WHO GOES THERE?

Released in 1951, RKO's THE THING FROM ANOTHER WORLD drew it's inspiration from a novella published in a pulp magazine a little over a decade before.

"Who Goes There?" appeared in the August 1938 issue of ASTOUNDING SCIENCE-FICTION published by Street & Smith. It was written by Don A. Stuart, a pseudonym for John W. Campbell who had taken over the editorship of the magazine about six months before. A manuscript found later in Campbell's papers indicated that he had written the story as a full-length novel called "Frozen Hell".

First edition (Shasta, 1976) - Jacket art by Hannes Bok.

Over the ensuing years, the story became greatly influential, inspiring authors such as A.E. van Vogt, who regarded it as "the best horror tale in science fiction". It also spawned radio, television shows and films, most notably John Carpenter's 1982 re-make, THE THING.

Here is "Who Goes There?" as it appeared in ASTOUNDING SCIENCE-FICTION, August 1938. It is a good read and I recommend it.