THE NINE POUND HAMMER The Clockwork Dark, Book 1

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. © AudioFile 2009, Portland, Maine [Published: SEPTEMBER 2009]