The novella that spawned two iconic sci-fi films can be read in an afternoon. The 1951 "The Thing from Another World" borrows the novella's concept, but not much else. John Carpenter's 1981 adaptation is closer to the novella, though the endings differ.

Campbell's techno-babble, scientific writing is fantastic, but his pulp origins are apparently in some of this descriptions, like MacReady being a man of bronze. (What, like Doc Savage?)

Definitely a must read for fans of the genre, and the films in particular.