Answer: Because he is introducing the readers to the story and doesn't want to give too much information.
Explanation: In Chapter 1 of "The War of the Worlds" by H. G. Wells, the narrator calls the Martian spacecraft the "Thing", <u><em>because he is introducing the readers into the story and building suspense</em></u>. He is in the exposition part of the plot. It happened when Mars was closer to the Earth. There were some flashes of light coming from the Red Planet's surface. Then this "Thing... an unerring missile" came to the Earth and caused a lot of suffering and struggle.
Here is what i have been know about that and this is what should not be on a research paper , except in direct quotes
sencond person
dialogue
( just thought i should throw this in here sometimes it may be not acceptable to write in first person but its not a rule)
slang
contractions
and just informal style in genreal