The Nine Pound Hammer, John Claude Bemis
The Nine Pound Hammer, John Claude Bemis
1 Rating(s)
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The Nine Pound Hammer
Book 1 of The Clockwork Dark

Author: John Claude Bemis

Narrator: John H. Mayer

Unabridged: 10 hr 22 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 08/25/2009


Synopsis

What if John Henry had a son?

Twelve-year-old Ray is haunted by the strangest memories of his father, whom Ray swears could speak to animals. Now an orphan, Ray jumps from a train going through the American South and falls in with a medicine show train and its stable of sideshow performers. The performers turn out to be heroes, defenders of the wild, including the son of John Henry. They are hiding the last of the mythical Swamp Sirens from an ancient evil known as the Gog. Why the Gog wants the Siren, they can’t be sure, but they know it has something to do with rebuilding a monstrous machine that John Henry gave his life destroying years before, a machine that will allow the Gog to control the will of men and spread darkness throughout the world.

About The Author

John Claude Bemis began his writing career as a songwriter, and through oldtime country and blues music, began to explore how Southern folklore could become epic fantasy. John lives with his family in Hillsborough, North Carolina, where he teaches his favorite books to elementary school students. Visit his Web site at www.johnclaudebemis.com.


Reviews

Goodreads review by Jim on March 31, 2019

Quite a unique world that was very intriguing at first. It's steampunk peopled by heroes & legends of folklore set in the late 1800s in the US. For instance, John Henry beat the steam drill, but it was just a machine of the Gog & he's still out there. (Besides, that's not what really happened, just......more

Goodreads review by David on July 17, 2009

Finally, a young adult book about American mythology! This book explores a younger America on the brink of industrialization. Many of the book’s themes involve the myth of John Henry and the costs of modernization. However, the book also covers topics that many young readers will relate to: alienati......more

Goodreads review by Mike on August 27, 2009

Can't wait to read this book. I had the pleasure of having "first read" while John Bemis was writing the first of "The Clockword Dark" trilogy and it was a fun read. Looking forward to reading the completed work and the sequels.......more

Goodreads review by Robert on January 08, 2011

The Nine Pound Hammer is a fun and exciting steampunk adventure that is equal parts funny, scary, and awesome—especially the many action sequences sure to keep readers on the edge of their seat. Full confession: the Ninja is old and out of touch and has never read steampunk before now. Yes, you are......more


Quotes

Tom Angleberger, author of The Strange Case of Origami Yoda:
"A rigorous adventure set in our own country’s folkloric past, when the sons of John Henry and Little Bill fought a desperate, fantastical battle for the soul of America. A series which any self-respecting middle school book nerd would wolf down eagerly."

Books Ahoy
:
"This is one of the best books I ever read! There are many twists and turns throughout the novel that kept me on the edge of my seat. Once I started I couldn't put it down until I was finished."


Awards

  • New York Public Library Book for Reading and Sharing
  • Pennsylvania Young Readers Choice Award