The Food of the Gods and How It Came to Earth

H. G. Wells

Summary

"In the world of the small, the large is always a monster."

What happens when science outpaces morality? When two eccentric scientists, Mr. Bensington and Professor Redwood, develop "Herakleophorbia"—a substance that allows for continuous, limitless growth—they envision a world of giant livestock and abundant food. Instead, they unleash a biological revolution. From giant wasps and man-eating rats to a new generation of human "Giants" who stand forty feet tall, the world is irrevocably changed. Wells uses this fantastic premise to craft a biting satire of a society that fears progress and a moving epic about the struggle for a larger, more noble existence.

The Chaos of the Small: The first half of the novel is a brilliant dark comedy. Due to the negligence of a pair of sloppy caretakers, the "Food" leaks into the English countryside, creating a nightmare of gargantuan pests. Wells meticulously describes the terror of a world where common insects and rodents become apex predators, forcing humanity to confront the dangers of its own tinkering.

The War of the Worlds (Small vs. Large): As the human "Children of the Food" grow to adulthood, they find themselves outcasts in a world built for "little people." The novel shifts from science fiction to political allegory, as the "old" world, led by the populist politician Caterham (the "Jack the Giant-killer"), attempts to suppress and destroy the giants. It is a powerful meditation on the "growing pains" of civilization and the fear of the unknown.

A Prophecy of the Future: Wells leaves the reader with a haunting question: Can humanity evolve fast enough to inhabit the world its science has created? The Food of the Gods is an essential read for anyone interested in the ethics of biotechnology and the eternal struggle between the status quo and the future.

Witness the growth of a new world. Purchase "The Food of the Gods" today and see the world through the eyes of a giant.

Available since: 01/08/2026.

Print length: 288 pages.

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