Let the Ants Try by Frederik Pohl
Let the Ants Try is a science fiction novel written by Frederik Pohl and published in 1984. The story follows a group of scientists who are trying to create a new form of life that can survive on Mars. They use ants as their test subjects, but things quickly go awry when the ants begin to evolve at an alarming rate. As the situation spirals out of control, the scientists must race against time to stop the ants from taking over the planet. The book explores themes of humanity's relationship with nature and the dangers of playing God.
By Frederik Pohl · First published 1987 · Genre: Science Fiction, Dystopian, Post-Apocalyptic · 5,444 words
First lines
Dr. Salva Gordy looked at the radioactive smear that had been Detroit. Then he looked down at the boiling anthill. Why not, he thought excitedly, why not? .
Gordy survived the Three-Hour War, even though Detroit didn't; he was on his way to Washington, with his blueprints and models in his bag, when the bombs struck.
Similar titles
- Instinct by George O. Smith
- Missing Link by Frank Herbert
- Lets Get Together by Isaac Asimov
- Survival Kit by Frederik Pohl
- Design For Doomsday by Bryce Walton
- Bleekmans Planet by Robert Silverberg
Genres
- Science Fiction — The story involves speculative technology, such as a time machine, and explores themes of post-apocalyptic survival and evolution.
- Dystopian — The narrative is set in a world devastated by nuclear war, depicting a bleak future for humanity.
- Post-Apocalyptic — The setting is a world recovering from a catastrophic event, focusing on survival and the consequences of human actions.
- Speculative Fiction — The plot speculates on the evolution of ants into a dominant species, exploring alternate realities and futures.
Tags
science fiction · speculative fiction · anthropology · insects · society · human behavior · ecology · technology · survival · conflict · intelligence · evolution
What this Textopian page supports
Let the Ants Try is listed on Textopian as a novel by Frederik Pohl, dated 1987 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Novel
- Author: Frederik Pohl
- Date: 1987 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Science Fiction, Dystopian, Post-Apocalyptic, Speculative Fiction, Adventure
- Length: 5,444 words
- Structure: 1 section, 129 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Let the Ants Try by Frederik Pohl
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
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