Fantastic Planet by Stephan Wul
Reviewer: Deb Alig, Circulation Assistant
Genre: Science Fiction
Suggested Age: Teens, Adults
What is This Book About? Fantastic Planet was first published in French in 1957 under the title Oms en Serie. It wasn’t until 2010 that it was translated into English. The story takes place in the far distant future on the planet Ygam where giant blue, red eyed humanlike creatures known as Traags dominate tiny humans who they brought to their planet from Earth. The Traags consider themselves the master race and treat the Oms like animals. Some Traags place collars on their domesticated Oms and treat them as pets. Other Traags consider Oms to be filthy, wild, nefarious creatures who pose a threat to their superior way of life and desire to control their populations through extermination. The main character of the story is an Om named Terr. Terr was owned by a Traag named Tiwa. He was naturally intelligent, and like all Oms, grew quickly. He used Tiwa’s learning headsets to gain Traag knowledge, and he learned to read and talk. He eventually escaped captivity and met up with some wild Oms. These Oms lived in a park and they pillaged Traag factories and warehouses to survive. One day, Terr noticed a sign at the park entrance. It stated that the Traags were planning to conduct a mass extermination of the Oms. The wild Oms, lead by Terr, banded together to plan and execute a mass exodus to the Wild Continent where no Traags live. Terr stole Tiwa’s learning headset and shared it with the others. The Oms used their new technical knowledge and their plunder to build three sea faring ships that will take them to freedom, not without complications and tragedies, however. The Traags eventually catch up with them, but the Oms are now technologically advanced enough to defend their new home. In the end, the Traags and the Oms agree to a peace in which there is no master race.
My Review: There is an interesting reason why I chose this book to review. A few months ago, a young man drove from Grand Rapids, Michigan on a Sunday afternoon to borrow FDL’s copy of Fantastic Planet. He couldn’t check it out, so we let him read it that afternoon in the library. He was so grateful. Apparently, there are very few copies available in libraries across the country and it’s not easy to find an available copy to purchase. FDL is fortunate to own a copy. The young man’s enthusiasm peaked my interest so I decided to read it. It was a great read with a great message. When the Supreme Tragg shows concern at the end of the novel that the Traggs will now be at the mercy of the Oms, Terr says, “Not at all. If you look closely at article 10 of the treaty…you will see the significance for both our peoples. It allows for a partnership between our two civilizations. There will be no master race anymore, but two equal races working side by side and mutually benefitting from their progress.” Though the novel is fiction and takes place during the future, what an applicable and hopeful message for our time.
Three Words That Describe This Book: insightful, allegorical, thought provoking
Give This a Try if You Like: Definitely give this novel a try if you have seen the 1973 award-winning animated movie Fantastic Planet. The movie is based on the book. Also, if you like the films or the book Planet of the Apes by, Pierre Boulle, you may like Fantastic Planet.
Rating: 5/5