The Ninth Metal — Benjamin Percy

Mariner Books | Paperback | June 1, 2021

The Gist

A comet called Cain hits Earth, decimates cities, and creates a new “omnimetal” that can be used as a source of energy or, you know, weapons. Oh, and it gives people superpowers. Cults worship the “omnimetal,” rival iron-ore dynasties want to mine it, and the government wants to weaponize it. And in the middle of it all Northfall, Minnesota locals.

Read this if you like:

• Character-driven narratives

• Electro from Spiderman

• The Dark Net by Benjamin Percy

• Science fiction

• Yellowstone

The Verdict: Good, but borrow it from the library.

In the first installment of The Comet Cycle series, Benjamin Percy drops readers into an apocalyptic gold rush that digs deep into how far power and greed can drive us. After meteors from the comet Cain crash in Northfall, Minnesota a new omnimetal called the “ninth metal” is discovered and everyone wants to get their hands on it. Governments want it to make weapons. Corporations want it for its energy-rich properties. Cults get high off it and want to protect it because they believe it’s sacred. And modern-day pioneers from around the world want just a little piece, so they can sell it to the highest bidder and make their fortune. Amongst the slew of people trying to strike omnimental is John Frontier and his family. The Frontiers have built an iron-ore dynasty and are nothing short of Minnesota royalty—and John’s father and older sister want to keep it that way. And John? Well, he has an agenda all his own.

The Ninth Metal’s premise is exciting, but the narrative arc is little more than a blip on an EKG monitor. And while it’s clear Percy is just getting started, it’s very evident that he’s just trying to set the table in this first novel, which is why the climax and resolution don’t feel entirely earned. However, from a craft standpoint, Percy is showing exactly why he’s won a Whiting Award, a Plimpton Prize, two Pushcart Prizes, an NEA fellowship, and the iHeartRadio Award. His ability to weave together so many characters to paint a larger picture of a town that is rapidly unraveling is truly a treat.