you damn dirty–sorry. Got a little too into it myself.