Stinger by robert mccammon

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

July 15,2025

I read Stinger approximately six years ago and held a liking for it. However, after rereading it recently, my appreciation for this work has grown even deeper. If you have a penchant for aliens that are mean, unmerciful, and downright horrifying, then you absolutely need to encounter Stinger.

Written in 1988, the story unfolds within a single 24-hour period and revolves around the Texas town of Inferno. In this town, one alien, the malevolent one, is in hot pursuit of another alien, the benevolent one. Sadly, the inhabitants of Inferno find themselves caught in the crossfire. Needless to say, Inferno will never be the same again.

What I adore most about McCammon's writing is his remarkable ability to craft characters. Indeed, he is proficient in writing vivid descriptions. For instance, "The screen door's hinges shrieked like a scalded cat." This not only makes my ears hurt just imagining it but also showcases his use of alliteration. Additionally, he can pace the story with precision and leave a few surprises until the very end. However, what truly distinguishes McCammon from mediocre writers is his unique approach to character development. I always find myself deeply empathizing with the people I encounter in his stories, and this one is no exception. In Stinger, I experienced a gamut of emotions - empathy, sympathy, anger, frustration, love, hatred, and more - for the characters.

That is precisely why I am drawn to reading Robert McCammon's stories - for the characters. And it is also the reason why you should give his works a try.

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BChuck

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

July 15,2025

4 Stars

What a truly amazing and wild experience that was!

It was as if we were plunged into a B-Movie that had been enhanced with some sort of crazy substance. It was far superior to Invasion of the Killer Tomatoes.

This story had all the classic and entertaining elements. There was the overweight and rather ineffective sheriff, the overly virtuous and almost too-good-to-be-true family, the cranky old rich lady, the town drunkard, the racial tension simmering beneath the surface, the town nerd who was bullied by everyone, and the gangs causing trouble. Oh, and let's not forget the gloriously, disgustingly grotesque monster who also happened to be a so-called "bounty hunter!" It really doesn't get any more delightfully cheesy and entertaining than this.

I went into this with no real hopes of it being anything great, but to my pleasant surprise, it turned out to be a really excellent horror story. It would be absolutely perfect to watch on a small screen with a group of friends on a Friday night. Alas, I'm not as young as I used to be, so Fridays will have to suffice for these kinds of enjoyable viewing experiences. ;)

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mandi92

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

July 15,2025

DNF at 50%.

Seriously, does this author get paid by the word?

For a supposed horror story, it's quite astonishing that very little actually horrifying occurs for HALF OF THE BOOK.

Up until that point, we are bombarded with long, tedious, and completely useless backstories of every single person in that wretched town.

Each of these stories is more depressing than the previous one, and not one of them manages to make any of the characters sympathetic or likable. In fact, it's usually the opposite.

The language, too, has not aged well. The 80's teenage slang sounds cringy and artificial.

But the worst part is that when the action finally does start, the horror is highly predictable and clichéd.

And it's still constantly interrupted by pointless descriptions of the countless characters in this book.

Life is simply too short to waste on this kind of reading experience.

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Naru-Naru

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

July 15,2025

Loved it!

It was truly a wonderful recommendation.

For some reason, I have been really struggling to get into a "reading mood" lately.

This might be the only reason why I did not give it five stars.

McCammon has managed to create a very cool setting for some exciting sci-fi fun.

The story was engaging and filled with interesting concepts and characters.

It really made me want to explore more of his works.

I will definitely have to try another one of his books sometime soon.

I'm looking forward to seeing what other amazing stories he has to offer.

I'm sure it will be just as enjoyable as this one.

Overall, I highly recommend this book to all sci-fi lovers out there.

Give it a try and see for yourself!

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OraOra

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

July 15,2025

Holy Stinger, this was unbelievably good! I'm truly in a state of shock.

McCammon is definitely cementing himself as one of my all-time favourites.

What can I really say about this book?

- Firstly, it's one of the creepiest books I've ever read. The question "Where's the guardian?" lingers in your mind.

- The atmosphere is described so vividly that it stays with you throughout the entire reading experience.

- The characters are all excellent, and you quickly learn to care for them as a collective.

- I really like what it has to say about humanity.

- There are two alien races, and they aren't just dumb monsters laying waste to the land. They have their own purposes, which adds an interesting layer to the story.

- The writing is concise, and it's the only time I've seen'mind hopping' done effectively.

- The entire story takes place within 24 hours and is non-stop, keeping you on the edge of your seat.

- And did I mention it's creepy as all hell??

This is a must-read for all horror fans and those who enjoy a good alien story. I will definitely be reading this one again. Dare I say, this has creeped its way into my top 5 of all time.

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Tangsan20

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

July 15,2025

An alien spaceship crashes near a small Texas border town.

The occupant is a bounty hunter on the trail of another alien of a different species who has recently escaped from a prison planet. This might sound like science fiction, but Robert McCammon unfolds the plot in a way that is pure horror.

The bounty-hunter alien, nicknamed “Stinger,” is a scorpion-like, mucus-producing monster. It has the ability to rapidly replicate allies using spare machine parts and captured human bodies, effectively building its own army to capture its quarry.

Most of the novel focuses on developing the many characters in the small town of Inferno. The town is on its last legs as the local copper mine is played out, forcing the citizens to close up shop, finish the school year, and prepare to move.

The town has a diverse range of characters from all walks of life. It also suffers from a racial divide due to its proximity to Mexico and the perception that illegals are taking local jobs. However, a common enemy can bring even the most virulent enemies together to work and understand each other better.

The only issue with this novel is that there may be too many characters, which lengthens the novel and slows down the build-up to the action sequences.

A UFO/alien/horror story can be standard, but in this author's hands, it truly shines. I discovered Robert McCammon through his historical mystery novel, Speaks the Nightbird, which was so impressive it made my all-time favorite list. Subsequent novels in the series didn't disappoint. I also knew his roots were in the horror genre, so I read his masterpiece, Swan Song, and was once again blown away by his writing. Now he's on my list of must-read authors.

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raovru-san

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

July 15,2025

I have to say that aside from "Boy's Life", it seems I'm not fated to like any of Robert McCammon's books. "Stinger" felt like it dragged on forever. I nearly DNFed (Did Not Finish) it, but I decided to persevere and finish it just so I could count it as a bingo read. In the end, I didn't have any real concern for any of the characters we were introduced to. I wasn't scared, and I was just relieved when I reached the end.

The dying town of Inferno, Texas is on its last legs. In a few months, when the local high school closes, there won't be anything left of the town. When a spacecraft crashes, the remaining members of the town are left to fend off an alien calling itself Stinger. Stinger is in pursuit of another alien named Daufin.

Ultimately, I think if the book had been edited more thoroughly, or if we had focused on very few points of view (POVs), it might have worked better for me. I also didn't really care for Daufin that much. Taking over the little girl named Stevie and using her as a "guardian" didn't seem like something a good alien would do.

The writing didn't touch me at all. And McCammon has previously been able to make me cry with his writing. This time, I just felt bored. The flow was also quite bad. I think jumping between 10 - 15 characters was a big part of the problem. Some chapters were long, while others were only a few pages.

Unfortunately, the ending also fell flat for me. It didn't have the impact or the satisfaction that I was hoping for.

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s-viv

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

July 15,2025

I will be discussing the aliens to some extent, without disclosing any plot twists, deaths, or the ending. This is for those who desire to know a bit more about the creatures that other reviews have not delved into.

It is a rather well-written alien invasion story. Given that it is by McCammon, I would expect nothing less. It is quite interesting to read a story that unfolds over a twenty-four-hour period in a small Texan town named Inferno.

Daufin is an interdimensional being fleeing through space when her ship malfunctions and she lands on Earth. She is being pursued by a much larger and different creature, essentially a bounty hunter named Stinger. He is a being with needle-like claws and teeth.

Eventually, he locates Daufin with his ship, which leads to an all-out war in the town of Inferno. The people come together in a final stand to take down Stinger. But the question remains: do they succeed?

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Stinger

robert mccammon

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