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Space Ants: Never Say Die
Survival amidst the rings of a gas giant means that life must adapt or die.
Luckily, Space Ants never say die!Space Never Say Die is a collection of serialized short stories following one colony. Each segment zooms in on a single ant from different castes—from tireless handmaidens and brave scouts to valiant soldiers and the indomitable queen mother—as they explore, extract, expand, and sometimes exterminate the deadly threats lurking in the gas giant's ring system.
Join the ants as they navigate the perils of deep impacts, dehydration, and the constant threat of rival colonies. Witness their rise from the brink of extinction to becoming a dominant force in their orbit.
Space Never Say Die is a sci-fi adventure like nothing you've read before.
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Reviews and
"What a spectacular success."
"... love the way you write these ants experiencing their hive, as something eusocial and positive even in the moments when it's very utilitarian."
"I did not expect me alternatively fearing for and cheering for the success of space ants."
Luckily, Space Ants never say die!Space Never Say Die is a collection of serialized short stories following one colony. Each segment zooms in on a single ant from different castes—from tireless handmaidens and brave scouts to valiant soldiers and the indomitable queen mother—as they explore, extract, expand, and sometimes exterminate the deadly threats lurking in the gas giant's ring system.
Join the ants as they navigate the perils of deep impacts, dehydration, and the constant threat of rival colonies. Witness their rise from the brink of extinction to becoming a dominant force in their orbit.
Space Never Say Die is a sci-fi adventure like nothing you've read before.
------------------------------------------
Reviews and
"What a spectacular success."
"... love the way you write these ants experiencing their hive, as something eusocial and positive even in the moments when it's very utilitarian."
"I did not expect me alternatively fearing for and cheering for the success of space ants."
119 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 26, 2024
About the author
Eric Kay
5 books26 followers Hard Science Fiction Author
Author Page Linktr.ee
If you like hard science fiction and it's impact on the world then check out my novels. I have been a Data analyst / scientist for a number of years and constantly think of creative ways fraudsters and companies might go about subtracting your money. The home for the hardest indie sci-fi!
Hard Sci-Fi books:
Novella: Space Ants: Never Say Die. Classic SF about survival and exolife. Nonhuman and no AI.
3rd Novel: Near-future Cyberpunk. AI Therapy in the age of dystopian surveillance Capitalism,
Above Dark Waters Your personal EEG data is going to feed the machines your nightmares.
2nd Novel: First Contact under Europa. A Hardness of Minds More off-beat, but describes the hard problems of communicating with Europa's seafloor.
1st novel: A utopian data science fiction No Lack of Sunshine.
Author Page Linktr.ee
If you like hard science fiction and it's impact on the world then check out my novels. I have been a Data analyst / scientist for a number of years and constantly think of creative ways fraudsters and companies might go about subtracting your money. The home for the hardest indie sci-fi!
Hard Sci-Fi books:
Novella: Space Ants: Never Say Die. Classic SF about survival and exolife. Nonhuman and no AI.
3rd Novel: Near-future Cyberpunk. AI Therapy in the age of dystopian surveillance Capitalism,
Above Dark Waters Your personal EEG data is going to feed the machines your nightmares.
2nd Novel: First Contact under Europa. A Hardness of Minds More off-beat, but describes the hard problems of communicating with Europa's seafloor.
1st novel: A utopian data science fiction No Lack of Sunshine.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
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November 26, 2024Read for SFINCS--review to come!
August 13, 2025
Space Ants: Never Say Die by Eric Kay is a fictional tale revolving around ants. Living in space, survival is the top priority. Similarly to all ants, these space ants thrive in colonies. Facing attacks from different colonies they have one goal: survival.
The book continually holds the themes of perseverance, hard work, adaptation, and teamwork. Ants famously known for their industrious nature have more to them than what we think. Through this book we realize job specialization isn’t only among humans. They take up different jobs for the survival of the colony. Warrior, handmaiden, workers, sighters e.t.c all have a role to play. Reading this book, one not only gains knowledge but also starts viewing ants in a different light. At the end, the writer even includes an ant morphology to enable one to get an understanding of some of the terms used.
What I enjoyed about this book was the author's genius idea to personify the ants. This book feels like a science fiction book based on ants. Words I never thought would be real. Space ants is a creative twist on traditional space exploration stories. Kay’s descriptive writing curates an interesting premise that is well-executed. I highly recommend this book to readers looking for an imaginative yet unique narrative.
The book continually holds the themes of perseverance, hard work, adaptation, and teamwork. Ants famously known for their industrious nature have more to them than what we think. Through this book we realize job specialization isn’t only among humans. They take up different jobs for the survival of the colony. Warrior, handmaiden, workers, sighters e.t.c all have a role to play. Reading this book, one not only gains knowledge but also starts viewing ants in a different light. At the end, the writer even includes an ant morphology to enable one to get an understanding of some of the terms used.
What I enjoyed about this book was the author's genius idea to personify the ants. This book feels like a science fiction book based on ants. Words I never thought would be real. Space ants is a creative twist on traditional space exploration stories. Kay’s descriptive writing curates an interesting premise that is well-executed. I highly recommend this book to readers looking for an imaginative yet unique narrative.
August 29, 2025
Space Ants: Never Say Die by Eric Kay is a science fiction novel about a colony of ants trying to survive on the hazardous rings of a gas giant. The reader acquires the lives of various ants through a series of simple and related stories, each having a role to play in the struggle to survive.
The book is a creative survival combination in which even minor creatures are able to acclimate to extreme circumstances. The stories concentrate on the lives of various ant species, making the process of reading unique and interesting.
The pacing feels consistent and never drags. The flow from one part to another is smooth, and the structure is easy to follow. The font size, font, and layout are easy to read so that one can read the book and enjoy it.
The language used to describe it is vivid without being excessive and provides the reader with just enough details to visualize what life is like in the rings of a gas giant without any difficulty.
The selected point of view allows the readers to peep inside the struggle of the colony and yet keep the focus clear. There is no feeling that anything is unbelievable since the elements of science are presented with logic and care.
The book will attract a broad age spectrum of readers, including young adult readers and adults who like reading books with original concepts. It is highly recommended for readers who enjoy fresh and imaginative science fiction filled with both wonder and survival.
The book is a creative survival combination in which even minor creatures are able to acclimate to extreme circumstances. The stories concentrate on the lives of various ant species, making the process of reading unique and interesting.
The pacing feels consistent and never drags. The flow from one part to another is smooth, and the structure is easy to follow. The font size, font, and layout are easy to read so that one can read the book and enjoy it.
The language used to describe it is vivid without being excessive and provides the reader with just enough details to visualize what life is like in the rings of a gas giant without any difficulty.
The selected point of view allows the readers to peep inside the struggle of the colony and yet keep the focus clear. There is no feeling that anything is unbelievable since the elements of science are presented with logic and care.
The book will attract a broad age spectrum of readers, including young adult readers and adults who like reading books with original concepts. It is highly recommended for readers who enjoy fresh and imaginative science fiction filled with both wonder and survival.
March 9, 2026
A Refreshing, High-Stakes Space Odyssey
Space Ants: Never Say Die is hands-down one of the most unique sci-fi reads I’ve picked up lately. Set in the harsh, unforgiving rings of a gas giant, it follows a single colony’s desperate fight for survival through a series of gripping, interconnected snapshots.
Seeing the world through the eyes of different castes—from the gritty soldiers to the indomitable queen—makes the stakes feel surprisingly personal. Between dodging orbital debris and battling rival colonies, the pacing never lets up. It’s a fascinating, "bug-eyed" look at adaptation and sheer grit. If you want sci-fi that actually feels alien and fresh, don’t sleep on this one!
Space Ants: Never Say Die is hands-down one of the most unique sci-fi reads I’ve picked up lately. Set in the harsh, unforgiving rings of a gas giant, it follows a single colony’s desperate fight for survival through a series of gripping, interconnected snapshots.
Seeing the world through the eyes of different castes—from the gritty soldiers to the indomitable queen—makes the stakes feel surprisingly personal. Between dodging orbital debris and battling rival colonies, the pacing never lets up. It’s a fascinating, "bug-eyed" look at adaptation and sheer grit. If you want sci-fi that actually feels alien and fresh, don’t sleep on this one!
July 23, 2025
This was a pleasant surprise find for me. The author has created a fun world where the reader gets to imagine themselves as observers in a unique environment. It is not a difficult read and it should be fine for maybe 7th grade and up.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews