Of Men and Monsters

Giant scary monsters have invaded Earth and now, centuries later, humans live like mice in the walls of the invaders gigantic structures.

William Tenn takes this cornball idea and runs with it. Full disclosure. I read the first portion of this novel when it was excerpted in the October 1963 edition of Galaxy magazine. I had just turned twelve. I thought at the time it was about the greatest thing I had ever read. Monsters, brave young heros, savagery, sex (lots of talk about mating) -- everything a 12 year old could want.

It is still an enjoyable story. I thought it was petering out near the end, but Tenn's vision of the next evolutionary step for mankind is, to say the least, humbling.