Stinger [Paperback]

Nancy Kress (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback
• Publisher: Tor; Advance copy edition (1998)
• ASIN: B000VAP6HQ
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Competent, but not great, October 11, 2000

By 

Gunfighter (Northern Virginia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Stinger (Mass Market Paperback)

Ms. Kress turns out a competent work of mystery here. The story is good, and we don't find out "whodunit" until the very end. My only complaint is that the characters were a bit cliche. Dr. Melanie Anderson was just about the angriest character I have ever seen. In my own humble opinion, I don't see how she could possibly have risen to a position of responsibility within the CDC with some of the know-nothing convictions she holds. Agent Cavanaugh is the quintessential "man afraid of commitment"

Read this book and be entertained for a few hours.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Enjoyable Science Fiction Mystery, September 2, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Stinger (Hardcover)

This is a competent science fiction/mystery hybrid. The plotting is good and quality of writing solid. Good for a short, undemanding read.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A scary stinging scientific story, September 27, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Stinger (Hardcover)

Dellbridge Community Hospital in La Plata, Maryland, suddenly is dealing with the beginnings of what could easily become an epidemic when several African-Americans die from strokes. FBI Agent Robert Cavanaugh investigates the astronomical possibility that this is just a coincidence. Besides race, it is quickly determined that the common factor is that all of the deceased carried the sickle cell gene.

Though they understand the cause, CDC is divided as to how the mutant strain formed. Epidemiologist Melanie Anderson insists that this particular strain was genetically engineered to eradicate the black race. Because of the potential size, the Army sends in its best team because they are taking the risk seriously. Cavanaugh must convince his own agency that two and a half million Americans are at dire risk and a race war could be imminent if the FBI fails to actively seek answers.

STINGER is a well written scientific thriller that fans of the sub-genre will take pleasure reading. The plot is well designed as Nancy Kress demonstrates her remarkable ability to scribe complex scientific knowledge and theory into an easy to read fiction. However, too many events seem to miraculously occur for the hero and heroine, and the ending seems weak for a story line as well written as this one is. As with her previous novels, OATHS and MIRACLES, Ms. Kress provides fans with a state-of-the-art science thriller that is frightening because it appears so realistic yet remains an enjoyable experience.

Harriet Klausner