YMMV / Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH

• Adaptation Displacement: Many people who've seen the movie aren't even aware this book exists.
• Aluminum Christmas Trees:
  • Yes, NIMH may seem like a Government Agency of Fiction, but it did (and does) actually exist.
  • "Huh, why is the main character named "Frisby" here? That sounds like a weird typo". Actually, Frisby is a real life surname, the Adaptation Name Change was an example of Writing Around Trademarks.
• Fridge Horror: The usual reason to do animal testing is to apply the results, if successful, to human beings. Let's hope the directors of NIMH are aware of the Scale of Scientific Sins.
• Inferred Holocaust: The rats of NIMH increased from a group of 20 rats to 115 rats in only five years. Thorn Valley can sustain an estimated capacity of 2000 rats. If the rat population continues to grow at the same rate (about 142% a year), they will hit their maximum sustainable population density in only 8 years. Normally the fact that rats breed like... well rats, is remedied by predation and their own short lifespans, but since the rats of NIMH are too smart to prey on and they've been uplifted, their lifespans are many, many times that of an ordinary rat. These rats are either going to have to invent the world's tiniest condoms or the earth will be entirely overrun by hyper-intelligent rats in less than fifty years.
  • Rat biology may actually provide its own solution here, as males produce a jelly that literally blocks up the female's vaginal tract at the end of copulation. If Mr. Ages can concoct antidotes for spider venom, the rats should be able to synthesize an artificial "plug" for prophylactic use.
  • The sequels indicate that many of the mated Thorn Valley couples have limited offspring, and that many rats choose to focus on scientific pursuits for some years before even considering a family. Timothy and Racso's best friend Christopher often bemoans his only-child status.

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