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The Uplift Trope
Philip Tucker
Posted: Monday, August 20, 2012 5:09 PM
Joined: 4/26/2011
Posts: 77


The oldest work I know of which postulates  apes with human intelligence is Ape and Essence, by Aldous Huxley (194. However, I don’t think (not having read it) that the story imagines an uplift process a la David Brin. It looks like La Planete des singes (Planet of the Apes), by Pierre Boule (1963) does suggest some sort of uplift.

Does anyone know of an earlier use of the trope?
Colleen Lindsay
Posted: Thursday, August 23, 2012 1:09 PM
Joined: 2/27/2011
Posts: 353


That's a great question, actually. I was thinking of the Brin books as well. Bumping this up so more folks see this thread.

Timothy Maguire
Posted: Thursday, August 23, 2012 2:15 PM
Joined: 8/13/2011
Posts: 272


I did a little searching (read: looked on tvtropes) and the earliest example I could find is The Island of Doctor Moreau (1896). I haven't read it personally, but it's about modifying animals into humans and how well that goes. I know there's quite a few folk-tales and the like about animals being turned into humans, but as an actual science concept, Dr Moreau's the earliest I know of.
Philip Tucker
Posted: Thursday, August 23, 2012 6:06 PM
Joined: 4/26/2011
Posts: 77


Of course!  I'd forgotten all about the good Doctor and his pets.  Thanks.