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thomasguycott's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
jojodoho's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
thevidiot's review against another edition
2.0
The plot is interesting enough but the writing was rough. Campbell tends to jump around from scene to scene with little in the way of transition. It made for a confusing read in places.
sbsenpai's review against another edition
4.0
Paranoia is on the minds of these scientists as an alien lands on earth and can turn itself into any of them.
This super short book keeps adding to the suspense and fear as you read it wondering to yourself: Can I figure out who’s the Thing before it’s too late? This book of course was the basis for all three The Thing movies and it was nice to see where it all began.
This super short book keeps adding to the suspense and fear as you read it wondering to yourself: Can I figure out who’s the Thing before it’s too late? This book of course was the basis for all three The Thing movies and it was nice to see where it all began.
zachlittrell's review against another edition
4.0
"Mac, how long have the--cows been not-cows--"
The Thing is one of my favorite movies, and Campbell left an excellent template behind to work from. He cuts quickly and efficiently to the chase of what he's interested in: paranoia. The alien is introduced almost immediately, we figure out its quirk of consuming and imitating other life, and that it can be *anything*. How do you even know if *you* aren't a monster already? How do you outwit something that looks like you but thinks God knows what?
Sometimes the dialogue is clunky and outdated, and the action herky jerky (and quite a bit off-page. Several animals that were disguised aliens are slaughtered in between chapters). But I can see why this has been adapted many times now, because for it's got a nihilistic verve to suggest that, short of luck or the grace of God, humanity could be swept off the board and replaced in 7 days or less.
The Thing is one of my favorite movies, and Campbell left an excellent template behind to work from. He cuts quickly and efficiently to the chase of what he's interested in: paranoia. The alien is introduced almost immediately, we figure out its quirk of consuming and imitating other life, and that it can be *anything*. How do you even know if *you* aren't a monster already? How do you outwit something that looks like you but thinks God knows what?
Sometimes the dialogue is clunky and outdated, and the action herky jerky (and quite a bit off-page. Several animals that were disguised aliens are slaughtered in between chapters). But I can see why this has been adapted many times now, because for it's got a nihilistic verve to suggest that, short of luck or the grace of God, humanity could be swept off the board and replaced in 7 days or less.
therealcolemoyer's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
katmac13's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
deboraha's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
dodgeremerson's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
palomainiguez's review against another edition
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
2.0
I can recognize that this book had all the elements of a horror book that I might typically enjoy. The pursuit of science that goes horribly wrong, the whodunnit element and uncertainty at who amongst you has become a monster with no way to tell, the slow turning on each other as you attempt to convince yourself you’re still human. I think though where this misses the mark for me is that in its brevity and language (causes it was written so long ago) it fails to tell me enough to really set up the scenes and suspense and it often gets stuck in more jargon related to the science instead of setting up atmosphere and suspense. I can see why it worked well as a movie but ultimately not for me . 2/5