Who Goes There - science fiction

CallOfCth'reader · 08-02-2021, 01:23 AM

Who Goes There - John W Campbell

This is a novella, written in 1938, about the events at an Antarctic research base when they discover an alien craft buried in the ancient glacial ice. They excavate an "occupant" that has been frozen in the ice for millions of years, and take it back to their base to study.

Being set in the 1930s the technology is very limited, so that the staff of the research base are totally isolated when events take a turn for the worse. Paranoia builds as they start to piece together what is befalling them. There is a logical progression of scientific theory in their various discussions, although it has to be remembered that this was written in 1938 when people had different ideas about alien life forms!

Two films have been based on this novella: The Thing from Another World (1951), and the iconic The Thing (1982). The 1951 film bears very little resemblance to the book, while 1982's The Thing is a more faithful up to date version of the story.

It's worth a read, although I wouldn't pay more than 99 pence/cents due to its length. It may well be included in some SF collections on the various stores.

db105 · 08-02-2021, 07:36 AM

If you want to find where it has been published, this is the info from the ISFDB:

http://www.isfdb.org/cgi-bin/title.cgi?860248

It's in The Science Fiction Hall of Fame Volume 2A, for example. (The SF Hall of Fame anthologies are highly recommended for fans of classic SF stories).

CallOfCth'reader · 08-02-2021, 09:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by db105

If you want to find where it has been published, this is the info from the ISFDB:

http://www.isfdb.org/cgi-bin/title.cgi?860248

It's in The Science Fiction Hall of Fame Volume 2A, for example. (The SF Hall of Fame anthologies are highly recommended for fans of classic SF stories).

Thank for that information. I had no idea there was a database for stories.

Amazon and Kobo (UK) both have that ebook volume, so it's going on my wishlist.

Pajamaman · 08-02-2021, 10:06 AM

Edit: Not sure if it's public domain. Here is the link to Cambell's books on Gutenberg.

https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/author/9112

rantanplan · 08-02-2021, 11:42 AM

The standalone edition by Gateway Essentials is probably the best edition (for now). At least until standardebooks.org uploads an improved version. I don't think it's Public Domain yet.

ZodWallop · 08-04-2021, 07:50 PM

Who Goes There? is actually the shortened revision of the story. The original version, titled Frozen Hell is 45 pages longer. It was discovered among Campbell's papers at Harvard and has been released as an ebook.

Opinions are split on whether the extra pages add or detract from the story. It's likely a wash. Still, worth a look.

Alan Dean Foster wrote a well regarded novelization of the John Carpenter movie. Unfortunately, it is not *legally* available as an ebook.

CallOfCth'reader · 08-04-2021, 09:35 PM

@ZodWallop

Yeah, I read about that. The longer version is on both (UK) Amazon and Kobo stores, but the reviews put me off buying it. It's on my wish lists on both sites, so I'll probably pick it up if it drops to 99p.

Dr. Drib · 08-04-2021, 09:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZodWallop

Who Goes There? is actually the shortened revision of the story. The original version, titled Frozen Hell is 45 pages longer. It was discovered among Campbell's papers at Harvard and has been released as an ebook.

Opinions are split on whether the extra pages add or detract from the story. It's likely a wash. Still, worth a look.

Alan Dean Foster wrote a well regarded novelization of the John Carpenter movie. Unfortunately, it is not *legally* available as an ebook.

That looked so interesting that I just now bought it.

I read the original novella years ago, but I was not aware of an original - and much longer - shelved version.

It looks great, and I'll start reading it as soon as I finish some other reading obligations.

394 reviews. 4.5 stars.

Thank you!

BookCat · 08-06-2021, 05:24 AM

Wait another year or so and it should be in the public domain in countries with life+50 copyright.

However, he was an American author - they have peculiar copyright laws there.

JSWolf · 08-06-2021, 08:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BookCat

Wait another year or so and it should be in the public domain in countries with life+50 copyright.

However, he was an American author - they have peculiar copyright laws there.

The US has Mickey Mouse and politicians that can be bought. When the mouse's copyright is almost up, I can see the 100 years instead of 70.

08-02-2021, 01:23 AM	#1
CallOfCth'reader Cultist Posts: 195 Karma: 8624438 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: UK Device: Sony PRS 505, Kobo Mini, Kobo Glo, Kobo Forma, Kindle DX	Who Goes There - science fiction Who Goes There - John W Campbell This is a novella, written in 1938, about the events at an Antarctic research base when they discover an alien craft buried in the ancient glacial ice. They excavate an "occupant" that has been frozen in the ice for millions of years, and take it back to their base to study. Being set in the 1930s the technology is very limited, so that the staff of the research base are totally isolated when events take a turn for the worse. Paranoia builds as they start to piece together what is befalling them. There is a logical progression of scientific theory in their various discussions, although it has to be remembered that this was written in 1938 when people had different ideas about alien life forms! Two films have been based on this novella: The Thing from Another World (1951), and the iconic The Thing (1982). The 1951 film bears very little resemblance to the book, while 1982's The Thing is a more faithful up to date version of the story. It's worth a read, although I wouldn't pay more than 99 pence/cents due to its length. It may well be included in some SF collections on the various stores.

08-02-2021, 10:06 AM	#4
Pajamaman Wizard Posts: 2,827 Karma: 10700629 Join Date: May 2016 Location: Canada Device: Onyx Nova	Edit: Not sure if it's public domain. Here is the link to Cambell's books on Gutenberg. https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/author/9112 Last edited by Pajamaman; 08-02-2021 at 03:32 PM.

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08-02-2021, 07:36 AM	#2
db105 Zealot Posts: 145 Karma: 8302546 Join Date: Oct 2011 Device: kindle	If you want to find where it has been published, this is the info from the ISFDB: http://www.isfdb.org/cgi-bin/title.cgi?860248 It's in The Science Fiction Hall of Fame Volume 2A, for example. (The SF Hall of Fame anthologies are highly recommended for fans of classic SF stories).

08-02-2021, 11:42 AM	#5
rantanplan Guru Posts: 623 Karma: 8592298 Join Date: Nov 2019 Location: Wuppertal, Germany Device: Paperwhite (2021), Boox Note Air 2+, Kobo Clara 2E, Tolino Vision 6	The standalone edition by Gateway Essentials is probably the best edition (for now). At least until standardebooks.org uploads an improved version. I don't think it's Public Domain yet.

08-04-2021, 07:50 PM	#6
ZodWallop Gentleman and scholar Posts: 10,994 Karma: 108312789 Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Space City, Texas Device: Clara HD; Nook ST w/Glowlight, (2015) Glowlight Plus, Paperwhite 3	Who Goes There? is actually the shortened revision of the story. The original version, titled Frozen Hell is 45 pages longer. It was discovered among Campbell's papers at Harvard and has been released as an ebook. Opinions are split on whether the extra pages add or detract from the story. It's likely a wash. Still, worth a look. Alan Dean Foster wrote a well regarded novelization of the John Carpenter movie. Unfortunately, it is not legally available as an ebook.

08-04-2021, 09:35 PM	#7
CallOfCth'reader Cultist Posts: 195 Karma: 8624438 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: UK Device: Sony PRS 505, Kobo Mini, Kobo Glo, Kobo Forma, Kindle DX	@ZodWallop Yeah, I read about that. The longer version is on both (UK) Amazon and Kobo stores, but the reviews put me off buying it. It's on my wish lists on both sites, so I'll probably pick it up if it drops to 99p.

08-06-2021, 05:24 AM	#9
BookCat C L J Posts: 2,912 Karma: 21115458 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Birmingham UK Device: Sony e-reader 505, Kindle PW2, Kindle PW3, Kobo Libra2	Wait another year or so and it should be in the public domain in countries with life+50 copyright. However, he was an American author - they have peculiar copyright laws there.

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