What Is The Thing? | The Evolution of Science Fiction

[@PrimeAdvance]

"The creature... Doesn't see itself as malevolent, in its eyes it was on a noble mission. Almost a religious pilgrimage throughout the universe, In its eyes it was helping!" Fascinating *Reloads flame thrower*

[@TheGalacticWest]

Cool beans … now get away from her you bish!

[@victorpedrosoceolin3919]

Crazy how you just did the same thing as the creature

[@agingerbeard]

I feel the same every time an ideologue starts preaching.

[@agingerbeard]

​@@victorpedrosoceolin3919 I'll never apologize for being a human exceptionalist.

[@itsthatbrownboiilite5699]

@@victorpedrosoceolin3919yes someone who purposely used a flamethrower does not view themselves as malevolent. It’s hard to say what the creatures stance of self-preservation is since I haven’t read the book or know the creature well beyond saying it values its existence however it defines that, but by all human standards protecting oneself from an entity that distinctly and wholly wishes to end your individual existence is wholly acceptable. Just because the creature has a unique perspective that causes you to question doesn’t mean it’s acceptable.

[@baronjutter]

I notice that despite your winter wear and frost, I don't see any fogged breath. Thing confirmed.

[@retsaMinnavoiG]

Anybody wanna have a barbecue?

[@rsrt6910]

Irrelevant. We already know that the Thing exhales warm, moist air as evidenced by the Bennings-Thing when it screamed just before Mac torched it.

[@ChristopherShields-l7j]

But there's light in his eyes so ...

[@AndrewAnderson-bx8uf]

Clever

[@AndrewAnderson-bx8uf]

@@rsrt6910 Man that scene was bizarre

[@Ar1AnX1x]

respect to Quinn for flying to antarctica to make this video

[@greghenrikson952]

Nah, he just came up to Hyder.

[@onojioboardwalk9748]

@Quinn - Lovecraft wasnt xenophobic. +

[@lelagrangeeffectphysics4120]

Oh and please dont notice its just the same room with blue light and false snow XD

[@เจมาร์ท-ห7ต]

​@@greghenrikson952😂I hear he rowed😮

[@randallbesch2424]

@@onojioboardwalk9748 He was xenophobic for a long time but grew out of it toward the end.

[@chriscooper654]

Love how you trace the basic ideas through their successive iterations. It makes one appreciate both literature and history more fully.

[@daviddobarganes9115]

Agree, it is an extremely well read analysis and not often an angle I see on KZbin. Best video yet imo.

[@plushwishes]

Yesss!

[@sadpotato3386]

Completely agree; it got me more fascinated with science fiction.

[@sawg4607]

The fact that in The Thing's eyes that he was helping makes him even more dangerous and horrific.

[@erichherman2753]

Love how it refers to assimilation as communion

[@wayfarerzen]

This is actually canon to the Carpenter version if you can believe it. In the comics and novels that extended the story, we get some parts of the Thing's point of view, and the thing's weirdly smart.

[@Kyle-vg2io]

@@wayfarerzen Not a surprise, it was putting together a ship in the movie

[@roadkillanonymous4807]

and there’s no shortage of analogues to this in our known human history. Many of our darkest chapters were brought about by people believing they were doing the right thing, serving the greater good, helping or saving the less civilized and enlightened….etc

[@andypancini2130]

New story the thing meets the qu from all tomorrow's

[@madmalone6616]

I argue also that 'The Things' show how an overwhelming personality can't understand how others don't want to be part of it. The Thing's "communion" is just everyone's else all consuming wave. I feel this is pointed out by how it looks at our focus the "ever searching spot light" as a scary element to it.

[@madmalone6616]

Would also like to add that in that story the Thing has its own version of panic & division in itself just like ourselves. When it's in crisis it has a very difficult time holding itself together, & no control over its off shots that have panicked & separated.

[@benthomason3307]

In the blood test scene of the 1982 movie, there's a split-second shot where the character about to be outed as a thing has an extremely human look of resignation on it's face; as a biology major I've always been very fascinated by this movie, but noticing this moment was the one time it actually managed to scare me.

[@ASSLEVANIA]

It’s Palmer too, the implied burnout stoner dude who was talking about “Chariots of the Gods” earlier. Was the irony of that earlier statement and/or his meat-suit’s general demeanor a factor in Windows-Thing’s reaction? Does it go that deep with the change of biological regalia or is the creature in total autonomy? If Norris’s heart condition carried over, what other physiological/psychological aspects carry over? The fact that no one really tries to just communicate amicably (understandably) with the creatures means we’ll never know and is a part of the mystery aspect, & a big reason this film still captivates today. In my lifetime it’s pretty much broken out of cult status into certified classic. It’s almost a perfect mystery in my book.

[@stillhammered3060]

Sorry to be that guy but I think you mixed up Windows(radio operator with the big hair and sunglasses) with Palmer(pot smoking denim vest wearing mechanic).

[@ellugerdelacruz2555]

"This is bull$#% Mac. They're DEAD Mac!" -The Thing (in disguise as Palmer)

[@crispinravlin4256]

Pretty cool

[@lightskinmorpheus3130]

@@ASSLEVANIAI don’t think I can find a reason to be diplomatic with such an entity. As a human I have no use for it, and therefore it becomes charcoal.

[@mayav927]

“I just understand them in the context of the time he was living” BRO. THANK YOU. this is SO important.

[@lucascoval828]

Based take.

[@Kuhmuhnistische_Partei]

I mean a lot of times when people have to say that, those authors/persons were bad even in the context of their time and were already criticized by people back then, so it often just is a weak excuse to just not talk about it.

[@crhkrebs]

@@Kuhmuhnistische_Partei interesting, but I’ll still disagree. Perhaps some people found Lovecraft’ racist and xenophobic deplorable and put that down in writing, but most people would have felt the same as he did. We have to beware of “presentism”. Also, Lovecraft’s own views did mellow later on in life, for what that is worth. He is one of my favourite authors and part of me would have liked to somehow sit down with him and have some conversations. The other part of me, not so much.

[@numbdigger9552]

One thing to note is that while I do think Lovecraft was morally in the wrong, the more important thing is that we should not waste our time criticizing a man who's been dead for the better part of a century, and instead just acknowledge how his views are present in his work.

[@crhkrebs]

@@numbdigger9552 agreed and this is what is meant by “presentism”.

[@ChristopherShields-l7j]

The tagline for the John Carpenter movie read "Man is the warmest place to hide." and that still whigs me out to this day and I'm 55yo.

[@SnakeCraftIsMagic]

Oof, that's a great tagline! I hadn't heard that one before.

[@loganjelinek2226]

"The Things" also most certainly takes the cake for most bone-chilling final line in any short story I've read in quite a while.

[@Unit-3475]

And the most tragic one. But paradoxically - the most uplifting too.

[@DocLunarwind]

I came here just to post this 😛

[@erichherman2753]

I like how in "the things" it refers to the assimilation process as "communion"

[@Damn_Cat]

The fact the thing learned the concept of that particular word not long ago, the connotations behind, and agreed that that was the new definition it would then use to describe assimilating. Absolutely sickening. Praise to the author for making me want to throw up that much.

[@fatwoul]

Agreed. It feels like a controversial "mis-use" of a very emotive word, but honestly I can't think of a word that better describes what the Thing ultimately does.

[@seldonplanB-24]

Never knew The Thing was originally inspired by a Lovecraft story, but it absolutely makes sense!

[@alanpennie8013]

I don't really think it was. The similarities are quite superficial, and the stories are very different in their focus.

[@XMeK]

@@alanpennie8013 Agreed. I've seen both the 1950s version, where the "Thing" was said to be of vegetable origin, and the Carpenter version where I originally thought it was inspired by another great 1950s sci-fi flick "The Blob".

[@seldonplanB-24]

@alanpennie8013 I think it's a trickle down effect. If you watch the entire video and follow the books backwards in time towards the original (Lovecraftian) source, you see the roots. The paranoia, the indescribable monster/evil, the setting, etc.

[@alanpennie8013]

I don't think The Shoggoth is in any way the focus of ATMOM. It's just a creepy thing the explorers encounter.

[@alanpennie8013]

The narrator of ATMOM develops a surprising empathy towards The Elder Things, considering that they killed a number of members of the expedition. They had very similar artistic and scientific motivations to humans, which makes them feel akin despite their decidedly weird physiology.

[@WiggidyWack]

One thing I really enjoyed about reading "Things" was that, through the perspective of the alien, it's existence might not be incompatible due to its physiological or psychological differences, but its similarities to humanity on matters of expedition and colonization. Whether this was due to an already missionary-like ideology of the alien before the crash landing on earth, or slowly mutated into something else as a direct result of "communion" with humans and life on earth, by the end of the story it's clear the Thing is merely an infinitely more capable lifeform of carrying out intentions nearly identical to human beings. Its choice words in describing how it will achieve this goal at the very end are particularly chilling and resonant. What's equally chilling is that, from the perspective of "Things," both parties are clearly capable of communication and completely forego any attempt at true "communion." The Thing has absorbed multiple humans at a certain point in the story, and even comes to some kind of understanding on how they differ in function from itself. Despite being fully capable of perfectly mimicking human behavior, including speech, it makes no effort to communicate through human methods which it justifies by the threat of violence it has suffered (attempting to "commune" only through its own methods.) Meanwhile, from the perspective of Carpenter's film, the grotesque first appearance of the alien and the threat of it spreading uncontrollably across all life completely overrides any attempt to communicate neutrally with the alien, despite the fact they're all aware of an imposter amongst them that is capable of speech. Both parties came to understand one another through wildly different methods, but neither was really seeking any resolution but the subjugation/destruction of the other. For me, this was the neat bow that tied together the idea of incompatibility by near identical intentions. The differences describe the already obvious fact that The Thing is more capable than humanity in that department, and will always win out in a contest hinged on said intent. Whereas "Who Goes There" is a triumphant framing of humanity as the more capable, "The Thing" and "Things" are the more honest assessments. While the former states there is something inherent to humanity that could overcome such a threat, the latter two convey a fearful speculation that a drastic and radically new approach for humanity would have to emerge if we were to overcome identical intentions from something infinitely more capable of them. A lesson ironically packaged in a story about humans being assimilated into a new alien lifeform. Love it! Great video, looking forward to the next one!

[@woody4779]

I have nothing to add, just wanted to say how well thought out this comment is. Good stuff

[@FreemanicParacusia]

Leaves me wondering how these stories (“The Thing” and “The Things”) would have been received had they been published when colonialism was at its height.

[@WiggidyWack]

@FreemanicParacusia Given Quinn's theme about each story being a product of the times they were written, it's hard to speculate what the story would resemble in that era, let alone how it would be received if it retained its structure. It did remind me that every single party in the story was treating the other as some kind of acquisition. The Norwegians dug it out of the ice, took pictures of themselves in front of it, likely dissected it and its ship. Even the American team, after several violent incidents and the encounter in the kennel intended to preserve the remains, claiming it was "going to win someone the Nobel Prize" and "the find of the century." Even the Thing is too preoccupied with its desire for assimilation. Neither sees the other as an intelligent life form worthy of equal consideration, just a "thing," fittingly enough.

[@FreemanicParacusia]

@@WiggidyWack Wonder how the scene with MacReady’s test would have gone down if MacReady (while still brandishing the flamethrower) had taken the approach of, “We’re gonna find out who’s the Thing… but let me make this perfectly clear - when we expose you, we WILL NOT harm you, unless you attempt to shapeshift again or to harm anyone else in this room. You’re capable of copying us, you’re capable of controlling us. On some level, you HAVE to be capable of understanding us. Let’s talk.”

[@nsblur]

​@@FreemanicParacusia I think that, even if such an attempt at communication were made, the mutual distrust of something so completely "other" between the two species ultimately leads to the breakdown of negotiations. There's no established history of cooperation/goodwill between the two, and the fact both groups have very little knowledge about the capabilities of each other and of the possibility of others of their kind being hostile really reinforces distrust. Itd be interesting to see if the thing would reply for sure, but I doubt it would lead to any meaningful cooperation in the end.

[@peteg475]

"The Thing" and "Invasion of the Body Snatchers" are sorta in the minority of alien invasion stories, in one respect: The humans have no chance to win, and defeat the invader. The invader gets here, before the humans are really aware of it, and once that happens, it's essentially game over. They are both "don't even bother resisting" type stories.

[@googoogagaboogieboogiewoogie]

Thats the essence of Lovecraftian horror. There is no escape, just desperate hope that it wont reach you.

[@DeathBYDesign666]

A.k.a. the most realistic scenario. In reality if we ever come across a more advanced civilization than ours, we better hope beyond hope that their intentions are not hostile, because frankly we are to them as bugs are to us. That's just if they are on the type 2 scale, if they are type 3 or higher, we would be more like bacteria to them. Their technology would look more like magic than actual technology that we know of. Objects that look like sculptures made of glass or stone but can do things like generate force fields or open portals to other places, dimensions, or even other realities. Technology built on the atomic or subatomic level that we could never understand at our level.

[@dubuyajay9964]

It is a bit anticlimactic in that by the time you find out it's too late. No typical Hollywood pitched battle type stuff. They are a disease of sorts. By the time you figure things out, you are probably screwed.

[@oldstump1628]

Sounds like the mass migration Jews push on America.

[@MrGrandure]

Space herpes

[@davidgab4448]

The other guy in the story about Robert Scott's expedition is Amundsen, who was experienced and planned his expedition very well. Scott rushing to beat Amundsen took many unnecessary risks and cut corners. And he knew well that Antarctica is inhospitable and dangerous place. Well, play stupid games, win stupid prizes.

[@shawnwales696]

Yeah, Ahmundsen lived with Inuit people for some time and adopted their clothing, use of dogs as both a means to pull sleds and as a food source (yes, he slaughtered and ate some of his dogs.) He also planned well and the result was success. Just goes to show, every hour spent planning and preparing pays off. I pity the Scott party, but they just weren't prepared.

[@colindunnigan8621]

Huh, I thought he only got hasty after he heard that Amundsen abandoned his try at the North Pole and had started sailing south. It's been a while since I read up on this, however.

[@rsrt6910]

So basically Stockton-Rush is (was) the Robert Scott of our times?

[@davidgab4448]

@@rsrt6910 1) Cutting corners where you really don't wanna do it - check 2) Unpleasant to work with - check 3) Somewhat of egomaniac - I don't know. 4) Died stupidly - check 5) Glorified as hero - no

[@davidkelley5382]

When I was a child the 51 versions of The Thing & The Day The Earth Stood Still were absolutely my favorite movies.

[@ms1535]

“Klatoo Barada Nikto”

[@Ar1AnX1x]

the dangers of human curiosity being a theme in lovecraftian horror is an absolutely amazing plot device and one of my favorites, reminds me of this quote from Bloodborne where the church discovers old one blood and immediately starts using it to heal people(which spoiler alert, is obviously a bad idea)and this like intellectual leader who's very educated and is all about learning and planning things through before taking action, says something like "we are born by the blood, made men by the blood, undone by the blood, fear the old blood, our eyes are yet to open"

[@jmgonzales7701]

Which is why i never got why people want aliens to reach out. its to dangerous, call it fear of the unknown or xenophobia but that type of thinking just might help us.

[@b0xman935]

​@@jmgonzales7701I saw your same reply in the other comment section but I still agree because what if they have the same mindest with us

[@brettmmontague]

Hail kos, or some say Kosm

[@Unit-3475]

It is interesting that in his later stories this focus of "horror of the unknown", which breaks and destroys people - is replaced by "intrigue by the unknown" This can be seen in his darker works as well: In the story The Dunwich Horror - the main characters, having encountered the "supernatural", accept it, and using occult knowledge prevent a catastrophe. In At the Mountains of Madness, at the end, Dyer openly sympathizes with the Elder Things, calling them people in essence. But then a dramatic change began. For example, the character Randolph Carter, who "accepts" and explores this mysterious world - and this world also "accepts" him in return. Stories such as: The Dream-Quest of Unknown Kadath. The Silver Key (Lovecraftian analogue of "The Door into Summer") Beyond the Wall of Sleep - a literaly story about interspecies friendship. The focus of the story has completely changed. And I will remind you that Lovecraft was an open xenophobe and pessimist - but even he was capable of changing.

[@sub-jec-tiv]

The script treatment for the never-greenlit Del Toro version of Mountains of Madness is really interesting, as it stylistically/thematically reconnects that story to the 80s version of The Thing, in a kind of cosmic horror ‘full circle.’ It would be an excellent ‘changeling’ horror flick with a few action scenes in the snow. The script is available online, check it out!

[@carcosa_swamp]

I've never clicked one of your videos faster. I can't get enough of this story.

[@erikscottdebie7665]

The creature seeing itself as helpful-especially on religious pilgrimage-gives it an interesting colonization subtext.

[@nosotrosloslobosestamosreg4115]

go and demand reparations from them.

[@kate7896]

​@@nosotrosloslobosestamosreg4115 Huh

[@ej2796]

​@kate7896 huh indeed 🧐

[@bigjoeswelding]

I love listening to these videos. My work is welding in ethanol and waste treatment plants and the creepy and lovecraftian ideas are perfect with the backdrop of endless piping and forgotten systems deep in concrete pits

[@RandolphTheWhite1]

"...all biomass is interchangeable" Such a good pick-up line. I'm totally using it

[@brianstiles1701]

I had this great compilation from the Sci-Fi Bookclub of short stories and novellas that inspired movies. It included this, Buck Rogers, Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?, and a bunch of others.

[@1972Villa]

Thanks man. I've been waiting for your newest upload for ages. Praying for the next part of The Mystery of The Architects & The Horror of Un-Space 🙏

[@MantraHerbInchSin]

Yeah, personally I am more interested in that than this, only because I have watched the Carpenter version so, so many times with my father. Only timeI have even heard of the Unspace is that one video here... And I need moar

[@ryanmalone2681]

I’m a HUGE horror and sci-fi fan, and you’ve actually introduced me to works that I wasn’t even aware of. I’m heading off on a 2 week off-road motorcycle adventure and all the audiobooks I’ll be listening to are things you’ve suggested, mainly because I’ve always been interested in the same topics but not been aware of all the works. Appreciate you man.

[@ChrisRossiswatching]

Blindsight is glorious. I remember reading it posted on the author's website.

[@walterhodges125]

I also believe, an influential aspect of John Carpenter's movie was the blood test. With the 80's introducing AIDS or someone being HIV+, it dealt with the paranoia of a person being abnormal compared to the rest of society...

[@TheDramaKweeen]

I was about to say this too. Paranoia was high at the time due to lack of knowledge on how the disease worked. It wasn’t just a fear of people but a fear of touch and intimacy- something Carpenter’s movie hammers down on.

[@WickedWicka]

The blood test is in the original novella "Who Goes There?" Although it is more dramatic in Carpenter's version.

[@douglasauclair3086]

Quinn! Your analyses are not only well-researched and spot-on, but you also integrate disparate and not-well-known works. Lovely video essay!

[@JAMESLEVEE]

If I recall correctly, Who Goes There is set in the Arctic, not Antarctica. So is The Thing from Another World. Trivia: The 1951 movie was originally titled The Thing, but the "from Another World" was added because there was a new dance craze in 1951 called The Thing and the studio didn't want there to be any audience confusion or copyright issues.

[@ichaffee1]

Yes. Who goes There was the real influence for the movie the Thing. But Lovecrafts Mountain of Madness was the place and idea of it coming from another world

[@karencove7197]

Thank you! I find listening to your narratives at the end of my day very enjoyable. I appreciate how you skillfully frame and analyse different works and their concepts. Your voice is calming as you offer top level content. Brilliant!

[@nagamata]

Quinn, I just wanted to say thank you and make known my appreciation for you and the gift you give us all in this channel. I go through periods when I read a lot, as well as when I hardly read at all, but your channel is always pushing my interests farther into territories I never expected to find myself, and I couldn’t be happier about it! I could probably ascribe most of my knowledge and interest of horror and sci-fi solely to Quinn’s Ideas. So, hell yeah, brother, you’re a diamond in the YT rough.

[@Vandelberger]

Another great breakdown. I love the attempt to draw multiple version of the same story into a developing narrative that reflect contemporary thought of which they were written. REALLYYYY hope Del Toro can make his version of "At the Mountain of Madness" before he retires. The Thing is my top 3 horror films period. Use to joke about Macready's hat growing bigger in the film.

[@paulc3752]

Welcome back, Quinn! Missed you man!

[@dp2901]

Quinn, I've always thought that The Thing was the way to explain the actions of the Engineers in the Alien franchise. They seed the universe with their DNA in an eons-long plan to propagate throughout space, bc there are only a few Juggernauts due to the curvature drive limitations from 3-Body. Unfortunately, they run into The Thing and realize that they need to wipe out their seeded worlds, creating a Dark Domain, lest their progeny eventually develop FTL travel and allow The Thing to spread. They deploy the xenomorphs their seeded worlds. Xenomorphs aren't capable of developing FTL travel nor can they be assimilated due to their acidic blood. How do the Predators fit in? I haven't worked that out quite yet. Love your videos!

[@Jocke1336]

Wow. The feeling of getting to sit down and relax at the end of the day and then see that Quinn released a 50 min treat. Thanks Quinn! :)

[@DuskHollow]

Quinn, I've been subbed for years and I've got to say I think this is one of your best videos! Not just the subject material but the presentation and the visuals are on point! I would love to see more long form, detailed sci-fi breakdowns like this! Keep up the great work sir!

[@ikenosis8160]

"HP Lovecraft was a disturbed and strange man." -Quinn 2024 No lie detected.

[@michaelpettersson4919]

HP Lovecraft himself would probably agree.

[@randallbesch2424]

Many a great writer and artist can be described that way and some scientists as well. Think H. R. Geiger.

[@benthomason3307]

Peter Watts' short story may well be the single best piece of fanfiction ever.

[@alanpennie8013]

@@benthomason3307 I'm not sure Campbell's alien (faithfully adapted by the 1982 movie) makes sense, so I'm down for a little revisionism.

[@ASSLEVANIA]

John C. Wright’s “Awake In The Night Land”(based on William Hope Hodgeson’s amazing & flawed ‘Night Land’ novella) takes that cake for me. But they’re both up there for me.

[@Gaia_Gaistar]

The Thing is kind of a bastard. No means no, D-bag. I don't care about your alien colonialism, you can't just force yourself and beliefs on others. Maybe i'm naïve but it's a pretty black and white scenario. It's fascinating to see the story from the aliens perspective but just because it's explaining why it needs to force itself on me and "make me better" doesn't make me sympathize with it at all. Screw The Thing, it needs to learn some civility itself.

[@thethirdchimpanzee]

​@@ASSLEVANIA "Awake in the Night Land" and "The Things" are BOTH BRILLIANT!!

[@thethirdchimpanzee]

I really wish that Greg Bears "City at the End of Time" which is Night Land inspired, would have been better.

[@saladinbob]

John Carpenter's _The Thing_ is not only the most famous, it is without a doubt the best and one of the finest movies ever made. A true masterpiece from a Director at the height of his powers.

[@Kerath]

I love the idea of the Aliens infiltrating the Humanity in secret. The reason I mainly play with the Genestealer Cults in Warhammer!

[@Scott_King101]

Man I can’t believe I’ve followed your channel for about two years and haven’t subscribed till today. You are probably the best sci-fi fantasy literature channel ever!

[@aintsam9952]

I read a version of The Thing were it’s from the creature’s POV. Basically it sees itself as an intergalactic minister and it taking over a host is the equivalent of converting them to its religion. It doesn’t understand why it is being attacked. It's probably the Peter Watts short story. Either way, one of the most interesting stories I’ve read.

[@TheCurseofGatau]

I watch a lot of videos on The Thing and I have to say this is one of the best ones I’ve watched. Cheers.

[@caitlinb2841]

Thank you for the new upload, I have almost exhausted your upload library! Love your videos

[@ruphuloid]

This was possibly your best edited and documented video so far. Keep up the good work!

[@marcelo6787]

Ok. this channel is utterly amazing

[@No_OneV]

nothing captures Lovecraftian horror in cinema like 1982 the thing. Masterful. Great video, you've done your research.

[@thethirdchimpanzee]

"The Things" by Peter Watts is BRILLIANT. Anyone else out there think that Quinn should read Vernor Vinge's "A Fire Upon the Deep" and "A Deepness in the Sky" (the latter which has an intelligent spider civilization!!)

[@oldschooloverlord]

Bold to imagine he hasn't read them already!

[@DerechteAlbrechtDürer]

A very well thought out deep dive. Thank you, sir!

[@jimboAndersenReviews]

Very well put, with the angle on Lovecraft's xenophobia. If one can get over that hurdle, then some great stories await; stuff like The Colour out of Space and The Dream-Quest of Unknown Kadath. I am very happy to have read through all that I could find of Herbert Patrick's writings :3 And I am very happy to have subscribed, some months back, to this channel.

[@luziankrieger8370]

Your videos are actually always VERY good, but this one really impressed me. I knew all the stories, except for the latest work, which I now want to get to know better. Thank you very much!

[@TheTrueRandomGamer]

Related, The Things is very good.

[@bnelkin]

Man I’ve always loved this channel, and the quality just keeps going up! Great video sir, keep up the good work 🫡🫡

[@nasund]

One of your best. Great work.

[@sarwatt23]

Great video! I loved the comparisons between these adaptations and how they contrasted against world history/ideas at the time

[@pepleatherlab3872]

Cosmic horror always lays the foundation for the 'most' extreme varieties of terror. It's expansive and lingers at the edge of understanding. At the same time there's this parallel disregard for lesser sentients that makes it even more horrific. People like to think they matter and will layer personal achievements with various societal constructs for status. All of it meaningless when something incomprehensible swims up and takes a bite. I find Cosmic Horror to be most relatable with people who understand security and paranoia 'should' walk hand in hand. It's hard wired into our survival and stands as a warning 'ignore at your peril.' Like a Saturday at the theater and people shouting at the screen "Don't go in there!" And aren't they always correct to think so? It's fundamental...this never ending search for threats that makes horror so successful.

[@TheHappyhorus]

My love of The Thing brought me here, and I’m glad it did! This was a well done video dude. 👍

[@kola-x9p]

There is a series called "the Terror" based on sir ian Franklin's lost expedition in the antarctic with a lovecraftian twist.

[@censheard7019]

I could actually listen to you narrate anything and feel comfortable 😭 you just have this quality that reminds me so much of my grandfather teaching me about things as a kid. Thank you for that 🎉

[@mindspank]

I absolutely love The Thing as some sort apex evolution of life. Also love the alien life form from Slither. It's a silly movie, but the concept behind the creature is so grimdark, conquered countless of planets and convert everything into one giant planet of meat.

[@ASSLEVANIA]

That film could pretty much be a spiritual successor to “Night of the Creeps” from 1986. Very similar creatures, except Slither takes the effects and hive-mind aspect a bit farther. Night of the Creeps is such a wonderful love letter to alien films from the 50’s in a glorious 80’s package. Check it out if you have any interest.

[@randallbesch2424]

@@ASSLEVANIA the Creeps are alien altered life-forms as anti-personnel weapons that got away. I do want a sequel. It was one of their own that got infected and did the deed of ejecting them from the ship in the first place.

[@jonathancortez5179]

Love this man's content and his knowledge. His understanding and description of stories are top shelf. 💯

[@Terroreyes-j8l]

Don't forget H.P. Lovecraft's mom and dad were both crazy. Lovecraft was basically raised by his grandfather. A lot of kids today, who were raised by their grandparents rather than their parents due to their parent's instability can understand Lovecraft's artistic expression of helplessness and horror.

[@conniesuper9892]

The Thing(1982)is one of my favorite movies. That was amazing! Thank for your work!Always amazing videos!

[@KingKass2929]

Dude, you rule. This is so good.

[@Bluesclone1]

Love the way you break this all down. These are among my favorite sci-fi/horror stories and looking all the different perspectives is fascinating! Thank you for your channel!

[@animationseeker2553]

Quinn some of this reminded me about Dan Simmons' THE TERROR

[@Fenster21]

Another great video essay. I got hooked on your channel back when GoT was on TV and always appreciated your content Quinn. Keep 'em coming.

[@robertwalker-smith2739]

Curious thing was how Lovecraft's depiction of the Elder Things changes as the characters learn about the shoggoths. They become the real horror, and the Elder Things are seen as sympathetic by contrast.

[@naokiatlus]

Incredible timing! I just rewatched The Thing (1982) and it reminded me of your video on Blindsight. The grand mystery about how the thing may be Intelligent but not conscious made me think of the scramblers, which made me rewatch your video. And lo and behold, here you are drawing a direct line to Peter Watts. I didn’t know he wrote a short on The Thing. Incredible content as always, Quinn!

[@YumYum820]

What a treat to listen to this while I play World of Warcraft

[@lucascoval828]

Good time.

[@moriens2405]

Thanks for making this video Quinn, always love swinging by for your content. Keep up the great work!

[@martindiaries]

Also Who Goes There has a novel version called Frozen Hell! Cosmic Horror rocks 💪🤘

[@randallbesch2424]

Yes an expanded version was found. I want to know more!

[@YouWinILose]

An excellent analysis with excellent production! Were lucky to have you

[@Skalv]

One of the best channels out there, and in my opinion the best Sci-Fi channel on youtube! That intro is never going to not make me ready for a new universe to dive into. Never stop Quinn! *Spelling

[@the_algo_rhythm]

Hell yes, new Quinn, and on one of my favorites! Also, the Algorhythm notices you!

[@lestatdelc]

Like others have mentioned, this is one of your best videos yet. Very well done.

[@js4266]

The way they find The Thing always reminded me of frozen mammoth discoveries in Siberia. The Thing is very enigmatic indeed ; one does wonder if it's an animal predator (similar to the Xenomorph in nature) or if it is an intelligent being, knowingly aasimilating and annihilating its victims.

[@changsangma1915]

The Thing was a containment failure from the crashed spaceship. It is in no way the pilot of the ship. Now was it a containment of bio weapon or stored specimen of study is unclear. There are detailed files of what the actual alien pilots looked like for the movie.

[@js4266]

@@changsangma1915 Ah ok, I thought it flew the ship at the end of the movie. I did not know about the pilots

[@js4266]

@@changsangma1915 What's your theory on the nature of the thing? An animal of some kind? a bioengineering project?

[@changsangma1915]

What the Thing actually is remains a mystery. The movie never really even showed what the Thing really looks like in its default form. It has only taken form through the infected host. It could be some kind of engineered bio accelerant that reacts to any non botanical life form it comes in contact. Similar to the black goo stuff in movie Prometheus.

[@ThePuddingDead]

God this was refreshing to listen to. I just found your video by happenstance a few moments ago, and I instantly subbed and liked the work dude. It's nice to hear a more reasonable and educated examination of Lovecraft. It's so easy for many people out there to write off and discount his work all because they slap on their own modest sensibilities to out right judge him and his work as a whole. As you mention during the 1st quarter of the video, I myself don't excuse those view points he had, but let's not overlook what shaped him. ESPECIALLY his home life and losing his parents the way he did. No wonder he turned out as jaded as he did. But because of that and the fuel that was his world and the one around him, he could be among the first real grandads of an incredible genre of writing and fiction as a whole. Very well done on this work, I look forward to listening and watching more!

[@Gokotai]

I know you've read Adrian Tchaikovsky, but his book "Children on Ruin" has an intelligent micro-organism that destroys other life in order to study and assimilate it. Similarly, I'd highly recommend watching the low budget Canadian movie "Black Mountain Side". It is essentially the same setting, but with a very different take!

[@WhiteMousse1980]

Dude I love you. I am so glad I found your channel. I had no idea there was other literature on this. From the bottom of my heart thank you. Your analysis and observations are amazing. I LOVE YOU

[@WolfA4]

Calling Lovecraft "xenophobic" is an understatement, the man was scared of everything.

[@lucascoval828]

Even scared of himself. Seriously. Deeply disturbed.

[@randallbesch2424]

No that is an exaggeration. He had friends and even traveled as far as Florida. He didn't like the cold and the ocean.

[@bizzop69]

@@randallbesch2424not only that, but he desired to travel to Cuba but couldn’t afford it.

[@TheVanishingSnafu]

I love your videos, dude. You clearly put a ton of effort into them, and your passion for the stories and their themes really shines through the work. Thanks for sharing it with us :)

[@fabiolorentz247]

Quinn needs a raise.

[@jibelraam7140]

Missed your videos in the last couple months ❤️ Keep up the good work man Lots of love from Iran

[@MultiSycorax]

Quinn's talents continue to expand, this video was incredible.

[@thehighestofclouds9890]

bro i clicked off because i didn't want the spoilers but good god i was tempted to stay on; incredible intro, my sir!

[@Crabbiy]

I don't really get the bad rep The Thing from 2011 got back then. I thought it was properly scary.

[@randallbesch2424]

Studio interference. It has live action makeup they covered over with CGI.

[@thelatenateshow7943]

Bad cgi

[@TheDramaKweeen]

50 minute long video about the thing. hell yeah!

[@jamesmartens160]

Peter Watts is an unsung genius! Thanks for posting this!

[@thureintun1687]

likely a communist. if not an actual russian/ chinese societal espionage agent

[@gira4664]

Quinn you’re so awesome I love the little winter blue light and the bits of snow you used for your set. Legendary channel and creator.

[@GarGhuul]

It really is a great shame that the “At the Mountains of Madness” movie by Del Toro keeps getting shelved. There was a preview for an Anime take on it, forget what that was called though.

[@jamesdrew8222]

This is a great video essay! I didn't know about the short story. Quinn, you're doing a great job digging into SF and giving me more material read and ideas on the novel I'm working on. Thanks again!

[@wayfarerzen]

WAIT PETER WATTS RE-WROTE THE THING? *scampers off to book store*

[@plank8241]

Amazing! Such a great video! I never approached the story from the perspective of the American society and various anxieties within it dictated by the times of uncertainty, considering both the original "Who goes there?" and the Carpenter's film of 1982 (by the way, one of my favourite movies). And I can't avoid mentioning that you, dear author, have such a beautiful, deep, soothing attractive voice. If you'd be reading audiobooks, I would've certainly listened to your readings with a great pleasure! Keep it up! Great, really, such a great job you're doing, thank you very much! Hehe, inspired me to rewatch the movie again, like, maybe, 20th time or so😅

[@kruddster]

On a side note, just to clarify, when I was in school in the 1980’s, we were taught that communism AND fascism were extreme left, one espoused equity while the other was a marriage of government and corporations. I’m not sure at what point in the early 90’s when the left started heavily redefining fascism as an extreme right ideology.

[@QuinnsIdeas]

I cut out a section in the video where I talk about making a distinction between terms and ideology because I thought people wouldn't need it, but now I see I should have left that section in.

[@CeroAshura]

Fascism is a highly adaptable ideology, it can be both "left" and "right" wing. Be applied to religious states or atheist materialist states.

[@bedubz87]

Quinn I love your content. Your smooth voice and your unique stories are always such a joy. But The Thing is my favorite horror movie of all time. And now finally these worlds collide. This is gonna be a good watch. Edit: story’s = stories

[@NeverUseAnApostrophe]

*stories. Never use an apostrophe to pluralize.

[@bedubz87]

@@NeverUseAnApostrophe you got me. I was too excited.

[@louismaurer5884]

The title of the video and knowing its from this channel is such a wonderful combination. You just know it's about to be some heat.

[@Unit-3475]

Two things you got wrong about Peter Watts' The Things: 1. The Thing was NOT performing "Communion" for reproduction - it was establishing a connection. 2. The Thing SAW what it did to humans AS BAD, after it realized that "Communion" didn't work on humans. Let me explain: 1. It is important to understand that the death of humans and their "absorption" by the Thing biomass is wrong. The thing is that the Thing is essentially a brain, each cell of which is capable of thought and communication - and when two such creatures meet, they begin to communicate on a cellular level. The creatures exchange experiences and establish a connection with each other - now they act in unison. The Thing considers this a "universal language" that is in line with the nature of life itself - and sees beauty in this. A language that can connect worlds and life throughout the universe. The Thing wants to evolve, to learn to understand, to call beauty, and to share this experience with others, and what is no less important - to protect others within it's togetherness. The Thing is truly a missionary. What is also important is that "Communion" has worked before - the Thing has already met other minds that seem to share a similar evolutionary path and they have established mutual contact without problems. This is the strategy: Mutually Assured Survival. 2. Unfortunately, this did not work on humans. Our cells cannot communicate and when the Thing's cells try to "find the brain" - the body is essentially eaten alive, transferring knowledge, but killing the person in the process. The Thing did not yet realize what was really happening - from its point of view, people were part of the World - Earth, the same collective superconsciousness, which for some unknown reason refuses to make contact and tries to kill it, maintaining a frightening silence. People seemed to him just "limbs" of this creature, which would grow back anyway. The Thing did not see any real harm in its actions. (part of the comment not fit - rest is below)

[@Unit-3475]

The blood test changed everything. The very idea of ​​such a test seemed absurd to the Thing - because: "And how should blood react to you?". But when the blood did not react at all - then the Thing truly experienced horror. Existential horror. It could not, did not want to believe it - but at that moment the puzzle completely fell into place. And the realization almost broke the Thing. The Thing realized that people cannot change - it contradicted everything it knew about life - a truly Lovecraftian moment. At that moment the Thing understood why people acted the way they did. It realized that people are not one world. Each of them is a world. Alone, disconnected and doomed - doomed to oblivion, because the "communion" did not work. The Thing was horrified by such an infernal concept of the world. And at the same time it felt sorry, it understood that if it were in the place of people, it would act exactly the same - protecting what little they have. It, like them, would continue to fight for life and hold on until the very end. And it felt sorry for those it killed, sorry for the harm it caused - because death and oblivion are the worst fates it can imagine: "A whole planet of worlds, and not one of them - not one - has a soul. They wander through their lives separate and alone, unable even to communicate except through grunts and tokens: as if the essence of a sunset or a supernova could ever be contained in some string of phonemes, a few linear scratches of black on white. They’ve never known communion, can aspire to nothing but dissolution. The paradox of their biology is astonishing, yes; but the scale of their loneliness, the futility of these lives, overwhelms me. I was so blind, so quick to blame. But the violence I’ve suffered at the hands of these things reflects no great evil. They’re simply so used to pain, so blinded by disability, that they literally can’t conceive of any other existence. When every nerve is whipped raw, you lash out at even the lightest touch.

[@Unit-3475]

I would like to conclude with a quote from William Dyer, from At the Mountains of Madness, which characterizes both his changed attitude to The Elder Things and Watts' stories, from both sides. (I am surprised that this moment was not mentioned in the video, because even Lovecraft stepped over his xenophobia at this point) "Poor devils! After all, they were not evil things of their kind. They were the men of another age and another order of being. Nature had played a hellish jest on them-as it will on any others that human madness, callousness, or cruelty may hereafter drag up in that hideously dead or sleeping polar waste-and this was their tragic homecoming. They had not been even savages-for what indeed had they done? That awful awakening in the cold of an unknown epoch-perhaps an attack by the furry, frantically barking quadrupeds, and a dazed defence against them and the equally frantic white simians with the queer wrappings and paraphernalia . . . poor Lake, poor Gedney . . . and poor Old Ones! Scientists to the last-what had they done that we would not have done in their place? God, what intelligence and persistence! What a facing of the incredible, just as those carven kinsmen and forbears had faced things only a little less incredible! Radiates, vegetables, monstrosities, star-spawn-whatever they had been, they were men!"

[@fuvet]

I love your analyses and the effort you put into explaining all of the context for the audience to fully understand the topic.

[@joevines3428]

I watched the Thing with my dad when i was 10 im 31 now and its still a endlessly fascinating film to rewatch. It leaves you asking questions.

[@ChillinCam]

One of the best video essays I've ever listened to. Thank you. Subscribed