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midici's review against another edition
3.0
I don't think I've ever watched the movie "The Thing" based on John W. Campbell’s “Who Goes There?” both of which are retold from the alien's point of view in this story, The Things.
It's based on an alien lifeform that has crashed to Earth. When it wakes up it tries to contact the dominant lifeform- by assimilating it into itself, which is what it considers a natural way to improve both itself and whatever its assimilating. The natural way of the world, according to this alien, is for matter to transform itself into what is needed, and to assimliate ever more into itself in order to increase knowledge and matter.
It has a difficult time assimilating. It cannot seem to find this world's consciousness and is concerned by how the biomass keeps fighting assimilation. At the end of this story the alien comes to the realization that life on this planet has never had the same ability to 'form communion' and is instead stuck in isolated, unchanging forms. It forgives the humans for any violence it has done, assuming now that they can't possibly know better, and vows to help them all. By force, if necessary.
I found the story here: http://clarkesworldmagazine.com/watts_01_10/
It's based on an alien lifeform that has crashed to Earth. When it wakes up it tries to contact the dominant lifeform- by assimilating it into itself, which is what it considers a natural way to improve both itself and whatever its assimilating. The natural way of the world, according to this alien, is for matter to transform itself into what is needed, and to assimliate ever more into itself in order to increase knowledge and matter.
It has a difficult time assimilating. It cannot seem to find this world's consciousness and is concerned by how the biomass keeps fighting assimilation. At the end of this story the alien comes to the realization that life on this planet has never had the same ability to 'form communion' and is instead stuck in isolated, unchanging forms. It forgives the humans for any violence it has done, assuming now that they can't possibly know better, and vows to help them all. By force, if necessary.
I found the story here: http://clarkesworldmagazine.com/watts_01_10/
omnificer's review against another edition
5.0
The Thing, the film specifically, tells one story. A monster threatens everything it means to even be human. You feel the paranoia, disgust, and fear at basic biology being violated in such a violent manner.
The Things switches to the other perspective, that of the creature being immolated at every turn. This perspective is such a fantastic reversal of expectations. I haven't read much that encapsulates just how alien the mind of an alien could be. And how terrifying we, humans, would be in turn.
I can't speak to whether this story stands its ground without prior context but I can say that it complements the film masterfully and I've rated it with that context in mind.
The Things switches to the other perspective, that of the creature being immolated at every turn. This perspective is such a fantastic reversal of expectations. I haven't read much that encapsulates just how alien the mind of an alien could be. And how terrifying we, humans, would be in turn.
I can't speak to whether this story stands its ground without prior context but I can say that it complements the film masterfully and I've rated it with that context in mind.
arachnichemist's review against another edition
4.0
This is the aliens point of view from the movie Thing. It is a very very cool take on the aliens view of humanity and how it perceives life so very differently. I think you do gain a lot more from this book if you have seen the movie, which I haven't. I am going to have to rent the movie now and see it from the humans point of view. Even without the movie knowledge, it is still a fascinating read.
victoriaisabel's review against another edition
4.0
Absolutely terrifying. Excuse me while I never sleep again.
davybaby's review
4.0
A remarkable short story exploring the events around John Carpenter's The Thing from the perspective of The Thing itself. It excellently presents a wholly alien perspective, and in turns horrifies us through what The Thing does, and presents its human attackers as horrifying in their own right.
Well worth the time it takes to read, and it can be read in full (or listened to in audio form) at Clarkesworld Magazine: http://clarkesworldmagazine.com/watts_01_10/
Well worth the time it takes to read, and it can be read in full (or listened to in audio form) at Clarkesworld Magazine: http://clarkesworldmagazine.com/watts_01_10/
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