Ted Kosmatka's "The Prophet of Flores" (novelette, free): What if we are god'd lab animals?

Imagine an especially gifted boy playing selective breeding of animals. He has large cages filled with many kinds of mice - sort of microcosm to mice. He favors some with special traits, & arranges breeding conditions that make favored multiply - sacrificing other animals.

What if our universe is such a game, with we & other animals as pets & playthings!

In this story that has minor flavors of Theodore Sturgeon's "Microcosmic God" & Voltaire's "Plato's Dream", the protagonist discovers that the universe is not playground of one god but two. Sort of a competitive game where our god won!

I found it a good read, except for last 10%.

Fact sheet.

First published: Asimov's, September 2007.
Rating: B.
Download full text from publisher's site.
Among the preliminary nominees for Nebula Award 2008 in novelette category.
Related: Stories of Ted Kosmatka.