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The Claw
The Claxton Lore and Apparition Warehouse is located on a remote private property in the deep swamps of Louisiana, and overseen by a robot designed by Mr. Claxton, called CLAW. The warehouse is filled with a maze of crates labeled with things like The Beast, Mr. Mason’s Jars, Snap, The Atomic Ants, which are filled with the things of legend, and it is CLAW’s job to make sure the objects don’t get out. But CLAW is a curious robot, and what lay inside these crates just may make their way out and haunt the imaginations of listeners everywhere.
Patrick Carman is the award-winning author of many books for young adults and children. He spent a decade living in Portland, where he worked in advertising, game design, and technology.
Now, he writes books for kids at Scholastic, HarperCollins, and Little, Brown Books for Young Readers. His best-selling books and series includes The Land of Elyon, Atherton, Elliot’s Park, 39 Clues, Floors, Trackers, Thirteen Days to Midnight, Dark Eden, Pulse, 3:15, and Skeleton Creek. Mr. Carman’s books have been translated into approximately two dozen languages.
The complete list of narrators is as follows:
Dr. Mike Kennedy, Hunter Peterson, Marlin Ramsey Chan, Shalom Mitchell, Shasha Mitchell, Shiloh Mitchell, Sinead Mitchell, Jordan Maron, David Raygoza, Karen Stauffer, Adam Cardozo, Jon Barnett, Ryan Sander, Isabella Astor, Grace Choi, Jim Stauffer, Cody Lawrence, Elizabeth Lanier
©2019 PocketWatch Studios, LLC (P)2019 PocketWatch Studios, LLC, Sound Recording
Patrick Carman is the award-winning author of many books for young adults and children. He spent a decade living in Portland, where he worked in advertising, game design, and technology.
Now, he writes books for kids at Scholastic, HarperCollins, and Little, Brown Books for Young Readers. His best-selling books and series includes The Land of Elyon, Atherton, Elliot’s Park, 39 Clues, Floors, Trackers, Thirteen Days to Midnight, Dark Eden, Pulse, 3:15, and Skeleton Creek. Mr. Carman’s books have been translated into approximately two dozen languages.
The complete list of narrators is as follows:
Dr. Mike Kennedy, Hunter Peterson, Marlin Ramsey Chan, Shalom Mitchell, Shasha Mitchell, Shiloh Mitchell, Sinead Mitchell, Jordan Maron, David Raygoza, Karen Stauffer, Adam Cardozo, Jon Barnett, Ryan Sander, Isabella Astor, Grace Choi, Jim Stauffer, Cody Lawrence, Elizabeth Lanier
©2019 PocketWatch Studios, LLC (P)2019 PocketWatch Studios, LLC, Sound Recording
2 pages, Audible Audio
First published November 21, 2019
4 people are currently reading
31 people want to read
About the author
Patrick Carman
93 books1,607 followersI have been a lifelong writer and storyteller. Salem, Oregon is where I spent my formative years and I graduated from Willamette University. After college, I spent a decade living in Portland, Oregon where I worked in advertising, game design, and technology.
I've written young adult and children's books for Scholastic, Little Brown Books For Young Readers and Katherine Tegen Books/ HarperCollins Publishers.
I've been fortunate enough to have had some bestselling series work: The Land of Elyon, Atherton, Elliot’s Park, 39 Clues, and Skeleton Creek. Here's a fun note...the books have been translated into approximately two dozen languages. Currently I'm developing a few new-media projects. Check out DARK EDEN to experience this type of cross-platform project.
When I'm not writing or creating a story, I spend my free time supporting literacy campaigns and community organizations, fly fishing, playing basketball and tennis, doing crosswords, watching movies, dabbling in video games, reading (lots), and (more than anything else) spending time with my wife and two daughters.
I've written young adult and children's books for Scholastic, Little Brown Books For Young Readers and Katherine Tegen Books/ HarperCollins Publishers.
I've been fortunate enough to have had some bestselling series work: The Land of Elyon, Atherton, Elliot’s Park, 39 Clues, and Skeleton Creek. Here's a fun note...the books have been translated into approximately two dozen languages. Currently I'm developing a few new-media projects. Check out DARK EDEN to experience this type of cross-platform project.
When I'm not writing or creating a story, I spend my free time supporting literacy campaigns and community organizations, fly fishing, playing basketball and tennis, doing crosswords, watching movies, dabbling in video games, reading (lots), and (more than anything else) spending time with my wife and two daughters.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
March 29, 2020
Listened to this as part of the pandemic free offerings for kids. My kid really enjoyed these. The voice acting is a little stiff, but on par with most children's media. The stories are just scary enough to be titillating without edging into nightmare territory.
It reminded me a lot of Are You Afraid of the Dark?
It reminded me a lot of Are You Afraid of the Dark?
March 23, 2020
Amazing, especially if you like haunted stories.
October 26, 2021
Reflections and lessons learned:
“I told you not to mess around with that old thing…”
Atmospheric creeping music? Check? Comedy named investigator narrating in a gruff creepy voice? Yes. A piece of technology with the potential for self thought and take revenge on the wicked human race? Oh yes… as cheesy as a book called ‘The Claw’ can be hoped for!
“I told you not to mess around with that old thing…”
Atmospheric creeping music? Check? Comedy named investigator narrating in a gruff creepy voice? Yes. A piece of technology with the potential for self thought and take revenge on the wicked human race? Oh yes… as cheesy as a book called ‘The Claw’ can be hoped for!
May 1, 2020
The stories are great , the narration is spooky . I would’ve given it a 5 . If only it had the ending it could’ve had ... maybe they’re going to build more ?
March 2, 2023
Mr. Mason's Jars: 3 Stars. Poor Becky :(
Take out: 2 Stars
The Atomic Ants: 2 Stars. Yay Eddie! :)
Night Rider: 2 Stars
The Tunnel: 2 Stars
Buried Treasure: 3 Stars
Snap: 3 Stars
Take out: 2 Stars
The Atomic Ants: 2 Stars. Yay Eddie! :)
Night Rider: 2 Stars
The Tunnel: 2 Stars
Buried Treasure: 3 Stars
Snap: 3 Stars
April 6, 2020
Very bizarre.
April 22, 2020
Really great audio performance. Narrator was very engaging and delivered stories really well. The sound effect of the Claw was pretty cool too.
The stories themselves are okay. I found the endings to be a bit of a flop, but younger audiences may enjoy more.
The stories themselves are okay. I found the endings to be a bit of a flop, but younger audiences may enjoy more.
April 21, 2020
This is an audiobook with a horror theme along the lines of Goosebumps and aimed at a young teen level or maybe a little younger.
The audiobook is broken up into several episodes each beginning with a bad guy bent on world domination who gathers haunted items which he stores in a warehouse. The warehouse is managed by a 12 foot tall robot called "The Claw". (See cover). The Claw has a rudimentary artificial intelligence around the level of a 4 year old. It needs to be told stories, so the bad guy tells a story about each item he brings. This represents an introduction to a story that is taken on by a cast of actors sort of like how each episode of the Twilight Zone began with an introduction that slipped into the main story. Each episode was self-contained as if it were a weekly radio serial.
Any problems with this series? From an audio perspective it was over produced. There were too many sound effects and background music. It distracted from the narrative. (Note: I was listening to this audiobook with headphones. It might sound better on a car stereo system.)
None of the stories ended well for the children involved. That seems to be normal for children's horror stories, but setting that aside, the "lessons learned" from the stories seemed to be the wrong lessons I would want my kids to learn. For example: in the 1st story a loud-mouthed kid came to school. Her classmates tried to warn her to be quiet, but she didn't listen. The final lesson for the story seemed to be, shut up and do what the teacher tells you or the boogie man will get you. Also, teachers have bad breath. Nice lesson, guys.
The stories are entertaining in a gruesome sort of sense. One wonders what terrible thing will befall the next group of kids. I think that if (at least) the kids with bad behavior were the ones to come to a bad end, there would be a moral lesson to learn, but no. Even good kids (or at least reasonably innocent kids) come to a bad end. There was no moral lesson to learn. If there were I would have given this audiobook an extra star.
I doubt I will listen to this audiobook again. If my great grandchildren starting listening to them, I wouldn't stop them, but I wouldn't be happy either. I'd certainly ask them what they thought of the stories.
The audiobook is broken up into several episodes each beginning with a bad guy bent on world domination who gathers haunted items which he stores in a warehouse. The warehouse is managed by a 12 foot tall robot called "The Claw". (See cover). The Claw has a rudimentary artificial intelligence around the level of a 4 year old. It needs to be told stories, so the bad guy tells a story about each item he brings. This represents an introduction to a story that is taken on by a cast of actors sort of like how each episode of the Twilight Zone began with an introduction that slipped into the main story. Each episode was self-contained as if it were a weekly radio serial.
Any problems with this series? From an audio perspective it was over produced. There were too many sound effects and background music. It distracted from the narrative. (Note: I was listening to this audiobook with headphones. It might sound better on a car stereo system.)
None of the stories ended well for the children involved. That seems to be normal for children's horror stories, but setting that aside, the "lessons learned" from the stories seemed to be the wrong lessons I would want my kids to learn. For example: in the 1st story a loud-mouthed kid came to school. Her classmates tried to warn her to be quiet, but she didn't listen. The final lesson for the story seemed to be, shut up and do what the teacher tells you or the boogie man will get you. Also, teachers have bad breath. Nice lesson, guys.
The stories are entertaining in a gruesome sort of sense. One wonders what terrible thing will befall the next group of kids. I think that if (at least) the kids with bad behavior were the ones to come to a bad end, there would be a moral lesson to learn, but no. Even good kids (or at least reasonably innocent kids) come to a bad end. There was no moral lesson to learn. If there were I would have given this audiobook an extra star.
I doubt I will listen to this audiobook again. If my great grandchildren starting listening to them, I wouldn't stop them, but I wouldn't be happy either. I'd certainly ask them what they thought of the stories.
April 21, 2022
Claxon is a hunter of haunted objects who also maintains the Claxton Lore and Apparition Warehouse. When he finds a haunted object, he brings it to his warehouse where CLAW - a sentient, AI-driven machine built by Claxon - helps by putting the objects in various locations. But Claw isn't happy with just sorting the objects. He is an incredibly curious robot and also wants to know the stories behind the objects. Claxon acquiesces to CLAW's requests and tells the stories behind the objects.
In this audiobook are the stories of 7 different objects. The stories of the objects are told like scary stories at night, but the scariness is broken up by Claw's comedic interruptions. Sometimes he's asking a question, sometimes he's just making a comment about the story. What is clear from many of Claw's questions and comments is that he has a very naive worldview.
I think my favorite story was "The Tunnel" because of Claw's interaction with Stick - especially with what Claw decides to do in the end. The book is narrated by a full cast of people, and I really like the voices of Claxon and CLAW. For some fun short stories, you should definitely listen to this audiobook.
In this audiobook are the stories of 7 different objects. The stories of the objects are told like scary stories at night, but the scariness is broken up by Claw's comedic interruptions. Sometimes he's asking a question, sometimes he's just making a comment about the story. What is clear from many of Claw's questions and comments is that he has a very naive worldview.
I think my favorite story was "The Tunnel" because of Claw's interaction with Stick - especially with what Claw decides to do in the end. The book is narrated by a full cast of people, and I really like the voices of Claxon and CLAW. For some fun short stories, you should definitely listen to this audiobook.
May 19, 2020
Thank you audible for providing this book for free during the pandemic.
This is a cute creepy story. I would think maybe even a little younger reader is probably the target for this one. But a tween would probably enjoy it. The only annoying thing was is at the end of each story time it would go through who produced it and everything. Then the start of every one of them you had to go through all of the information again. So this is actually a collection of a certain number of stories. Maybe five or something.
This is a cute creepy story. I would think maybe even a little younger reader is probably the target for this one. But a tween would probably enjoy it. The only annoying thing was is at the end of each story time it would go through who produced it and everything. Then the start of every one of them you had to go through all of the information again. So this is actually a collection of a certain number of stories. Maybe five or something.
December 29, 2020
This was a fun spooky tale of a haunted artifact collector who stores his finds in a warehouse called the Claw. The Claw itself is a massive robot with a curios nature. The collector shares stories of some of his artifacts in this delightfully spooky tale. Each one is different. The production and cast are wonderful. Great for the whole family. Very enjoyable.
April 23, 2022
Another free from audible selection. I'd read some of Patrick Carman's other works so I thought I'd give it a try not realizing it's a collection of 10 min scary tales for kids that apparently was incomplete. Ok but I used it mostly as background noise.
October 26, 2022
A fun set of stories perfect for the spooky season. I was disappointed that there was no real ending to the overall, larger story arc. I hope there are plans to give the story the ending it deserves.
October 9, 2024
This is a short YA book. I liked the structure of it, but I think it was written for very young kids (9-11) but the characters were older. I think this will cause it to not be popular with its intended audience.
April 29, 2021
Cool spooky read. type of the twilight zone
October 25, 2021
Kind of fun, like a kid's version of the Twilight Zone again. I'm digging this horror / sci-fi anthology binge I keep hitting.
February 6, 2023
Warehouse 13 meets twilight zone. Probably best for kids seeking spooky stories, but not awful for a free audible story.
January 23, 2026
It was fun. Sometimes that's all you need. I could see this being a fun animated series.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews