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  • Stinger
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Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
4.5 out of 5
488 global ratings
5 star
63%
4 star
26%
3 star
6%
2 star
3%
1 star
2%
Stinger

Stinger

byRobert McCammon
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Top positive review

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Mike H
5.0 out of 5 starsA Great Author
Reviewed in the United States on July 15, 2020
At one point, I had read every book this author has written. I've missed a few over the years, but have repurchased many to re-read again. Something I never do - I'm usually about to read the first few sentences of a book and remember the rest, making though of re-reading it more of a chore. Not with Mr. McCammon. People who do a lot of reading often run into books they just resonate with, causing a chase through that author's other works. This is the experience I had with Mr. McCammon. I think one characteristic of a good book or story, from the mediocre - involves the "suspension of belief" - or "disbelief" - just getting lost in - and enjoying the story. When you're reading along and either hit bad dialog or a hick-up in the story that doesn't make sense, it's like tripping while taking a relaxing stroll in nature. You're forced to "look down" at the cause and away from the beautiful world around you. A horrible distraction. This book involves aliens from space. If you can still go on from that, you will be in for a huge ride. One that you don't want to end. To me, this is the talent of this author. Believable dialog and action. You can't go wrong with any of the books you start with. Like a movie in your head that you are able to pause for brief moments - and can't wait to pick back up to see what happens next. This really isn't so much about "this" book, but a suggestion towards a talented author you may find yourself able to get lost with. Pick any story. You'll find one with him. I'm always amazed by what process goes on in the mind of the writer of a story. Where did "that" come from? "I didn't see that coming" - or actually "feeling" emotions for the characters - "from" the characters - things that make his stories so worth it to me. Basically, it's really hard when making recommendations to others. You either travel with them, or try to keep up after tripping. Because of this, I don't make many recommendations regarding "Fiction" books at all. Mr. McCammon makes this easier. Pick one and enjoy the ride.
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One person found this helpful

Top critical review

All critical reviews›
Klapaucjusz
2.0 out of 5 starsDid not pool me in
Reviewed in the United States on April 1, 2019
Mr McCammon wrote many very different books and I loved several of them. But choosing this one was a mistake on my part. Despite plenty of action I found it quite boring and I ended up skipping whole paragraphs in order to finish it. Let me explain why.

First 40% of book is essentially an introduction familiarizing reader with the place and with multiple characters. There are long parts describing in a big detail a layout of two small towns separated by the river and, more importantly, by demographics of inhabitants. I could not keep track of all the streets and kept asking myself why, if they were supposed to be so important, not to simply draw a map? Then I got introduced to many protagonists several of them the members of two competing youth gangs; the kids of Mexican origin and white kids. Again, I got lost in who is who and the problems of the young people and other characters felt like “carbon –copied“ from other books. Then, finally, aliens invade and there are several bloody and gory encounters between them and local human population. The first one or two of them were interesting but repeated for the 10-th and 20-th time in different variations they became boring (and made me skipping paragraph again). In the last 10% of the book the new things start happening but by then I was so tired I could not get involved in any of the action. On top of that there are several annoying inconsistencies in psychological makeup and in behavior of both; humans and aliens.

It was just a two star reading experience for me but I believe this book may be much more appealing to the fans of gory horror and/or zombies’-like scenes. As for me, I do not give up on this author, I just need to choose other book of his (the one that is more like “Boys Live”, “Gone South”, “Speaks the Nightbird” or even “Mystery Walk”).
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From the United States

Klapaucjusz
2.0 out of 5 stars Did not pool me in
Reviewed in the United States on April 1, 2019
Verified Purchase
Mr McCammon wrote many very different books and I loved several of them. But choosing this one was a mistake on my part. Despite plenty of action I found it quite boring and I ended up skipping whole paragraphs in order to finish it. Let me explain why.

First 40% of book is essentially an introduction familiarizing reader with the place and with multiple characters. There are long parts describing in a big detail a layout of two small towns separated by the river and, more importantly, by demographics of inhabitants. I could not keep track of all the streets and kept asking myself why, if they were supposed to be so important, not to simply draw a map? Then I got introduced to many protagonists several of them the members of two competing youth gangs; the kids of Mexican origin and white kids. Again, I got lost in who is who and the problems of the young people and other characters felt like “carbon –copied“ from other books. Then, finally, aliens invade and there are several bloody and gory encounters between them and local human population. The first one or two of them were interesting but repeated for the 10-th and 20-th time in different variations they became boring (and made me skipping paragraph again). In the last 10% of the book the new things start happening but by then I was so tired I could not get involved in any of the action. On top of that there are several annoying inconsistencies in psychological makeup and in behavior of both; humans and aliens.

It was just a two star reading experience for me but I believe this book may be much more appealing to the fans of gory horror and/or zombies’-like scenes. As for me, I do not give up on this author, I just need to choose other book of his (the one that is more like “Boys Live”, “Gone South”, “Speaks the Nightbird” or even “Mystery Walk”).
20 people found this helpful
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B Blas
3.0 out of 5 stars Nostalgic 80s Horror Novel
Reviewed in the United States on May 8, 2019
Verified Purchase
No longer in print at the author's request, this is an amateur work. The characters, story, suspense and setting are typical of 80's horror. This read was nostalgic for me. Yes it's writing style is amateur, but I understand this was McCammon's earliest work before he later developed his masterful technique, with a storyline that borrows from typical S. King monster horror. I can recommend this novel to adolescent readers or 40-somethings who fondly recall readings these books as youths.
13 people found this helpful
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Dario Dallalasta
3.0 out of 5 stars Not quite sting-worthy, but still an enjoyable ride
Reviewed in the United States on December 16, 2018
Verified Purchase
While Robert McCammon is one of my favorite authors (I worshiped the thrilling spy/werewolf tale "The Wolf's Hour" and adore the classic "Boy's Life" so much that I re-read it this year), I found "Stinger" to be a bit pedestrian. Like a wan Stephen King substitute, the story tells the tale of an alien crash-landing in small Inferno, Texas and what happens to the townspeople when faced with such a test; in essence, it's good vs. evil in its broadest terms. I appreciated much of the alien world-building and there's gore aplenty, but it didn't scare me in true King fashion like the master's "It" and "The Tommyknockers." So while McCammon's book isn't quite sting-worthy, I still enjoyed the ride.
10 people found this helpful
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Mike H
5.0 out of 5 stars A Great Author
Reviewed in the United States on July 15, 2020
Verified Purchase
At one point, I had read every book this author has written. I've missed a few over the years, but have repurchased many to re-read again. Something I never do - I'm usually about to read the first few sentences of a book and remember the rest, making though of re-reading it more of a chore. Not with Mr. McCammon. People who do a lot of reading often run into books they just resonate with, causing a chase through that author's other works. This is the experience I had with Mr. McCammon. I think one characteristic of a good book or story, from the mediocre - involves the "suspension of belief" - or "disbelief" - just getting lost in - and enjoying the story. When you're reading along and either hit bad dialog or a hick-up in the story that doesn't make sense, it's like tripping while taking a relaxing stroll in nature. You're forced to "look down" at the cause and away from the beautiful world around you. A horrible distraction. This book involves aliens from space. If you can still go on from that, you will be in for a huge ride. One that you don't want to end. To me, this is the talent of this author. Believable dialog and action. You can't go wrong with any of the books you start with. Like a movie in your head that you are able to pause for brief moments - and can't wait to pick back up to see what happens next. This really isn't so much about "this" book, but a suggestion towards a talented author you may find yourself able to get lost with. Pick any story. You'll find one with him. I'm always amazed by what process goes on in the mind of the writer of a story. Where did "that" come from? "I didn't see that coming" - or actually "feeling" emotions for the characters - "from" the characters - things that make his stories so worth it to me. Basically, it's really hard when making recommendations to others. You either travel with them, or try to keep up after tripping. Because of this, I don't make many recommendations regarding "Fiction" books at all. Mr. McCammon makes this easier. Pick one and enjoy the ride.
One person found this helpful
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Steve
4.0 out of 5 stars Welcome to Inferno and Bordertown
Reviewed in the United States on September 19, 2016
Verified Purchase
In Stinger, Robert McCammon Welcomes us to Inferno and Bordertown, two racially divided sections of remote and withering Texas mining town. There really isn't much work now that the mine has closed down. The school year is winding down and as it locks its doors for Summer, it may be for the last time. Not much else is happening there outside of the rival gangs (the Renegades and Rattlers) constantly at war with each other. This changes when an alien space craft crash lands. We soon discover that the alien (Daufin) was being pursued by another alien being; a bounty hunter (Stinger) that begins to kill everyone the the town and replace them with replicants to do his bidding. Stinger is very well written Sci Fi horror with finely crafted characters and touching moments. This is the third book I have read by McCammon (I also read Boy's Life and swan Song) and I have enjoyed all three. Recommended. 4/5
15 people found this helpful
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RavenhillTop Contributor: Pets
4.0 out of 5 stars A fun sci fi horror read; don't be put off by old fashioned cover art
Reviewed in the United States on June 10, 2018
Verified Purchase
This is a fun and possibly seminal work, which has elements that we later see in other, more famous work by other writers.

My big beef with this was really the following:

I realize that at the time it was written, this writer was relatively unknown. It is an early work. There probably was not a big budget for proof readers or editors. However, the edition I purchased was a book club edition, and one would think that by the time a book gets to that level, someone would at least have been able to go back and fix the glaringly obvious mistakes the writer made in areas where he perhaps had no expertise at the time.

What bothered me? "...a gentle horse that [they] had raised from a pony."
This is kind of like saying a wolf raised from a fox.
Horses are not ponies; and the young of both is called a foal, or colt (male) or filly (female).
Later, the "withers", the area of shoulder where the mane meets the back, is set at the back of a saddle in one sentence.

This may not seem like a big deal, but for the millions of readers who know better, it really jars us out of our suspension of disbelief and entirely out of the book altogether - which is why there are editors and proofreaders. I'd hope SOMEONE would have corrected this for Mr. McCammon, and no one did. A big shame, worse than letting typos slip by.

That said, this is a rollicking, sci-fi horror book with young protagonists...always fun. I won't spoil any of it by mentioning specific plot points. It is a product of its time and more modern sci fi thinking may cause the reader to think of a few plot holes or solutions the characters miss...but honestly, it is a fun read that kept me turning the pages.
5 people found this helpful
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Kindle Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Great Sci-Fi
Reviewed in the United States on August 9, 2017
Verified Purchase
Always good to read a Robert McCammon tale and this is no exception! Good guys, bad guys and most of all Stinger, a true monster. It would be easy to pick the logistics apart but a story's main job is to entertain and this on does just that. A small dying Texas town, a couple of gangs, a teacher and his family and an unassuming alien that just wants to go home...but not ET-like. Far from it and the Stinger is a bounty hunter that looks like a scorpion but MUCH larger and has other plans for the homesick alien and the people that are trying to help it!
6 people found this helpful
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K. Richardson
5.0 out of 5 stars Freaky
Reviewed in the United States on July 11, 2017
Verified Purchase
Wasn't sure about this book. I enjoy first contact stories and this one did not disappoint. Exciting and weird it held my interest until the very end. Characters were well thought out and believable and the bad guy and was suitably bad. Recommend.
4 people found this helpful
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Jewel
5.0 out of 5 stars Second Reading Better Than The First
Reviewed in the United States on May 22, 2014
Verified Purchase
Robert McCammon is one of my all time favorite authors & I am sorry that he doesn't write the same kind of stories he used to write. I am going to read the newer one from last year, The Five. The reviews are either love or hate - didn't see much in between. The newest, River of Souls, sounds more promising. I had read this book a long time ago & don't remember it as well as Swan Song & Boys Life. I have read each of those two times & enjoyed both. Maybe The Five will get things back in order for the author to continue writing wonderful books.

I have just read this book for the second time after reading it years ago. This time I liked it much better than the first time. Maybe because it is so hard to find a good McCammon book anymore. This book is like reading a movie. You can see it as you read it. It is so full of action that it actually has a physical effect. Most of the characters are well developed. I thought the author could have done more with Jessie & Tom, but there were so many others that it didn't hurt the story at all. After hesitating to read it again, I am so glad I did.
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R. Everett
5.0 out of 5 stars Wow! What a book!!!
Reviewed in the United States on May 14, 2022
Verified Purchase
It's hard to put into words just how good this was. I kept thinking what a movie this would be. Story, special effects, and characters would make the movie a hit for the ages--IF some people could get past the gore. I sat there reading with my mouth hanging open the whole time. If you're a horror or SF fan, don't miss it.
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