Student Body (F. L. Wallace)

The biologist in a group who land on a new planet, finds a mice-like animal which he needs to contain to make sure it doesn't adversely effect the humans, as they start to colonise the area. A robot cat/killing machine is used to control the mice, but this is later found in pieces after a larger breed of rat materialises and they attack the robot in numbers. Dogs are therefore brought in to see off the rats, but the evolution on the planet is much faster than expected.

Any short story with its own Wikipedia entry must be good and Student Body (not totally sure about the relevance of the title) is excellent. The narrative is easy to read, informative and exciting, and without having to spend pages and pages explaining the underlying meaning, conveys all it needs to and more. The conclusion stops you in your tracks (despite being slightly telegraphed) and this would make a first rate sci-fi film for all Alien and Predator fans.

Overall:- 8.5/10

Planet:- Glade

Included in:-
Spectrum V edited by Kingsley Amis & Robert Conquest (22 pages)