Something in the Egyptian sands or in its sunlight or in the dreams of its people — something permeates and grows its segmented creatures to unusual size. But how? The planet's current oxygen concentration cannot support land invertebrates of such scale. Impossible bugs. And yet, we are so far beyond impossible, aren't we, sweetling?
—The Buzzing, The Secret World
There ain't enough pesticide in the whole damned country to handle a hive that big, an' that's just one of 'em! There's thousands an' thousands of 'em! Oh, Hell... we're screwed!
—An exterminator, while frantically closing up shop, The End of the World: Alien Invasion
Well, I always thought insects would end up inheriting the world. Just never thought they'd be so bloody big.
—John Taylor, Something From The Nightside
"Look, man, do I look like an ichthyologist to you? Big damn bugs, all right? The size of my fist! The size of a peanut butter and banana sandwich!"
Picture a large version of any other type of creature.
A large fish is still a fish. A large bird is an ostrich or something else normal. A large reptile? Alligator. A large mammal? Bear. Normal shit.
You know what's not normal? A large insect.
You know why it's not normal? Because a large insect would be a monster and monsters are not normal.
Imagine a fly the size of trash can or an ant the size of a park bench or a cockroach the size of a car. Is there any word you'd use to describe those things besides monster?
A large fish is still a fish. A large bird is an ostrich or something else normal. A large reptile? Alligator. A large mammal? Bear. Normal shit.
You know what's not normal? A large insect.
You know why it's not normal? Because a large insect would be a monster and monsters are not normal.
Imagine a fly the size of trash can or an ant the size of a park bench or a cockroach the size of a car. Is there any word you'd use to describe those things besides monster?
— Tim Urban, "Why Bugs Ruin Everything
"
"Toren had stepped on a lot of bugs during his life, so he couldn't help feeling embarrassed when a bug stepped on him.
It's bad luck to step on one, but worse luck to have one step on you.
