SOLVED. Sci/Fi. Rats on spaceship mutate and try to take over. Read around 1950s-1960s? [s]

[Kate]

I read this many years ago. In the story, the rats on an interstellar craft mutate as a result of living in parts of the ship un-shielded from radiation. The rats become intelligent and develop primitive technology and cultures. Eventually a rat prophet arises with telepathic powers and develops a religion one of whose aims is to kill off the human crew and take over the ship. Most of the story involves rat politics and how the rat prophet connives with the rat king’s paramour (sexy and ruthless) to take over rat society. This is a metaphor for human society.

[Kris]

Kate, around what year did you read this book? A range of years is fine.

[Kate]

It was years ago, but I read so much sci-fi I'm not sure of the date. But I would guess in the 1950's-1960's.
Thanks so much. I hope you can find it.

[Genesistrine]

Giant Killer by A Bertram Chandler? Collected in these anthologies: http://www.isfdb.org/cgi-bin/title.cg...

[Kate]

That is it! Thank you SO much.

[Genesistrine]

Glad to help!