The Nine Pound Hammer

September 21, 2009
Bemis, in his debut novel, first in the Clockwork Dark series, attempts to spin classic American tall tales into an epic historical adventure, but undercuts the solid setting and action sequences with some poor character choices and predictable twists. Ray, an orphan being taken south for adoption, jumps the train, thinking his sister will have a better chance of finding a family without him. His adventures in the wilderness bring him to a medicine show traveling on a train called the Ballyhoo. The assorted members of the show have unusual powers, and as Ray talks to them, he learns about the heroic Ramblers and their fight against the mysterious Gog. Encounters with pirates, a siren and a fearsome mechanical beast called the Hoarhound all enliven the book, and the climactic battle is engrossing and well-choreographed, but there's little new in the story itself. Every twistâfrom the inevitable betrayal to the revelation of the Gog's identity to the heroic sacrificeâis telegraphed, and along with some awkward racial stereotypes, the action sequences are not enough to sustain the story. Ages 9â12.

Twelve-year-old Ray Cobb, deserted by his father and orphaned when his mother dies, is left a magical lodestone that guides him to a medicine show. The performers welcome him, but he's puzzled by their talents--which seem almost magical. Soon Ray learns that they're all heroes fighting the evil Gog and that he has an important part to play. John Mayer's narration is sometimes folksy, sometimes epic, and always spirited as he introduces this first tale in a series that blends tall tales, history, folklore, and fantasy. Mayer embraces an array of accents, sensibilities, and personal attributes as he portrays the many exotic characters, including the son of folk tale hero John Henry and a ruthless pirate queen. S.W. (c) AudioFile 2009, Portland, Maine