War with the Newts

Interesting Facts

• The book is a satire on the social and political issues of the 1930s, including fascism, colonialism, and capitalism.
• The newts in the book symbolize oppressed peoples who are initially used and exploited, then rise against their oppressors.
• The work is written in the form of a pseudo-documentary novel, including newspaper articles, scientific reports, and personal diaries.
• The book raises questions about humanity's moral responsibility for its actions and the consequences of scientific and technological progress.
• One of the key characters is Captain Van Toch, who first discovers the newts and begins their exploitation.
• The novel anticipates many themes that became relevant in the science fiction of the latter half of the 20th century, such as the uprising of machines and artificial intelligence.