Carl Stephenson
by George Alex Windish

I had a teacher in college who told our class that every living person had one good short story inside of them. I think that's true. The best short stories are the ones that stay in your mind forever, even if you're only read them once. I'm thinking of stories like "The Tell-Tale Heart" by Poe, "The Money's Paw" by W.W.Jacobs, "The Speckled Band" by Arthur Conan Doyle and "Leinengen Versus the Ants" by Carl Stephenson.

Carl Stephenson was born in Indiana in 1876 and served for many years as a history professor at Cornell University. He was a medievalist and published several highly regard works in that field.

"Leinengen Versus the Ants" is a short, concise thriller concerning the efforts of a planter in the Amazon to stave off an advancing army of millions of voracious warrior ants. Leinengen believes that his human brain is more than a match for the forces of Nature, and is stubborn enough to put it to the test.

Hollywood filmed the story, somewhat changed, and called it "The Naked Jungle" starring steely eyed Charlton Heston. The plot (as well as some footage from the film) was used years later in an episode of the MacGyver TV show. Stephenson's idea of marauding armies of ants was used in several schlocky movies in the 70s, one of which starred Joan Collins (sigh).

Stories of man against nature have been grist for the storytellers since the dawn of time. Rarely has it been done better than by Carl Stephenson.

He died in 1954.

"Leinengen Versus the Ants" was the only short story that he ever wrote.


George Alex Windish has been writing for many years, and has become a better typist, if nothing else. He has placed nearly a dozen short stories of horror and science fiction, has had a weekly column in a local Baltimore newspaper, and has written for and edited COUNTRY LINE, a small Pennsylvania magazine. He has also done ad copy and correspondence for businesses.  He has long been a fan of genre literature and truly tacky movies, as well as being a collector of vintage records.  Contact him at GeorgeWindish@aol.com.