Sandkings

“Sandkings” is the thoroughly-creepy, and engrossing, entry from George R.R. Martin. Simon Kress likes exotic pets- especially violent, predatory ones. An imports dealer sells him four “Sandkings”- ant-like insects that build castles and fight wars with each other. They also worship the human being that feeds them, creating huge (from their perspective) carvings of Kress’ face on their castle walls.

(In other words, it’s a sort of live-action “Populous.”)

Some people can handle absolute power; Kress is not one of them. He starves the insects, tests them against small predators, and generally shows himself to be much less sympathetic than the insects. This creates some unease on his part, of course, as the insects grow larger; it’s only a matter of time before they get out and stage their own personal Reformation.