Fern's "uncle" (The Thing)

 Fern’s uncle is a character in Fern’s story about “The Thing” as told in Fernkenstein’s Monster. He is an entomologist working as a graduate student with an old professor. As they unpack insects from the Congo, the old professor falls victim to a monstrous creature called “The Thing”.

 Fern later reveals that she does not have an uncle. Claiming the story happened to someone she knew was merely a storytelling device.