Stinger - PNP Review

Stinger is a 1988 science fiction horror novel written by Robert McCammon and published by Pocket Books.  Set in the remote town of Inferno, Texas, an alien creature descends from the stars in search of another.  He then traps the town and ravages the land causing death and destruction in his wake, unleashing an army of horrible mutations…until the people rise up in a final, desperate battle for survival and for the fate of the planet.

Plot: 

The story is set in the small, isolated town of Inferno, Texas.  One day an alien craft crashes into Inferno and an alien named Daufin possesses the body of a little girl. Right after, another ship crash lands and raises a force field around the town. The second ship is revealed to be a bounty hunter tracking Daufin and sparing no one in its path. The story is pretty straight forward, and it all takes place within twenty-four hours (which is pretty impressive).  It is pretty slow in the beginning and of course this is to develop the world and the characters.  A lot of events jump off in the story and with how engaging the story is readers will definitely find themselves turning pages to see what happens next. The story feels like a mixture of Men in Black, Cowboys & Aliens, Under the Dome, and Salem’s Lot.  There are numerous subplots; the rivalry between the Rattlesnakes and Renegades, the friction between Cody and his drunken father Curt, that just give the story depth. It definitely feels like a pretty intense read especially as the stakes keep rising and what starts off as a bit of a mystery quickly accelerates to a race to save the world.  The ending is satisfying. 

Loved the highly diverse cast of characters, each with good personality and interesting side stories.  Sure, a lot of them are troupes, but they are well-written troupes.  Love the idea of normal people who have to deal with such a terrifying threat. Daufin is a pretty interesting character though a bit of a douche for possessing a six-year-old girl named Stevie Hammond.  She’s basically an alien fugitive fleeing from the pursuit of alien bounty hunter (and no, not the alien from Predator).  Other important characters include Stevie’s parents high school teach Tom and veterinary doctor Jessie Hammond, the town sheriff Vance, the town drunk Curt Lockett, leader of the Renegades gang Cody Lockett and the leader of the Rattlesnakes gang Rick Jurado.  There are other characters including a mentally ill military vet who takes care of an imaginary dog, a rich old lady, and an air force colonel.

The main antagonist is Stinger, an alien bounty hunter determined to capture Daufin.  This dude is pretty damn terrifying but awesome.  He creates mutant reanimated corpses of the dead residents whose new forms having needle teeth, sharp claws, a slimy complexion, and scorpion-like tails.  Dude put a force field around the town.  While trying to track down its prey it decides to return with its species to colonize the Earth.  Stinger itself looks like a giant mutant centipede/scorpion/man chimera-hybrid thing. 

Rating: 5 out of 5

Production:

Robert McCammon’s Stinger is a masterful blend of science fiction, horror, and suspense, wrapped in a vividly depicted tale of survival. Set in the desolate town of Inferno, a once-thriving mining hub on the brink of collapse, McCammon crafts an eerie atmosphere, where societal tensions mirror the impending alien threat. The town's economic decline and racial tensions between the residents of Inferno and nearby Bordertown add layers of depth, grounding the story in real-world issues while amplifying the stakes of the supernatural events.

The action is relentless, and McCammon doesn’t shy away from graphic violence, delivering visceral scenes that heighten the horror. The deaths are brutal and gory, but these elements serve the narrative, intensifying the feeling of chaos as an alien invasion descends upon the town. The pacing is tight, with moments of suspense that build to terrifying crescendos, keeping readers on edge.

McCammon excels at balancing character drama with high-stakes action. The friction between the town’s divided communities, especially the high school gangs, is portrayed with nuance, making the characters feel authentic. As the alien menace forces these factions to unite, their development becomes central to the story’s emotional core.

The dialogue is sharp, reflecting the tension and fear gripping the characters, and the setting of Inferno—a dying town in the desert—creates a stark backdrop that mirrors the isolation and desperation felt by the characters. Overall, Stinger is a gripping, well-crafted tale that showcases McCammon’s ability to blend human conflict with otherworldly terror.

Rating: 4 out of 5

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The Verdict:  

In the end, Stinger is a surprisingly good read and takes the best of science fiction and horror and blends them together.  The story does start off pretty slow.  However, when things jump off, they jump off.  The story is pretty solid, the characters are great, good world building, the writing is great, the antagonist is freakin’ awesome, and the atmosphere and scares are brilliantly done. Stinger gets 4 out of 5.  This is one of the best horror books I’ve ever read, and I highly recommend it to horror fans.