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41st out of 203 books
—
111 voters
Stinger
In the remote Texas town of Inferno, a creature of evil beyond anything the world has ever encountered descends. He traps the town and ravages the land with grisly executions and horrible mutations . . . until the people rise up in a final, desperate battle. From the author of Swan Song. Original.
Mass Market Paperback, 538 pages
Published
April 1st 1988
by Pocket Books
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The town of Inferno has been slowly dying since the copper mine went bust. The school is closing for good in two days. Most people are leaving town and the two gangs, The Rattlesnakes and the Renegades, are like vultures on Inferno's corpse. Everything gets turned upside down the day an alien ship crashes and the alien takes over the body of a little girl. It's a picnic, however, compared to the second alien that shows up...
Stinger is the story of a dying town turned upside down by two aliens. J...more
Stinger is the story of a dying town turned upside down by two aliens. J...more
First published back in 1988, Robert McCammon’s sci-fi horror novel ‘Stinger’ followed on from the successful novels ‘They thirst!’ and ‘Swan Song’. Already with quite a well respected name for himself within the horror world, McCammon’s ‘Stinger’ was a widely anticipated release for this author.
Set in the not too distant future within a dusty Texas town named Inferno, the books starts off setting the scene in this scorching hot dying town. Work is hard to come by and life is hard for the reside...more
Set in the not too distant future within a dusty Texas town named Inferno, the books starts off setting the scene in this scorching hot dying town. Work is hard to come by and life is hard for the reside...more
For the most part, Stinger was a fun read. I love a good mixture of horror and sci-fi, and this tale of an extraterrestrial on the run was an okay one.
I liked the concept of Daufin, and her pursuer, and I liked the relationship between Rick and Cody. Apart from that, though, I don't much else to say about it.
I think the story could easily have survived with 200 less pages. By the time I was 400 pages in, it seemed action was just a little too drawn on, and I was getting to the point of, okay, ca...more
I liked the concept of Daufin, and her pursuer, and I liked the relationship between Rick and Cody. Apart from that, though, I don't much else to say about it.
I think the story could easily have survived with 200 less pages. By the time I was 400 pages in, it seemed action was just a little too drawn on, and I was getting to the point of, okay, ca...more
Yup, I'm giving this one the ol' "5 Star" rating!
Basic premise: Alien shows up on earth, takes over the body of little girl, another alien shows to bring back the other alien who we find out is an escaped "prisoner".
The power within this book is 100% the characters. McCammon gives us such string characters that we have no choice but to get wrapped up in the story. His whole book could have been about the stuggle between the two gangs, or the relationship between Cody and Curt (son and drunk da...more
Basic premise: Alien shows up on earth, takes over the body of little girl, another alien shows to bring back the other alien who we find out is an escaped "prisoner".
The power within this book is 100% the characters. McCammon gives us such string characters that we have no choice but to get wrapped up in the story. His whole book could have been about the stuggle between the two gangs, or the relationship between Cody and Curt (son and drunk da...more
Robert McCammon is quite gifted at taking old ideas and infusing them with new life. He also tends to write like he is writing with the movies in mind. He wrote Stinger like he had a TV movie in mind. The idea of good alien being chased by bad alien while endangering the human race is somewhat of a standard idea. The author does manage to write some excellent action segments and the ending moves like a runaway train ablaze. Yet his characters are cardboard cutouts. McCammon uses every small town...more
2 likes · like · see review
В пограничном городке Инферно уже много лет не найти нормальной работы. Из года в год здесь хорошо живут только наркодилеры, алкаши и прочая маргинальная шушера, у которой нет никаких нормальных видов на будущее. У детей городка Инферно будущего тоже нет. Единственная федеральная школа была закрыта два дня назад, поэтому юные техасцы и латиносы не прекращают кровавые разборки за сферы влияния.
Но именно этот городок Инферно становится местом Первого Контакта. И именно сюда прилетает сбежавший из...more
Но именно этот городок Инферно становится местом Первого Контакта. И именно сюда прилетает сбежавший из...more
Stinger is a very straightforward book that doesn’t leave you guessing in any way. McCammon even tends to go out of his way at points to explain things to you. The characters are given some back story but I found them to be mostly two dimensional. The rivalry between Cody and Rick as the big bad gang leaders felt ridiculous and poorly written. I attribute this to the fact that it was written in the 80′s and not that McCammon is a bad writer, the decade just called out for cheesy rivalries like...more
Weak characterization and later pop culture remnants (not the book's fault) mar an otherwise enjoyable beach read. Far less deep and emotive than Boy's Life and Swan Song, Stinger posits a familiar formula of alien cultures at war and our world's become a fragment of the battlefield.
To get it out of the way, current readers of the book may have a small problem equating the titular Stinger with the bug in the Edgar Suit made well-known by the Men in Black film. While the book did it first and wit...more
To get it out of the way, current readers of the book may have a small problem equating the titular Stinger with the bug in the Edgar Suit made well-known by the Men in Black film. While the book did it first and wit...more
After a lot of thought during the reading of this book, I come to the conclusion that this is indeed a horror novel. The descriptive powers of the author are spent mostly on describing the horrors rather than expounding any possible future invasion of earth by aliens.
The story is about what happens to a small town in Texas which is on the verge of being abandoned by its inhabitants amounting to some 3000, with an improbable name called 'inferno', in the time span of less than 24 hours.
While the...more
The story is about what happens to a small town in Texas which is on the verge of being abandoned by its inhabitants amounting to some 3000, with an improbable name called 'inferno', in the time span of less than 24 hours.
While the...more
A friend of mine at work found out that I liked McCammon, and gave me his copy of Stinger. While it's no Swans' Song, I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Read Swan and Wolf's Hour first, but don't pass this one by if you like sci-fi horror.
Read Swan and Wolf's Hour first, but don't pass this one by if you like sci-fi horror.
just recalled... ive already read this book. and it was great. after reading this book, was able to buy two other books of Robert McCammon.
I did love "Dauphin" in the story.
Can you imagine, a cute young girl acting that way... freaks me out. But then, living in a small sphere, where the real young girl stayed as the stinger invaded her lil body, is so cool... wanted to stay in such place even for a counted second. :)
And the unity of the gangs, made the story thrilling too coz of a lil mix of lo...more
I did love "Dauphin" in the story.
Can you imagine, a cute young girl acting that way... freaks me out. But then, living in a small sphere, where the real young girl stayed as the stinger invaded her lil body, is so cool... wanted to stay in such place even for a counted second. :)
And the unity of the gangs, made the story thrilling too coz of a lil mix of lo...more
My second ever McCammon book ... and recall loving every second of it. As with all other McCammon books .. i recomend them to anyone and especailly sci-fi lovers.
The Texas town of Inferno becomes hell when two aliens land in it. Robert R. McCammon quickly nabs our interest in this story that involves several sympathetic characters and several that epitomize evil. Individuals learn that race, ethnicity, and other prejudices lose importance when unity means survival. To win against Stinger, two graduating high school seniors must overcome their gang war mentalities. A sheriff and a father must overcome pasts that haunt them. A woman must trust an alien who...more
I was going to rate this 3 stars, because you can't do 3.5 on goodreads, but I really enjoyed it, so I'll give it the 4. This was my first experience with McCammon and I look forward to reading more of his work. The only gripe I have with this book is that it takes a very long time to get going, but by the halfway point its a fast moving, frenzied affair until the end. McCammon really impressed me with his pacing, characterization and also the sheer descriptive quality of the writing. The premis...more
Deep down, in the centre of the blackness, something might have shifted—a cautious, slow stirring; an ancient thing, contemplating the shine of light that touched it through the murk. Then it was still again, pondering and gathering strength.
McCammon takes some time to set up his story and his characters. This is one of the aspects I enjoy about Horror novels like these; it’s quite the immersive experience. On the other hand, I didn’t care much for the whole Renegades vs Rattlesnakes gang war th...more
McCammon takes some time to set up his story and his characters. This is one of the aspects I enjoy about Horror novels like these; it’s quite the immersive experience. On the other hand, I didn’t care much for the whole Renegades vs Rattlesnakes gang war th...more
16 likes · like · see review
I had read perhaps half of Robert R. McCammon's horror novels in paperback when I happened to begin this one. Now, don't get me wrong; his books are all good. Boy's Life and Gone South in particular stood out to me at the time, as well as the apocalyptic epic Swan Song, and I recall They Thirst being one of the few horror novels that made me jump a few times and actually scared me at others. And perhaps this shouldn't enter into it, but Mr. McCammon is apparently one hell of a nice human being;...more
I love this book. It's so much fun. Small town in the Southwest is invaded by an alien bounty hunter looking for an escaped prisoner from their interplanetary prison. The bounty hunter starts by sealing the town in a giant bubble that covers the town (no, Stephen King did NOT come up with that idea...it came from this book instead) and then he begins slowly destroying and killing everyone in the town as he seeks his prey.
Think of what it would be like if you were trapped in a small town in the...more
Think of what it would be like if you were trapped in a small town in the...more
A Stephen King-like epic horror novel. Has some truly scary moments, but it really is 200 pages too long and stuffed with about 5 too many characters. Around the 400 page mark it really loses steam and just drags on and on. The racial stuff is pretty lame and doesn't really add as much depth to the story as McCammon thinks it does. Great author, mediocre book.
Another cool book that is reminiscent of some of Dean Koontz's earlier works. If I remember correctly it is set somewhere near or in the New Mexico area and the locals are searching for a metaphysical chupacabra - which I believe was the first time I ever heard of such a creature.
I started with "They Thirst" and hungrily devoured all of the McCammon books in like 4 weeks.
I didn't mind the routine of the stories and found them engaging and well-written.
This book and "Swan Song" were the scariest. Great, quick reads - perfect for October evenings!
I didn't mind the routine of the stories and found them engaging and well-written.
This book and "Swan Song" were the scariest. Great, quick reads - perfect for October evenings!
Кино 80х. Все штампы в одном флаконе. Воспринимается не как литература, а как такой ностальгический рейд в детство. Это одновременно и плюс, и минус.
Stinger is basically the BEST 80's action/horror movie NEVER made. So you'll just have to read the book. It's brilliant stuff. Totally camp, great plot and interesting characters. I can't believe it never got made into a movie.
Decent book. Author does a good job of describing two alien species, showing their alienes and how humans are just supporting players in their conflict. Characters are somewhat weak and cliche.
But otherwise enjoyable read.
But otherwise enjoyable read.
Excellent scary book. It kept me on the edge and McCammon is one of the very best horror writers I have ever read. If you want ecitement and great writing read this
One of the more unique "evil monster" novels I have read. McCammon is a silent hero in horror, in my opinion. I always enjoy the reads and definitely recommend this one. It is more intriguing and suspenseful than a glance might lead the reader to believe.
McCammon is a master of the craft. This book has everything: gang-warfare, coming-of-age plot, aliens, NASTY aliens... and it's just superb! One of the few 5-star reviews I ever give.
Riveting! Scared the s#$% out of me! One of the best horror books I've read. Great story, creepy setting, frightening, evil presence!
Robert McCammon really is a master of horror. Stinger is taut, well-written and grabs the reader from the beginning. Scary & engrossing.
Surprisingly good - reminded me of a throw-back to the horror novels that were so popular during the 70's and 80's.
This book scared the $#!T out of me! For me, one of the most wonderfully frightening, suspenseful books I've ever read.
| topics | posts | views | last activity | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| McCammon recos or Books for those who loved Stinger, They Thirst, or Swan Song | 15 | 32 | Mar 21, 2013 09:30pm |
Robert R. McCammon was a full-time horror writer for many years. After taking a hiatus for his family, he returned to writing with an interest in historical fiction.
A new contemporary novel, The Five, was published in May 2011 by Subterranean Press.
The Hunter from the Woods, a collection of novellas and stories featuring Michael Gallatin, the main character from The Wolf's Hour, was published as a...more
More about Robert R. McCammon...
A new contemporary novel, The Five, was published in May 2011 by Subterranean Press.
The Hunter from the Woods, a collection of novellas and stories featuring Michael Gallatin, the main character from The Wolf's Hour, was published as a...more
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Haven't heard about McCammon's new one...more
Dec 23, 2011 11:02am
Haven't heard about McCamm...more
Dec 23, 2011 11:07am