It’s been years since I watched the classic 1982 horror movie The Thing, but I recently relived the experience while listening to a Clarkesworld Magazine podcast of The Things by Peter Watts.

Watts does an awesome job of retelling the story from the point of view of the alien. In the movie, the alien life form appears as a shape-shifting goo that can take over any organic life form. It goes on a killing spree till only two characters remain at a standoff with flamethrowers and guns, each suspecting the other of bring the alien.

Watts’ retelling of the story through the “eyes” of the alien (or rather the eyes of its victims) builds a character that is convincing as a murderous monster. To the alien, humans are things to be afraid of. It is only seeking communion with organic life forms. Why should these organics resist such an opportunity? Why would they try to kill it instead?

Independence and individuality are concepts beyond its understanding. As it learns from its victims, Watts reveals his expertise in marine biology. He paints an alien life form that is at once complex and simple. He doesn’t bog down the story with technical jargon but includes enough science speak to provide a believable alien life form with a world view that is consistent with its biology. My favorite image he creates is when the alien discovers that the things are controlled by a brain, which it finds repulsive on the level of a cancer as if the brain had taken over the biological life form. The alien would then feel justified in freeing the life form from this cancerous growth.

The podcast runs about 50 minutes and held me captive the entire time. I even found myself driving slower on my commute to make sure I heard the entire story before I arrived at home.

Let me know what you think of it.

Clarkesworld Magazine Issue 40
The Things by Peter Watts