The Root Of A Pop Culture Phenomenon

There’s little that can be said about this novella that either hasn’t been said already, or that would spoil the story for newcomers by describing the plot. Much like the movies this story inspired (especially the John Carpenter movie, The Thing) it flew under the radar for quite some time, only to become the cult classic we know it as today.
It has a few minor flaws, from a writing perspective, mixed in with the dazzling originality and it could have been polished into an outright classic, acknowledged in its day. But for all that, its fascination has gripped the imagination of fans, film makers, musicians and fan fiction writers (some of them actually pretty good) throughout the years since.
The narration, while fluent, is flat when it comes to the characters, who all come off sounding the same in the hands of this narrator, who isn’t bothering with tone, accents or characterisation. That’s a shame, since a science fiction thriller, of this type, relies on the tension and dense atmosphere of claustrophobia, juxtaposed against the dizzying, agoraphobia of the potential threat from other characters and the vertiginous, howling endless exterior of its Southern Polar setting.
It is still well worth a listen though. Especially if you’re a sci-fi fan and don’t know this story; those listeners are in for a treat.

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Brilliant listen

absolutely a great story, was expecting it to be longer but nonetheless still very intruiging. would recommend to most!

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