The novel is set in the near future, where rapid environmental destruction, deforestation, and climate change have decimated the natural habitats of many species, particularly the orangutans. In response, a group of genetically modified orangutans, enhanced through unethical scientific experiments, rise up to reclaim control over the world. As human civilization crumbles due to internal conflicts and environmental disasters, the orangutans seize the opportunity to dominate the remnants of humanity.