Frogs and Scientists

Infobox short story |
name = Frogs and Scientists
title_orig =
translator =
author = Frank Herbert
country = United States
language = English
series =
genre =
published_in = "Destinies"
publication_type =
publisher = Ace Books
media_type = Print (Paperback)
pub_date = 1979
english_pub_date =
preceded_by =
followed_by =

"Frogs and Scientists" is a short short story by science fiction author Frank Herbert which first appeared in the August-September 1979 edition of "Destinies: The Paperback Magazine of Science Fiction and Speculative Fact" and later in Herbert’s 1985 short story collection "Eye".

Plot summary

Two frogs are counting minnows in a hydroponics pond when a human female comes to take a bath. The two frogs begin discussing the woman, and the frog Lapat tries to explain what is going on to the other forg, Lavu. Lapat tells Lavu about the use of clothing, his theory about the purpose of breasts, and the belief that the woman is there trying to attract a mate. When Lavu asks Lapat why he knows so much about humans, Lapat says "I pattern my life after the most admirable of all humans, the scientist." After Lapat explains what a scientist is, the frogs go back to counting minnows.

Characters

*Lapat – frog who admires scientists
*Lavu – second frog
*Unnamed human female
*Unnamed human male

Sources

* Herbert, Frank. "Frogs and Scientists" (short short story) "Destinies", 1979