Válka s mloky

About “Válka s mloky”

Originally written in 1936, War with the Newts is considered Karel Čapek's greatest work. The novel follows the discovery of a colony of highly intelligent giant salamanders off the coast of an Indonesian island. Written in the "fantastic" satiric tradition of authors like Wells, Orwell, and Vonnegut, the story explores the varied responses of the civilized world, including fear, curiosity, and exploitation. Čapek sardonically portrays how humanity's actions lead to conflict and destruction, with both the humans and the newts facing a fate they cannot escape. The novel reflects on themes of power, intelligence, and the consequences of human behavior.