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wyll's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
4.0
in the beginning I was completely indifferent to this book, but the further I read and the more I thought about the implications and the dynamics between the characters and the Allegories and Metaphors, the more I was able to appreciate it. this definitely isn't the best, there's parts I would've omitted entirely (Ray's entire.. Thing is just, not the best to me, especially when he considers assaulting Nasty while she's asleep.. big yikes, don't know how no one asked McCammon if he really thought he should go through with this), but there's also an incredibly important narrative on race and racism that unfortunately manages to continue to be relevant today, and the dynamic between Rick and Cody and how it plays out is really what's moved me to give such a high rating, since I wasn't all too interested in the lore (but that's really because of my over-exposure to King and sci-fi in general; if I'd have been able to have experienced Stinger when it was first published, I would definitely have been more into the lore and plot). definitely a book that makes you think about a lot of things, about humanity and kindness, and really, that's what sci-fi should be about, so McCammon did good on this.
billymac1962's review against another edition
2.0
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, can we please just wrap this up already?
One thing did bother me because I am a stickler for accuracy: It seemed every time these gang members were in a battle-lust, it was after they had smoked marijuana. I don't know how much, if any, experience McCammon has with this, but I can't ever remember seeing a stoner engage in violent activity.
Now don't mistake me for defending the use of dope...while I admit it was a part of my youth, I think its true menace is causing lethargy, ambivalence, and loss of drive and ambition.
Hardly violence.
McCammon might have been better to choose alcohol has the gangs' battle fuel for credibility's sake.
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, can we please just wrap this up already?
One thing did bother me because I am a stickler for accuracy: It seemed every time these gang members were in a battle-lust, it was after they had smoked marijuana. I don't know how much, if any, experience McCammon has with this, but I can't ever remember seeing a stoner engage in violent activity.
Now don't mistake me for defending the use of dope...while I admit it was a part of my youth, I think its true menace is causing lethargy, ambivalence, and loss of drive and ambition.
Hardly violence.
McCammon might have been better to choose alcohol has the gangs' battle fuel for credibility's sake.
the_enobee's review against another edition
4.0
An inventive and original take on the alien invasion genre, and so full of McCammon's typical heart that this novel nears perfection for his fans. Recommended for any sci-fi or horror fan. Super 80's feel as well which is a match for the current zeitgeist.
invisiblemonster's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
3.0
mnyberg's review against another edition
4.0
It's not in my top 5 McCammon books, but it's a solid read and well written take on a Sci-Fi alien invasion in a small town.
dantastic's review against another edition
4.0
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. Just as he did in Swan Song, McCammon creates an ensemble cast that grips the imagination. Cody Lockett and Rick Jurado, leaders of the Renegades and the Rattlesnakes, were both three dimensional characters and neither were scene-chewing villains. The rest of the cast was also well done, the Hammond family in particular. Even Vance, the douche bag sheriff, and Curt Lockett, Cody's alcoholic father, ended up not being all bad.
The aliens were pretty interesting. Daufin was an artificial intelligence contained in a black sphere and Stinger, well, Stinger was complicated, parts man, scorpion, and other components.
The story was fast-paced, especially after Stinger showed up, and reminded me of the movies The Predator and Tremors at times. No one knows when Stinger will strike but he always comes from below ground. One thing I found funny was that Stinger's ship surrounded the town with an impenetrable dome seven miles in diameter, cutting off the power and supplies. McCammon gets a lot of flack for being a Stephen King wannabee but he beat old Steve to the punch by over twenty years with the dome concept.
The ending was believable and done well. Not everyone survived and you got the idea that Inferno would never be the same.
Stinger was a page-turner and shouldn't be missed by horror fans. It's gory and really intense at times.
Stinger is the story of a dying town turned upside down by two aliens. Just as he did in Swan Song, McCammon creates an ensemble cast that grips the imagination. Cody Lockett and Rick Jurado, leaders of the Renegades and the Rattlesnakes, were both three dimensional characters and neither were scene-chewing villains. The rest of the cast was also well done, the Hammond family in particular. Even Vance, the douche bag sheriff, and Curt Lockett, Cody's alcoholic father, ended up not being all bad.
The aliens were pretty interesting. Daufin was an artificial intelligence contained in a black sphere and Stinger, well, Stinger was complicated, parts man, scorpion, and other components.
The story was fast-paced, especially after Stinger showed up, and reminded me of the movies The Predator and Tremors at times. No one knows when Stinger will strike but he always comes from below ground. One thing I found funny was that Stinger's ship surrounded the town with an impenetrable dome seven miles in diameter, cutting off the power and supplies. McCammon gets a lot of flack for being a Stephen King wannabee but he beat old Steve to the punch by over twenty years with the dome concept.
The ending was believable and done well. Not everyone survived and you got the idea that Inferno would never be the same.
Stinger was a page-turner and shouldn't be missed by horror fans. It's gory and really intense at times.
cookiestains's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.0
dylan_dr3's review against another edition
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
paranoidfunk's review against another edition
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0