Before delving into Stinger, I had perused three other titles penned by McCammon and regarded myself as a fan. Admittedly, I wasn't an overly狂热的, die-hard fan, but a fan nonetheless.

Stinger, however, revolutionized my perception. I am now an extremely dedicated adherent of Robert McCammon.

This captivating book revolves around two adversarial terrestrial forces converging upon a diminutive, withering town in Texas. One, Daufin, is on the lam, while the other, Stinger, is a bounty hunter hot on the trail of the criminal alien force.

I'm well aware of what you might be pondering - that this sounds like the storyline of a shoddily produced B-movie, and not a particularly good one at that. Indeed, this book would translate quite well into a sci-fi thriller or a SyFy miniseries. It's brisk-paced, brimming with amusement, and not overly profound. Nevertheless, what distinguishes this 1988 novel from your average alien sagas is the array of characters McCammon crafts. They seem to jump off the page and almost compel the reader to fall head over heels for them. Among the diverse cast of characters are an alcoholic, teen gang members, a wealthy old busybody, a veterinarian, a mentally ill military veteran, a sheriff who feels ineffective in his small town, a high school teacher on the verge of losing his job, and numerous others. Every single one here - including Daufin and Stinger - has a tale to tell and opportunities for redemption.

In addition to the remarkable characters, Stinger simply races along. I found myself unable to refrain from turning the pages and only put the book down when it was absolutely imperative. I could have easily completed this 450-page novel within two days were it not for, you know, my job and other obligations. *sigh* But I digress....

McCammon has now achieved a perfect score of 4/4 with me, and Stinger is likely my second favorite book of his among those I've read thus far. If you're in search of a rapid and enjoyable summer read populated by a wonderful cast of characters, replete with numerous scares, and possessing a great deal of heart, look no further. McCammon's sci-fi is entirely accessible to those who aren't particularly enamored with spaceships and strange life forms (like yours truly) - he renders it enjoyable, comprehensible, and, quite frankly, believable.

I wholeheartedly recommend this one.

Five ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This book is an absolute page-turner that had me completely enthralled from start to finish!! I recall reading somewhere that some people thought there were an overwhelming number of characters to keep track of. However, upon reflection, I firmly believe that each and every one of them was essential to the unfolding of the story. McCammon's writing in this book is truly remarkable, especially when it comes to presenting the opposing sides. We have two "clubs" (or rather, gangs) - the Renegades and the Rattlesnakes. Whenever they cross paths, it's a fierce battle, with both sides fighting tooth and nail. Then there's Daufin, the guardian, who is being opposed by Stinger, an assassin sent to capture Daufin, who has managed to escape from an impossible interstellar penal colony. Daufin inhabits the body of a six-year-old girl named Stevie. The story takes place over a 24-hour period in Inferno, Texas. It contains elements of gore, death, mutilation, bravery, and the indomitable human spirit.

Triggers:
Animal cruelty
Racism
Extreme violence

It's a heavy and intense story, but McCammon skillfully weaves in moments of humor, almost like giving the reader a brief respite from the horrors before plunging them back in. I highly recommend this book. It was a fast and enjoyable read for me, and I truly hope you give it a try!

I’m generally a big fan of Robert McCammon. His works usually have a unique charm that can draw readers in. However, Stinger is my least favorite of his so far.

Part of the reason might be my mood at that time, and part could be due to what else I’d been reading previously. I was in the mood for an exciting alien invasion story, and Stinger promised to be that. But to my disappointment, despite a prologue that seemed to set the stage for the horrors to come, nothing really happened related to aliens until about 80 pages in.

We were introduced to the characters at some length, and they were indeed interesting and well drawn. But unfortunately, I wasn’t in the mood for a detailed character study at that moment. When the alien was finally introduced, it seemed more friendly than threatening, and this impression later proved to be accurate. The dangerous aliens didn’t appear until page 197. And even though they were pretty cool when they finally showed up, by that time I’d largely lost interest.

Part of my issue may have been that I’d just been on a Harlan Coben binge, and his books are known for their fast-paced plots with frequent twists and turns. In contrast, Stinger felt a bit slow-paced. I did manage to finish “Stinger,” but I wasn’t very emotionally involved in it. I was just curious about what would happen to certain characters. I really do enjoy McCammon’s prose, which is always engaging. If I were going to recommend some of McCammon’s works, I’d highly recommend a book like “They Thirst,” or his short story collection, “Blue World.” Both are outstanding works that showcase his talent. And if you’re in the mood for a kind of ET meets Alien book that builds slowly and you have the patience to wait for the action to unfold, “Stinger” might be the right choice for you.

2.5 stars.

When writing genre fiction, aiming for the highest level is a risky move. In some aspects, it might be simpler (and perhaps more pleasing to certain readers) to sacrifice elements like character development and thematic depth in favor of a fast-paced plot. Just simplify and let it fly. However, if you desire long-term success, you must offer the reader more than just cheap thrills, and this is where Robert R. McCammon's nearly successful Stinger (1988) ultimately falls short. Because if you're going to take the time to explore character and story more deeply, you better be good at it.

The novel seems to be crying out for the first approach I described above. A kind alien, fleeing from an intergalactic prison, crashes its spacecraft near Inferno, a remote Texas town, and takes over the body of a six-year-old girl until it can find a way to escape. Meanwhile, one of the creatures maintaining the prison tracks the escapee to Inferno, activates a skygrid around the town, and proceeds to hunt it down, causing chaos in its path.

When McCammon reaches that point – when Stinger, as it's called, crash lands in the center of Inferno and begins its violent search – the book becomes a narrative juggernaut. It's creepy and thrilling and accomplishes all the things you expect from a pulpy horror novel with literary ambitions. The problem, though, is that it actually takes over 200 pages to get there. Here we are, on page 203 of 539:

\\"The fireball – almost two hundred feet across – roared down and crashed into Mack Cade's autoyard, throwing sheets of dust and pieces of cars into the air. Its shock wave heaved the earth, sent cracks scurrying along the streets of Inferno and Bordertown, blew out windows, and flung Cody Lockett off his feet...\\"

As enjoyable as Stinger ultimately becomes, what precedes that passage is 200 pages of dreadfully tedious world-building and attempts to develop characters we care about. We are presented with these various plot lines:

• Tension between the white residents of Inferno and the Mexican-American residents of Bordertown, often manifesting in gang violence among high school students (along with some truly atrocious racist language and attitudes, which I believe is intended to be critical of the white townspeople, but due to its clumsy handling, it just comes across as ordinary racism).

• The activities of the Hammond family – parents Tom (a high school teacher) and Jessie (a veterinary doctor) and their children Ray and Stevie – which include Ray's creepy obsession with his female classmates and Tom's attempts to motivate two students, Cody and Rick, who are, unsurprisingly, key members of the two opposing gangs.

• A World War II vet who takes care of an imaginary dog.

• The arrival in town of Rick's attractive sister Miranda, who exists for no other reason than to create more tension between the gangs because Cody, of course, thinks she's \\"a smash fox\\" (a dumb phrase McCammon overuses the first time it appears).

• A great deal of cliched father-son tension between Cody and his neglectful alcoholic father Curt.

• The arrival of two Air Force men – Barnes and Gunniston – in search of the crashed spacecraft.

It continues in this vein for almost half the book, just a lot of generic, prefabricated family drama that could have come out of a kit. I understand why it's there: McCammon is trying to ultimately show how different groups of people who don't get along can unite against a common enemy. But the payoff isn't satisfying because the setup is so cheesy.

And again, that's kind of a shame, because from the moment Stinger lands, the book becomes a whole lot more interesting. As Stinger tracks down Daufin – the name the escapee gives itself after taking over Stevie's body – it does so by killing Inferno's residents and reanimating their bodies in various creepy ways: human form with needle teeth and claws; a man with half a dog growing out of his chest; a horse with a scorpion tail. In this way, it eliminates any threats from the town while in its different human forms, it tries to blend in in ways not entirely dissimilar to John Carpenter's adaptation of The Thing. It ultimately becomes a race against time for the town's survivors to help Daufin escape before Stinger brings its entire army to Earth for colonization.

I first read Stinger in high school (McCammon was one of the authors I discovered around the same time as Stephen King), but I remembered very little about it. What I really need to do now is revisit some of his other books because I actually have very fond memories of them. I'm not sure if Stinger is a weak point in his bibliography, or if I just hadn't developed the critical skills to help me see how disastrously ordinary the first half is. If McCammon had cut out most of the unnecessary world-building and structured the first half to focus on the discovery of Daufin's pod, the takeover of Stevie's body, and the arrival of Barnes and Gunniston, and then skipped directly to Stinger's arrival and the town's imprisonment, the book would have been a lean, intense thriller. As it is now, though, it's just needlessly bloated: a 530-page novel floundering for significance when it could have been a hugely satisfying 300-page book that simply wanted to terrify the reader.

In a small American town, chaos ensues as a fearsome Bounty Hunter alien descends upon it. The alien is on a relentless search for another escaped alien, ripping the town apart in its wake.

The story is set in the 1980s, a golden era for science fiction. The author has crafted a thrilling tale that captures the essence of that decade's scifi charm.

The vivid descriptions and engaging plot make it a must-read for any scifi enthusiast. Just like everything else this author has written, it comes highly recommended.

Whether you're a fan of action-packed adventures or simply enjoy exploring the imaginative worlds of science fiction, this story is sure to satisfy. So, don't miss out on this exciting journey into the unknown.

While reading a paper book, I find myself more inclined to fall asleep. However, with my Kindle (Voyage, which has an inbuilt light that switches off after a short while), I am currently reading two books.

One is "The Dark Son" and the other one. I have been contemplating picking another ebook to read because the town he sketches and the people he describes are all so depressing, and the story started off extremely slow. It is still rather slow. Nevertheless, the pace did pick up just a little bit, and I will give it another try tonight.

I truly love this author's writing, but perhaps not this particular book.

Update: In the end, I did not manage to finish the book. Maybe it was just me, but even when there was some action, I didn't care very much. I do think that was because of the characters. Most of them were not appealing, and I didn't have any interest in them. As a result, as a reader, you don't really care what happens to them.

I did read nearly half of it, so it was just not the right book for me. But I will definitely read more books written by Robert McCammon.

Simply put, this book is truly remarkable. It's books like this which are the reason I have such a passion for reading. The moment I picked it up, I was completely engrossed. The story, the characters, and the writing style all combined to create an unforgettable experience. I found myself unable to put it down, constantly eager to turn the next page and see what would happen. If I could, I'd give it six stars because it truly tops most of my favorite five-star books. It has set a new standard for me and will undoubtedly remain one of my all-time favorites. I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves a good read and is looking for something that will leave a lasting impression.

My 500th review since I’ve been on Goodreads!

Robert McCammon is most definitely my favorite horror author. He doesn't ramble like Stephen King, and his character development and imaginative monsters are top tier. There's only been one book I've read that I didn't like, and I think that was because of the narrator more than anything else.

Stinger really reminds me of the movie Tremors, which I really liked. I haven't seen it in years, and I'm going to watch it again soon because of this book.

Stinger is about a little girl who was possessed by an alien that is escaping its home world. That alien is being chased by another alien, Stinger, which is a monstrosity. This alien can burrow under the ground and eat people through their floor. It can also infect life forms and turn them into gruesome creatures that will do its bidding. Its purpose is to retrieve the escaped alien and also report to its home world about planets with life forms. If it gets to report home, Earth will be invaded for its minerals, and all civilization will be wiped out because they can't stand other sentience that they aren't in control of.

The good alien and a group of Texans must find a way to kill Stinger to save all of humanity.

STARTING OFF 2022 WITH A BANG. While Stinger isn't as realistic and emotionally devastating as “Blue World”, nor as epic in scope and length as “Swan Song”, it can't be denied that this one was a hell of a lot of fun. McCammon's ode to aliens/creature feature stories is top notch. The story is well written with just the right amount of action, drama, character development, horror, and even humor. It's proof that McCammon is an absolute master of his craft.

The action scenes in Stinger are thrilling and keep the reader on the edge of their seat. The drama adds depth to the story and makes the characters more relatable. The character development is excellent, with each character having their own unique personality and backstory. The horror elements are spine-chilling and add to the overall atmosphere of the story. And the humor provides a welcome break from the intensity of the action and horror.

Overall, Stinger is a great read that will appeal to fans of science fiction, horror, and action. It's a fun and exciting story that will keep you entertained from start to finish. If you're looking for a great book to start off 2022, then Stinger is definitely worth checking out.

Wow! 5 Stars!

This book is truly action-packed, filled with suspense at every turn. The characters, both protagonists and antagonists, are amazing, and the world building is simply outstanding. God, I just love McCammon's writing.

"Stinger" was published in 1988, more than 20 years prior to "Under the Dome" which came out in 2009. Just saying.

The story is set in Inferno, Texas, a town surrounded by desert. With a population of only 1,700, it has one fire engine, one doctor, one veterinarian, and a school system that is in its last year of operation. Most of the residents left when the copper mine, the main source of employment, dried up. The few who remain are having a hard time leaving the town they've called home all their lives, but it seems they have little choice.

Nothing much ever happens in Inferno, except for the occasional gang fight between the Inferno "Gades" and the Bordertown "Rattlesnakes." That is, until something crashes down just outside Bordertown.

Government agent Matt Rhodes is sent to Inferno to do some damage control, but he may already be too late.

Local veterinarian Jessie Hammond and her 6-year-old daughter are driving out to a ranch to give a check-up on a Palomino when something crashes through their engine block on the way. Both are uninjured, but little Stevie finds the strange black orb that caused the damage hard to part with.

And then, a large black pyramid thing lands in the middle of the local chop shop/abandoned copper mine, and the town is turned upside down.

What the town doesn't know is that they are caught between an alien bounty hunter and its prey. With nowhere to run due to a mysterious electrified dome sealing them in, they must band together to save the planet as well as another.

In my opinion, this book is better than "Under The Dome." And it has a MUCH better ending.

Content concerns: There is strong violence, blood and gore. Race conflicts and racial slurs are used. There is also cursing and sexual themes, although no actual sex. There are drug and alcohol references, and Cody's father is an alcoholic.

Please provide the article that needs to be rewritten and expanded so that I can help you.

Robert McCammon is truly a talented writer when it comes to breathing new life into old ideas.

He has a tendency to write as if he has the movies in mind, and this is especially evident in his work Stinger, which seems to have been written with a TV movie in mind.

The concept of a good alien being pursued by a bad alien, all while endangering the human race, is a rather standard one. However, the author does manage to pen some outstanding action sequences, and the ending is as thrilling as a runaway train on fire.

Nevertheless, his characters come across as two-dimensional, more like cardboard cutouts. McCammon employs every small town cliché in the book and even throws in a touch of Romeo and Juliet.

For an action-adventure novel, it earns a solid three stars. But I truly wish he had given more thought to the plot and infused some new vitality into his protagonists.

This would have elevated the story to a whole new level and made it even more engaging for the readers.