Final answer:
Pat Frank may not have included specific dates in his novel to create a timeless quality to the story and emphasize the universal aspects of human behavior and society.
Step-by-step explanation:
Pat Frank may not have included specific dates in his novel for several reasons.
One possible reason is to create a timeless quality to the story, allowing readers from different time periods to relate to the events and themes.
By omitting dates, Frank also avoids limiting the story to a particular historical period and can focus more on the universal aspects of human behavior and society.
Furthermore, the absence of dates may serve to emphasize the timeless nature of the challenges and social issues that the characters face.