Young Adult Appleton, Victor: Tom Swift, Vol 1. v2. 9th Oct 2009

[HarryT]

Here's a bit of light relief after all the Dickens, etc; the first five books in the original "Tom Swift" series, as follows:

1. Tom Swift and His Motor-Cycle
2. Tom Swift and His Motor-Boat
3. Tom Swift and His Airship
4. Tom Swift and His Submarine Boat
5. Tom Swift and His Electric Runabout

The "Tom Swift" series was published between 1910 and 1941 by the "Stratemeyer Syndicate"; a publishing house which churned out virtually innumerable series of books aimed at young people (some other series you may have heard of by them are the "Hardy Boys" and "Nancy Drew" series). The books were outlined by the publisher, then farmed out to "ghost writers"; each series being credited to a wholly fictitious author ("Victor Appleton" in the case of the Tom Swift series).

The Tom Swift series is concerned with the adventures of the eponymous "boy inventer", Tom Swift, who is involved in a series of "thrilling adventures" involving what was, at the time, the "cutting edge" of technology - airships, "autos" (cars), submarines, etc. The stories get more and more outrageous as the series progresses.

There were 40 books in the series, of which the first 25 are in the public domain. I'll do these 25 over the next few days as a series of five volumes, with five books to a volume.

Please note that these are not the same as the "Tom Swift Jr" series, published between the 1950s and 70s. They feature the son of the "Tom Swift" who is the "star" of these books; personally I think that this original series is a lot better.

These are wonderful books, not to be taken too seriously. Enjoy!

[GA Russell]

When I was a boy (late 50s) my father would often talk about how much he enjoyed the Tom Swift books when he was a boy. Alas, they were oop and unavailable by then.

Thanks Harry! I'm curious to read what my dad was so nostalgic about!