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Scorpion: Second Generation
Horror-nightmare, black and hideously armed, they came scuttling and swarming from the underground. Ever hungry, ever vicious, they hunted down their prey, clawing, biting, stinging...
- GenresHorror
158 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published February 1, 1982
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
June 7, 2025
This sequel to the paperback from hell "Scorpion" starts off in an unusual way. In the original, a random scene takes place in the middle of the book where a hobo is killed by scorpions on a beachside cliff. A few scorpions are washed out to sea, seemingly wiped out of the plot. But no, these scorpions survive to form the "Next Generation". Most horror properties have to contrive some fantastic device to bring the baddies back after a final climatic conclusion, but here we have a plausible reason to continue that seems inevitable, a seemingly innocuous group of doomed pests from a random point in the previous story that has serious consequences for the future. I like that. It is more realistic and highlights the intricacy and nonlinearity of life events.
Like any good sequel, the stakes are increased. In the original story, the scorpions were not much bigger than regular members of their species, though certainly the idea of five-inch land lobsters either gives me the creepy crawlies or makes me hungry for a seafood boil. But it was strongly implied that they could get much bigger, as a pair of sickly two-foot mutants were found in the third act. Well, the author delivers on this promise, because here the scorpions are truly giants. They don't need to sting you to do some serious damage. This is more of a bonafide monster story than the original.
Also, the scorpions carry a disease. That's not very original either, being ripped straight out of James Herbert's "The Rats", but it does increase the threat--at least when the plot wants it to. Throughout the story, people contract the disease simply by touching the scorpions, but when the hero literally has his arm sliced open by one, the author conveniently forgets this plot device.
Oh, and this story takes place in a highly touristy area of Cornwall, and would you believe that some town big shot actually gets mad at the police chief for issuing warnings that drive off the tourists? "And this is the best summer we've had for years!" Yep, this story shamelessly throws a little "Jaws" at the wall to see if it sticks.
Linaker seems to have an obsession with the female bosom, because in both books he always takes time to describe women most lasciviously. It is never pertinent to the plot, and the author manages to paint women in his world as single-minded sex fiends. It's probably more egregious here. In the earliest pages, a cop is called to investigate the disappearance of livestock on a farm owned by a previous sweetheart. He laments that she married his rival several years ago. His grief is short-lived, because no sooner do they meet again when she takes off all her clothes and drags him upstairs to the bedroom. Then she tells him that her marriage sucks. Well, no wonder! Anyway, she proudly offers herself for an ongoing affair, because nothing spells romance better than a woman who essentially says, "Sorry I didn't choose you first, but you're second best!"
Don't worry, this dopey scene has absolutely nothing to do with the rest of the story. Most characters exist only to be killed off within a page or two. Considering that the body count is outrageously high in this book, expect very little in the way of characters doing anything of real impact. But let's face it, we don't read these books for the sophisticated plots. We want a cozy literary equivalent of an Eighties horror movie, or to occasionally discover an unappreciated gem of the macabre. "Scorpion: Next Generation" is more of the former.
If you like animal-attack stories, especially of the mutant variety, give this Scorpion double-bill a try. Either one can be read on their own if you wish, so if you want to try only one, I would say this sequel gets the slight edge. It gets "straight to the point" quicker and has bigger monsters, far more gruesome and frequent kills, and a more bombastic climax.
SCORE: 3 kings of sting out of 5
WORD OF THE DAY: Urticate
SUGGESTED MUSICAL PAIRING: "Temporary Like Achilles" by Bob Dylan
Like any good sequel, the stakes are increased. In the original story, the scorpions were not much bigger than regular members of their species, though certainly the idea of five-inch land lobsters either gives me the creepy crawlies or makes me hungry for a seafood boil. But it was strongly implied that they could get much bigger, as a pair of sickly two-foot mutants were found in the third act. Well, the author delivers on this promise, because here the scorpions are truly giants. They don't need to sting you to do some serious damage. This is more of a bonafide monster story than the original.
Also, the scorpions carry a disease. That's not very original either, being ripped straight out of James Herbert's "The Rats", but it does increase the threat--at least when the plot wants it to. Throughout the story, people contract the disease simply by touching the scorpions, but when the hero literally has his arm sliced open by one, the author conveniently forgets this plot device.
Oh, and this story takes place in a highly touristy area of Cornwall, and would you believe that some town big shot actually gets mad at the police chief for issuing warnings that drive off the tourists? "And this is the best summer we've had for years!" Yep, this story shamelessly throws a little "Jaws" at the wall to see if it sticks.
Linaker seems to have an obsession with the female bosom, because in both books he always takes time to describe women most lasciviously. It is never pertinent to the plot, and the author manages to paint women in his world as single-minded sex fiends. It's probably more egregious here. In the earliest pages, a cop is called to investigate the disappearance of livestock on a farm owned by a previous sweetheart. He laments that she married his rival several years ago. His grief is short-lived, because no sooner do they meet again when she takes off all her clothes and drags him upstairs to the bedroom. Then she tells him that her marriage sucks. Well, no wonder! Anyway, she proudly offers herself for an ongoing affair, because nothing spells romance better than a woman who essentially says, "Sorry I didn't choose you first, but you're second best!"
Don't worry, this dopey scene has absolutely nothing to do with the rest of the story. Most characters exist only to be killed off within a page or two. Considering that the body count is outrageously high in this book, expect very little in the way of characters doing anything of real impact. But let's face it, we don't read these books for the sophisticated plots. We want a cozy literary equivalent of an Eighties horror movie, or to occasionally discover an unappreciated gem of the macabre. "Scorpion: Next Generation" is more of the former.
If you like animal-attack stories, especially of the mutant variety, give this Scorpion double-bill a try. Either one can be read on their own if you wish, so if you want to try only one, I would say this sequel gets the slight edge. It gets "straight to the point" quicker and has bigger monsters, far more gruesome and frequent kills, and a more bombastic climax.
SCORE: 3 kings of sting out of 5
WORD OF THE DAY: Urticate
SUGGESTED MUSICAL PAIRING: "Temporary Like Achilles" by Bob Dylan
December 4, 2022
The scorpions are back. The survivors from the first book hitch a ride on a boat down the coast. This time around they are bigger and meaner. They also have a defect. They have mutated to the point that they self-destruct. Before they do, though, the really get violent. Also, people who touch the ooze from a dead scorpion become deadly ill. It's up to an entomologist and the local law to stop them again.
As with most sequels, the first is far better than the second. This is much the same. Although it doesn't miss by much. Loads of scorpion violence ripping and tearing with their pincers. And of course, stinging with their deadly stingers.
As with most sequels, the first is far better than the second. This is much the same. Although it doesn't miss by much. Loads of scorpion violence ripping and tearing with their pincers. And of course, stinging with their deadly stingers.
May 19, 2021
Terrifying and gory. New reader friendly despite being a sequel. Enjoyed nearly every minute of this despite some questionable character development.
January 30, 2022
100% nonsense
August 31, 2017
These scorpions hate circuses!
October 6, 2018
Despite loving horror movies I've not read much horror fiction, but I had picked this up from a book barn about a decade ago due to the hilarious cover. I was finally inspired to read it after finishing Paperbacks From Hell.
It's as dumb and formulaic as you might expect. This is not necessarily a bad thing in my book, and I enjoyed reading the bloody and often chaotic attacks from the overgrown, mutated arachnids, but it is all very repetitive.
A 'story' chapter with the main characters is usually followed by a chapter in which completely new characters are murdered by 'something dark and terrible (spoilers: a scorpion) and then we're back to the main characters again. The only difference is the occasional sex scene that comes right out of the blue.
It's a quick read though and there's worse ways to spend your time than indulging in a bit of trashy pulpy horror.
It's as dumb and formulaic as you might expect. This is not necessarily a bad thing in my book, and I enjoyed reading the bloody and often chaotic attacks from the overgrown, mutated arachnids, but it is all very repetitive.
A 'story' chapter with the main characters is usually followed by a chapter in which completely new characters are murdered by 'something dark and terrible (spoilers: a scorpion) and then we're back to the main characters again. The only difference is the occasional sex scene that comes right out of the blue.
It's a quick read though and there's worse ways to spend your time than indulging in a bit of trashy pulpy horror.
August 18, 2023
Everything about this sequel is bigger--the scorpions, the body count, and the gore quotient. Especially the gore; we're at full on Shaun Hutson levels here. And there's lots of nudity and poorly written sex. The set pieces are good--there's an exciting part where a bunch of soldiers exterminate a scorpion nest with flamethrowers, and another where the scorpions attack a circus (!)--although this one could have stood to go on a little longer, with the plague in particular being underutilized.
June 17, 2019
Somehow even slower and more wooden than the first. Ends abruptly.
September 23, 2024
Revenge of the mutant scorpions
Great animal attack novel and a worthy sequel
Great animal attack novel and a worthy sequel
August 29, 2021
Four foot mutant scorpions are back and ready to severe limbs with giant sharp pincers and squirt poison into bodies causing pain and suffering. Complete gore feast, visceral body horror classic. They smash up a circus and annilate a bikie gang. Rampage
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September 6, 2016This is actually Scorpion: Second Generation, the follow up to Scorpion.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews