The Things
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- Опубліковано 13 січ 2014
- The Things by 2011 Hugo Award Nominee Peter Watts
The Things - The story of John Carpenters classic Sci-Fi Horror movie as told from the perspective of the creature as it battles to survive.
Narrated with the permission of Peter Watts..
Text: clarkesworldmagazine.com/watts...
Peter Watts Official Site: www.rifters.com/
MP3 Download;
www.mediafire.com/?igy1r62lfu... - Розваги
“No. I shared my flesh with thinking cancer.”
Great line to describe a human. Made my skin crawl.
Explains a lot doesn't it
No wonder we have so many problems..
By the thing’s definition, all earth animals are thinking cancer@@GRasputin91
was just gonna write the same thing when remembering reading this comment xD who u calling a thinking cancer heh?
Okay, let me get this straight. After the alien assumes a man's form, his mind remains intact for a time. At first, the man would be unaware anything had happened, but as the assimilation progressed, he'd realize he ... wasn't alone? Then there'd be a small window of time when the man was aware of the THING within and, if he had enough presence of mind and understanding, might be able to warn everyone else?
Now, that's an unspeakable state of affairs that had never occurred to me. I love this kind of stuff.
And during that "window" the alien would probably paralyze him.
@@NathanTarantlawriter
I don't know. There might not be a need for the alien to do anything, since nobody would know what the unfortunate infected guy was babbling about.
But wait. Wasn't the guy who bashed up all their radios and stuff acting during the window, and was he the same one who disabled the plane? Or did the creature orchestrate all of that, and if so, why?
@@crazierthan-u7571 So many questions. Have you read the original original tale the Thing is based on? It still holds up imho.
@@NathanTarantlawriter
"Who Goes There?" oh, yeah. It's pretty good. Have you seen the first movie they made of it in the '50s? That was a hoot.
Speaking of books turned movies, I listened to Philip K. Dick's "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?" (Bladerunner). I really liked that one.
@@crazierthan-u7571 The original The Thing is one of my all time favs. Still stands up. Hard to believe how far ahead of his time PKD was.
"I have assimilated a thousand worlds stronger than this, but never one so strange." This book is perfect, I know it isn't cannon but it is a perfect addition to Carpenter's film
Thousand stronger worlds but we’re just to strange…
I’ll have to remember that line when discussing the Fermi paradox.
The idea that the alien could watch the dreams and nightmares of its host is fascinating
Maybe it can feel the screams of the many still trapped inside it
@@SamuelBlack84sure, but it does so much more. If you take a look at some of Peter's other stories you can see the emphasis on how difficult it is to understand a fellow, alien intelligence.
The Thing *immediately* understands them. It is practically godlike when compared to every single being ever presented in Watts' stories.
Knowing all of that displays a reverence for The Thing he has one might not initially realize.
Watts fucking adores this creation, if only in some remote hypothetical closet of his mind that was opened momentarily to realise this work.
While I prefer the "Childs isn't the Thing" interpretation for the ending of the OG film, I do like how Watts includes that bit where Childs's dying consciousness straight-up calls The Thing a soul-stealing rapist. One last act of rebellion that makes The Thing actually question why it does what it does.
Also where the thing learned the word "rape", I wonder if what it thinks the word means is different from what we think it means.
The way it describes human loneliness is scary accurate--"unable to communicate except through grunts and tokens." The Thing doesnt communicate--it can see and feel exactly how other lifeforns can. Impossible to comprehend but so incredibly fascinating to think about
It's strange how while reading this excellent short story I almost feel sympathy for the thing. I love how it tries to put you through the thing's point of view and how it conveyes the sense that despite the monster's atrocious behaviour it could not understand why humans were trying to attack it, it was only doing what came natural to it. I find it a very thoughtful representation of how Alien life could think, what is normal for us may be threat to another being and vice versa
Come, take communion with me, for I'm the "THING".
That is hilarious
I take that back.
@@Arwcwb XD XD why?
@@joethekinghawk7514 Catholics and the Thing have lots in common
This explains why the Thing attacked so openly and clumsily in the Norwegian camp. It didn't yet realize that humans feared "communion" and it was better to assimilate them when they were alone and unseen - one by one by one...
Ohhhhh interesting! And here I thought it was because the remake was an unnecessary, poorly written, incompetently shot, dumpster fire of a movie.
I like both of these theories!
It's a good demonstration of how truly alien the motives of aliens might be.
@@notinspectorgadget It was still an unnecessary, poorly written, incompetently shot, dumpster fire of a movie. LoL
Oh come on....it was a good movie. Worth a watch anyway.
The difference between fan fiction and the dedicated work of an actual writer is really immense! This was brilliant and engrossing. Loved it!
This IS fanfiction, buddy.
@@GigaBoost Obviously, but by a professional writter and I think it makes all the difference.
@@CHALETARCADE so what you mean to say is that there's a difference between a great writer and an amateur
@@GigaBoostyes. That was the initial point. One that you chose to miss, purposefully, to show some retarded sense of grandeur.
It's strange, watching people's minds evolve through YT comments. Like you can't do it on your own, you need to peacock and pretend.
@@stevenhetzel6483unessesarily rude comment is unessesarily rude.
I love how the thing consider the world to not be the planet itself but the life on it and refers to it as such.
"I was once so much more, spreading across the cosmos and taking communion with different lifeforms, a solder, fighting against entropy itself making the unfit fit". The thing speak as if it's a god of some sort. Wow!
Well, it is some sort of supernatural being, close to unbeatable and very op.
Travelling accross the universe assimilating the shape and knowledge, consuming every kind of lifeform.
Not a god, but a celestial soldier toiling away planet after planet, world after world...with a single purpose: 'Make the unfit, fit. Shore up the interstellar beach against erosion. Deny entropy with constant innovation.'
Sounds like the life of a slave, shackked and harnessed by nature's programming...not a god.
@@livingbeing1113 deep, very deep.
I wonder how it got off the planet it originally came from? Perhaps an alien visitor landed on its planet, and it took the opportunity
@@SamuelBlack84 Or perhaps it figured out physics and built its own ship
the best reading of this piece out there. the narrators voice is dead on for this alien, so self absorbed and arrogant, "they. attacked. me."
A radical Self-defense bigot villain
So it's a liberal alien thing? LoL
@@derpymcderpster3447 Kung flu fighting
It's not arrogant, just otherworldy and confused.
@@derpymcderpster3447 I bet you have a lot of friends...
Ahahah, the way it explains the brain. " I felt sick."
I enjoyed this a lot. I did always imagine the Thing being very predatory as well.
It was cool how horrified the Thing was by the human brain, regarding it as a cancer. It was sickened by the thought it had been communing with cancer.
Amazing! I noticed that as the story progresses, we(the humans) are referred to as “the things”. An individual existence, one separate from the whole is unthinkable for it.
Based on my interpretation of some of the background information the thing gives on some of its previous interstellar travels I’ve come to an interesting conclusion. This is more speculation and hearsay than explicit text, but it says that it’s been to other planets before and taken communion but it’s never encountered anything like humanity. To me this seems to imply that it’s only ever encountered two types of lifeforms. Animals, which it seems to regard as useful but not particularly interesting, and other sapient life which is also similar to itself. If this is true then the default form that Apex sapient life on any given plan it takes might be gestalt absorbing consciousness. Humanity may be an incredibly rare exception or even unique surrounded on all sides by other planets that all evolved different versions of the same entity.
Humans do assimilate, but not in the way that the Thing does. We have sex, bare children and we live in immortality that way by passing on our genes. That is a form of communion. The alien doesn't understand or doesn't know about reproductivity, which maybe exclusive to Earth from the rest of the universe.
It's similar to the theory that sapient life might be either incredibly rare or a one-off that occurred only on our planet, and all other alien lives are nothing but simple microscopic life
It’s also interesting when the thing is taking over the body he says he’s looking for the hive mind but there is none and realizes every human is unique and sentient all on their own.
Damn, this makes want to be a better writer!
This is just the pure definition of excellent writing.
How wickedly ironic the tone is throughout! "Take Communion" indeed LOL. This is some expertly-written character development; the being becomes more arrogantly human than the humans he rides--THEY are the Things, not he himself. I loved it all! Bravo to the writer and voice actor!
This an amazing 53 minutes. Both the narration was great and the story as well. It was fascinating seeing a being like this, or better to say a fragment of being like this, and how it at first struggled to comprehend the life forms on this planet (the dogs and humans). Going through different theories just to in the end sympathize and feel sorry for us, as from its point of view we were trapped in a singular form, unable to adapt, evolve and change. This work puts out so many questions and yet it also has some interesting answers to offer. Fascinating, truly it was. Thank you Peter for sharing this audio narration of "the Things" with us!
only the thing was wrong. very wrong. we are incredible shape shifters. have been shifting for aeons. constantly morphing. imperceptibly. subtly. remorselessly. and. and, we actually, yes, exist!
@@andy-the-gardenerthat is so far and beyond the point I feel like we didn't just listen to the same story..
We HAVE been shifting for eons. But.. it's taken eons. The Thing shifts and adapts *immediately*, how else does it conquer, rather, assimilate 1,000 worlds so easily?
The fact that we are so incredulously slow to change and adapt, down to our most basic workings, is what confused the everloving shit out of it.
It is implying other life shifts far quicker in environments. Not only that, it implies it's presence and wealth of evolutionary ability and information is practically *welcomed* by *every* alien form it has assimilated, every one but us. Us, who are so distant and combative to even the thought of change.
This isn't just some evolutionary take on Humans, it's a deeply philosophical one. Watts is trying his best to show how stubborn we are in spite of dumbfounding odds, and your comment hilariously only serves to prove it.
This was EPIC.
Recommended by RLM's Rich "Oh My God!!" Evan's.
also here on Rich's recommendation, insane i didn't know this story existed
Rich!!!!!!!!!!!
Thanks to him I get here too
It's kinda funny to hear it talk shit about our anatomy, especially the brain lol
Yeah -- "thinking cancer"? Was that it?
@@crazierthan-u7571 Among other things. LoL
It has a great disdain for the human brain and nerves system.
It was more on morphology than static ability
This is an amazing short story. Reading through the comments I am amazed that some people cannot see its point. It's a counter narrative. Clever. Insightful. Poignant.
this just makes the situation even sadder
This narrator is easily the best I've ever heard
From 1938's "Who Goes There?" to film adaptations in the 50s and 80s to this story, it never gets old. Thanks for posting.
I find it inreresting how despite the countless lifeforms its assimilated over the millenia it still retains its own yhoughts, personality, droves and desires. It doesn't just absorb the flesh, it also completely overrules their minds so only its own is dominant
"They. Attacked. Me. First."
Sure thing buddy, sure thing.
Generic Protagonist it’s a counterpuncher, like Trump
I would say it was right if not for the fact that I’ve seen the prequel and the monster definitely attacked first.
@@GlaciusTS the thing says the humans attacked when it tried to take communion with them. So basically what the humans perceived as an attack was actually the assimilation wich was a natural process for the thing hence why it was surprised by the fact that humans didn't understand it's logic. The story shows how truly alien the thing was, not just in biology but even in it's way of thinking
@@thekingsean92 Thank you. I didn't think this needed clarification.
@@povertychef46 it does need clarification if you only watch the movie. In the movie the thing just appears to be malevolent, while the short story reveals how much more of a personality it possesses, with feelings and a full conscience
thinking cancer now that is a great line
Damn, i realized a long time ago that the thing and cancer ain't that different
@@k9cobra728 both destroy you on a cellular level.
Peter Watts is amazing! Thank you, Peter Reynolds, for excellent delivery!
I just came across this after watching a version of the Dark Horse Alien 3 comic. It was in the links of that video and I’m very happy I clicked it. I wasn’t aware, before hearing this, the story had been told from the “Things” perspective. I thoroughly enjoyed it. Thank you for making this available ✌️🙂👍
Edit: I thought the title “The Things” referred to the separate alien entities but finally realized it referred to the separate humans as alien had trouble understanding life being/having individual and separate thoughts and existence from each other and not a collective like itself. F’n brilliant writing.
you had me at "I am being Blair"
The Thing would be great at acting.
This was amazing. I've wondered when exactly did Blair become an imitation of himself? The situation with Child's has always been a mystery. We see him leave the facility. We don't see him for a while. Then he pops back up after the whole facility and seemingly the thing is destroyed. It would make anyone wonder if Child's is really who he is. That's what makes some movies great, the mystery/suspense that leaves you trying to guess what has occurred. This was an entertaining and creepy perspective from the aliens' point of view.
This is such good sci fi. It’s rare that you get such a good POV from a truly alien creature
WOW!! I stumbled across a pdf version of this brilliant movie tie-in story and was literally blown away....NOW I find an audio version! The Gods are smiling on me today.
Mr. Watts crafted an exceptionally tight,well-written and very believable piece of fiction;managing to make it within the JC Thing canon. Some serious consideration,thought and extrapolation went into this jem. No...I`m not the guy`s agent,brother or bookie either! LOL I`m just a huge JC`s THE THING fan (love the Campbell story,50`s film...even that 'red-headed step-child' prequel from 2011) and appreciate the author`s gift of the Thing`s Side view. Have turned on many people to "The Things" over the past years,now it`ll be easier thanks to this audiobook version.
Much obliged,Mr.Peter Reynolds!
O.G. BigHosMan Glad you liked it, and thanks! The Thing is one of my all time favorite Sci Fi movies so, after Watts gave his blessing, I had to do it :)
Peter Reynolds Why is this version making the alien dumb? I read the original story, who goes there? The thing simply built a means of escape. It creates a power supply and antigravity. Why is this version making the alien dumb and pitiful? A creature that can travel the universe can get out of a well with ease. Why is this not mentioned in the story. It was a dangerous and intelligent alien not a pitiful creature in a well. What about the nuclear power? Antigravity? You should have followed the original message and story not John carpenter, he has no imagination and I think he messed up the original story, because you clearly just wanted a quick rating. People truly have no idea
Peter Reynolds You should have went by the original story not John carpenter version. It took too much intelligence from the alien
Peter Reynolds Raping, really sad to describe such an ancient creature communication skills. SMH. I am truly disappointed
Are you blind? Did neglect to see this at the very top of the description? "The Things by 2011 Hugo Award Nominee Peter Watts" - Note the author PETER WATTS. Well known Sci Fi Author. You don't like the story? Then go talk to Peter Watts and John Carpenter.
This was epic really cool to know how the thing thinks
MR Voorhe
I'm a huge fan of Carpenter's film and all the mythos about the Thing, so I found this story fascinating. I loved hearing a story from the Thing's POV.
Very impressive, I loved how the Thing described everything from it's perspective until it learn what we called it. Lends a whole new perspective on watching the movie again.
Of course it attacked you Thing! In our PoV you are a evil bio weapon whose thoughts match a megalomaniac like The Master from Fallout 1!
Great point.
Sebas G yah but the thing doesn’t have a human frame of reference. It’s a completely Alien Being who didn’t even know humans had individuality. To it, what it did was the equivalent to a handshake. That’s why I like this story so much, it if from a completely eldrich mindset looking in on human behavior!
This is one of the best short stories and a take on The Thing I've ever seen. Hugo Award Nominee indeed.
This is very interesting. As a biology student. Something like a creature like this explained? IT could come to our planet and literally just take over on a cellular level
This thing talks so much about being the essence of adaptation, but if you think about it, a world this thing has taken over couldn't even have anything _like_ an ecosystem. Why would a dog bother trying to eat a rabbit if they're both offshoots of the same person, after all? Once every thing is a thing, you might as well turn everything into a plant and just... sit there. Forever. There wouldn't even be a point in having thought anymore, for what is there to think about?
The Thing sounds like the Borg from Star Trek. Both trying to reshape every life form to conform to it's own physiology. The Thing declares we are unadaptable and claims it is trying to perfect our species, just like the Borg. Kinda gives new light to this creature. Maybe I should take this short story the next time I watch the movie.
This is super cool. I always thought the Thing to be the reason the ship crashed. Perhaps an escaped experiment turned against the ones who created the space ship. Kind of how the Shoggoth turned on the great old ones in "The Mountains of Madness".
I think the official theory is that it was taken by the crew of the ship as a specimen for study
it is funny that the Thing doesn't understand that we don't like being connected, well some of us but not all. Some of us hate the idea of sharing all. Thing doesn't understand this.
Communion (assimilation) is the thing's only driving force, it can't see anything outside of that.
Brilliant job, man. The aesthetic of your voice is somehow perfect for the creature, and the pacing is perfect as well.
I agree. Between this and "Troika" is a unanimous tie for me for the best-narration-with-regards-to-story award.
You can find it on YT rather easily.
I linked this in the RLM video... Probably no one will see that comment lol
this was a really cool perspective.
This is pretty brilliant.. and some very awesome thought experiments. I like the 3rd person flow.. of a single, yet legion organism.
I’m glad the YT gods finally brought this to me. U did an excellent job. I suggest to those who have not done so to read the short story yourself. The 2 together make for a more complete experience.
Thanks for narrating this. You did it well. Great take on a classic story, I wouldn't have come across it if not for your effort.
this is one of my all time sci fi stories ever
You know, for being a hyper intelligent being that traveled the stars and found a way to transcend death the creature sure had its fair share of dumb ass attacks
It was hyper intelligent before the crash. Afterwards when the majority of it was destoryed it only had around a human level of intellect and it was on an alien planet confused out of its mind leading to it making bad/ignorent assuptions.
Thx RLM.
I enjoyed this narration as much as I enjoyed reading The Things about a decade ago. I was only 11 when I saw John Carpenter's The Thing, but I recognized it to be a masterpiece decades before the critics realized they'd not given the movie half a chance. Watt's take on the psychology of "communion" from the Thing's perspective is brilliant, especially when contrasted against the loneliness of the human condition... Just WOW. And the Thing's ultimate decision to relieve our suffering by evolving human consciousness beyond its terrible condition of isolation- by raping it into us- is horror and humor perfectly complimenting one another.
Linked here from a forum, great story and great narration. Just like in the movie where the Thing is completely alien and unknowable, from the Thing's perspective it views us the same way. Liked how the Thing went from not understanding, to horror and revulsion, to finally sympathy and pity.
The best villains always think they're the good guys.
Yeah... until it says "I will r*pe it into them" but it genuinely thinks it's doing good. As it claims to want to evolve us. But I think it just wants to gather every piece of knowledge and learn pratically everything.
Ha another twist to the story. Very well narrated. Deep, somewhat raw, sound, very fitting. Thank you.
NorthernStar This version makes the alien dumb.Why? the original story of the thing it creates a power supply and antigravity, so why is this version making a intelligent alien pitiful alien dumb? It makes no sense
@@kittycatour1232 They mentioned Thing/Blair's DIY space ship somewhere around 2:10 so it retained some knowledge.
That was blood brilliant. Hats off to the narrator and author 👏
This was really, really good! Never felt those 53 minutes pass, but wanted more! I wish I would've known about this story years ago. Thank You and your effort!
Nothing like excellent story that is excellently read. So well done mr Reynolds. Had chills down my spine at times.
I love this! Don't love the idea of Child's being a Thing, but I still love it. Can't believe its taken me so long to discover it. Perfect reading too. No other reading comes close.
Childs wasn't the thing.
@@joethekinghawk7514 ~ He was in this story.
@@CastlesForEyes I hear you, but child's was human at the end according other cannons.
@@joethekinghawk7514 ~ Definitely. I only go by the film, this short story is just a "what if" sort of thing, and I love it. But as far as cannon goes, I only go by the film. I always imagined that they were both still human, but Childs just showing up like that at the end was suspicious as hell and started the paranoia all over again.
Helluva film, one of the best.
In the comics which is considered a sequel childs was the thing.check them out very interesting.
Damn Childs was infected long before the ending according to this.
- No man!! Don't believe it.
It's trying to pit us against each other!!
@@atilax6452 Trump's game plan...👀 sorry couldn't resist 🤔🤨😏😉☮️
@@willb5571 BIDEN IS the Thing 😋
Then how did he test negative in the blood test?
@@kman314wastaken The power of positive thinking
Came here via RedLetterMedias video. Looking forward to this!
First rate reading of a fascinating text. New life given to a classic.Thanks.
this is the best reading, the story alone is great but the way its read is what pulled me in.
Sounds like a twisted version of the Borg.
Will Not really twisted. The Borg are completely computer based, their philosophy forged by a computer and written in binary. The thing is, at least, organic and capable of emotion in its own way.
@@TheCorrodedMan Ah, but the Borg are capable of emotion when separated from the collective. Remember Hugh, aka Third of Five?
Amazing thank you for taking the time to narrate this!
After listening to this story, I believe the best quote to be,
"Suffer not the Xenos to live."
Freaking awesome..I'm completely floored..
Just an absolutely brilliant slant on a classic .. love it!!
Very enjoyable story, and narration. It's tone and perspective is something special. I have listened to it a good few times today.
This leaves me feeling like Ive listened to back to back joy Division records. It leaves a great space left inside to ponder and reflect upon the meaning of... my god yes, we are together all alone.
Astonishing writing and reading. I had a great time listening!
Reminds me of Brainiac and the Borg. Since the borg claims to want to improve humanity while Brainiac is wants to gather all knowledge of life.
Very well thought out and nicely recorded. Thanks!
The beat is the Thing's heart beating
Incredibly well written and the reading voice was superb. Fantastic!
Can we get Keith David to read this?
CB Buddha Jesus Christ that would be amazing!...
This is superbly done, a fantastic concept.
2:05 "The world has found Meowth."
Brill story and narration! Thanxx
I've no idea how it could be implemented but I would love to see this made into a sister movie to the original.
Perhaps like a directors commentary over the footage.
Loved it, level 10, top shelf. 👌
Excellent story
Way beyond awesome!
Fantastic. Thank you.
Excellent writing and reading!
Love this!
It's an interesting thought experiment, trying to imagine our species from the veiw point of an organism so unlike us.
It reminds me a little of "Wittgenstein's Lion."
This is an amazing concept.
I thought it was well known that Childs was the thing at the end. Even I knew that as a kid. But the thing didn't want to assimilate McGreedy he doesn't like McGreedy. It doesn't want anything to do with assimilating with him. He's a loner. The creature is not a loner. It doesn't want to assimilate with a loner. McGreedy knows that Child's is the thing. And he is not going to let him get away.
This Guy, ONE VIDEO IN 10 YEARS?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?? and its effing fantabulous!
Wow!! What an amazing story! Well read as well.
Absolutely amazing Beautifully done Ty for posting this awesome story!🙂✌🏼
Outstanding job, thanks for sharing! 👍
I like how this story shows how truly alien an alien could be. It's Absurd to ascribe human emotions or any earth life motivations to something that evolved on a complete different planet. They could communicate in ways we can't comprehend. They could survive through modes we have never considered. For all we know they will have senses that we couldn't even imagine because we have no frame of reference. Alien life could be so bizarre that we haven't even imagined it.
So good I'm having another listen
If u guys liked this story, the style, the deeper concepts, the intelligent view of the situation, I suggest reading MORE Peter Watts baby!
Start with Blindsight, onto Echopraxia, then The Colonel.
The night before u begin Blindsight, get a good night of sleep. Eat a good meal. Watch some meaningless tv. Gaze upon your humble, safe surroundings and smile.
Then, begin your journey. In the weeks to follow, as u read, as u ponder, as u question and read again, u may have to ask people around u, to please, b patient. Tell them that u r "working on a project" and u have a lot on your mind.
When u return from your trip to the future, u may need a good, stiff drink. And a hug.
Ah brilliant I've heard this story a few times before but never got hold of any of his other fiction. He has done I think a talk at Google a few years ago. Thanks!
The Blindsight audiobook was outstanding. 👍😁
I'd heard of Echopraxia, didn't realize it was the same author. Thank you!
@@lpg12338 - I have read it a few times and enjoy the Audible version. This book is in my top 5 favorites. "The Colonel" is a short story that takes place before "Blindsight" and "Echopraxia" is after. I wish he would explore that universe a little more. I think he is giving us a fairly accurate glimpse of our future world. Unfortunately.
@@richardspillers6282 - This us a great read as well. Same universe, but dives farther into themes, predictions and technologies hinted at in "Blindsight".
What a great concept
Great narration!
An amazing piece of brillance.
Beautifully narrated
This was awesome, stumbled onto this by sheer luck.