"Stinger"

Stinger is one of my favorite Robert McCammon books, and the one that upon its release had me buy all his past books, and every one since (including his more recent series of decidedly less horror-centric Matthew Corbett books). I actually liked his work better than most of Stephen King's pieces (even preferring "Swan Song" over "The Stand"). I fear Teacup may be a bit of a letdown by comparision.

Going into this, I had no idea this was based on "Stinger". It felt familiar, but it didn't ring a bell (plus, I hadn't read Stinger since its 80's release, then a second time in the early 90s). I'm only two episodes in and I just noticed at the start of episode 3 that during the opening credits it reveals it's based on McCammon's book. With only a short 8-episode run, it makes me wonder what content won't be here, and although a few core elements seem to be intact so far, including the alien fugitive Dolphin, if they keep that name, (this time taking over a boy instead of girl), it feels quite different and smaller in scope, which is to be expected for a production of modest budget.

A big difference, at least so far through the first two episodes, is that the allegorical "Teacup" is indicated by the blue line the gas-masked man painted, instead of a giant triangular ship enveloping the town. I don't think that was in the book, although I could have forgotten.

At any rate, has anyone else out there ever read "Stinger" while also having watched all 8 episodes of Teacup? I'm curious as to anyone's thoughts about a comparison between the two, and if you think Teacup stands up on its own, despite any differences. I've never been one to critique an adaptation by its differences--IMO it's its own thing, and faulting it for changes is folly. But I am interested about the possible mindset behind such an adaption. McCammon has had smaller, more contained works, adapted before (e.g. the "Nightcrawlers" episode of the 80s revival of The Twilight Zone was quite well done, adapted from McCammon's short of the same name and included in his Blue World collection of shorts, directed by William Friedkin--in this instance it was about as faithful an adaptation as it could be).

But taking on "Stinger" without significant alterations would be quite ambitious.

While I quite liked the rival gang element in the book, I don't see that making it into this adaptation, along with a variety of other characters and story elements. But I have 6 more episodes to watch, so we'll see how it pans out. So far, I've enjoyed the first two episodes, and suspect I'll like the series/season, even if it pales in comparison to the source book (is the "stinger" creature even going to show up as a physical entity?). I've read Stinger twice, the second time in the early 90s. May have to break it out again after this.
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Never believe or disbelieve. Always question. Rebuke bias, a.k.a. groupthink, a.k.a. ideology, the bane of skeptical, logical reason.