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Tom Swift Sr. #14
Tom Swift and His Wizard Camera, or, Thrilling Adventures While Taking Moving Pictures
This book is part of the TREDITION CLASSICS. It contains classical literature works from over two thousand years. Most of these titles have been out of print and off the bookstore shelves for decades. The book series is intended to preserve the cultural legacy and to promote the timeless works of classical literature. Readers of a TREDITION CLASSICS book support the mission to save many of the amazing works of world literature from oblivion. With this series, tredition intends to make thousands of international literature classics available in printed format again - worldwide.
144 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1912
17 people are currently reading
64 people want to read
About the author
Victor Appleton
354 books44 followersVictor Appleton was a house pseudonym used by the Stratemeyer Syndicate and its successors, most famous for being associated with the Tom Swift series of books.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Victor_...
The character of Tom Swift was conceived in 1910 by Edward Stratemeyer, founder of the Stratemeyer Syndicate, a book-packaging company. Stratemeyer invented the series to capitalize on the market for children's science adventure. The Syndicate's authors created the Tom Swift books by first preparing an outline with all the plot elements, followed by drafting and editing the detailed manuscript. The books were published under the house name of Victor Appleton. Edward Stratemeyer and Howard Garis wrote most of the volumes in the original series; Stratemeyer's daughter, Harriet Stratemeyer Adams, wrote the last three volumes. The first Tom Swift series ended in 1941.
In 1954, Harriet Adams created the Tom Swift, Jr., series, which was published under the name "Victor Appleton II". Most titles were outlined and plotted by Adams. The texts were written by various writers, among them William Dougherty, John Almquist, Richard Sklar, James Duncan Lawrence, Tom Mulvey and Richard McKenna. The Tom Swift, Jr., series ended in 1971.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_Swift
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Victor_...
The character of Tom Swift was conceived in 1910 by Edward Stratemeyer, founder of the Stratemeyer Syndicate, a book-packaging company. Stratemeyer invented the series to capitalize on the market for children's science adventure. The Syndicate's authors created the Tom Swift books by first preparing an outline with all the plot elements, followed by drafting and editing the detailed manuscript. The books were published under the house name of Victor Appleton. Edward Stratemeyer and Howard Garis wrote most of the volumes in the original series; Stratemeyer's daughter, Harriet Stratemeyer Adams, wrote the last three volumes. The first Tom Swift series ended in 1941.
In 1954, Harriet Adams created the Tom Swift, Jr., series, which was published under the name "Victor Appleton II". Most titles were outlined and plotted by Adams. The texts were written by various writers, among them William Dougherty, John Almquist, Richard Sklar, James Duncan Lawrence, Tom Mulvey and Richard McKenna. The Tom Swift, Jr., series ended in 1971.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_Swift
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
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June 12, 2017Filling in with another Tom Swift from the 25 book set. This one has Tom being hired to build a better movie camera and capture a series of natural events and other interesting footage. After building the camera and some close calls from another company that tried to hire him away he and his friends set out on his big plane/balloon to capture the footage. The usual mishaps and escapes follow Tom and friends as they film Elephants being corralled in India as well as a lion vs. tiger fight (lions in India?), and avalanche in Switzerland, a native battle in Africa and a volcanic eruption in South America. These tales are full of the non PC attitudes of the time and rather fantastical inventions using the science of the times. Putting that aside they are easy and quick reads.
March 23, 2021
Something new in this Tom Swift book is the full participation of Koku, the giant that Tom encountered in the previous book, Tom Swift in Captivity. A glance back at the previous book showed that it said Tom was asked to get a giant, not necessarily to capture a giant, which would've been absurd to attempt. Koku and his twin brother were not happy where they were. In this book, it is clear that Koku is very happy working for Tom, and presumably his twin brother is happy in the employ of the circus proprietor who hired Tom in the previous book. Tom brought both brothers back to the USA from South America. So perhaps all is for the best.
In this book, a movie producer, Mr. Period, asks Tom to invent a new motion picture camera and to film events around the world. It isn't made real clear why a new camera is needed, although Tom's plan to make it be powered by electricity may be the invention. Once the camera has been invented, Tom and his friends travel by steamship to the eastern hemisphere. They take a disassembled airship with them on the steamship so that they can reassemble it and use it to travel around that part of the world. The set of friends on this trip include Ned, Mr. Damon, and two people who have not been on trips with Tom before. They are the aforementioned Koku and Mr. Nestor, Mary Nestor's father. He is an investor in Mr. Period’s company and therefore has a vested interest in Tom’s efforts. The fact that Tom is traveling with his girlfriend’s father isn’t really addressed. He is just one of the money men for the trip.
Of course, there is a rival motion picture company whose employees try to sabotage Tom every step of the way. And there are other obstacles that Tom and company have to overcome. Some of the biggest problems are what they are asked by Mr. Period to film — such as fighting/charging animals and an avalanche — not all in the same part of the eastern hemisphere. Sometimes, another natural disaster arises which they also film. Then, they travel back to the western hemisphere for another natural disaster that has interested Mr. Period. I won’t reveal what it is. At several locations and times, Koku rescues Tom and the others. He is sort of like Superman except that he has no alter ego like Clark Kent. He is simply Koku, the friendly giant. He has no superpowers, just his size and strength.
There are dangers and excitement in this book as there are in the other books in the Tom Swift series. However, Tom Swift and His Wizard Camera is as much a travelogue as it is an adventure. There is an invention, and it is used for the benefit of Tom and others, but it didn’t interest me as much as his other inventions.
Mary Nestor makes appearances at the beginning and end of this book. She wishes him well upon his departure and listens to his stories after he returns. I would like her to be more involved. In the book about Earthquake Island, both of Mary’s parents are present. In this book, her father is an active participant in the adventure. So, perhaps Mary can be an active partner of Tom sometime in the future. I will find out as I read the remaining books.
In this book, a movie producer, Mr. Period, asks Tom to invent a new motion picture camera and to film events around the world. It isn't made real clear why a new camera is needed, although Tom's plan to make it be powered by electricity may be the invention. Once the camera has been invented, Tom and his friends travel by steamship to the eastern hemisphere. They take a disassembled airship with them on the steamship so that they can reassemble it and use it to travel around that part of the world. The set of friends on this trip include Ned, Mr. Damon, and two people who have not been on trips with Tom before. They are the aforementioned Koku and Mr. Nestor, Mary Nestor's father. He is an investor in Mr. Period’s company and therefore has a vested interest in Tom’s efforts. The fact that Tom is traveling with his girlfriend’s father isn’t really addressed. He is just one of the money men for the trip.
Of course, there is a rival motion picture company whose employees try to sabotage Tom every step of the way. And there are other obstacles that Tom and company have to overcome. Some of the biggest problems are what they are asked by Mr. Period to film — such as fighting/charging animals and an avalanche — not all in the same part of the eastern hemisphere. Sometimes, another natural disaster arises which they also film. Then, they travel back to the western hemisphere for another natural disaster that has interested Mr. Period. I won’t reveal what it is. At several locations and times, Koku rescues Tom and the others. He is sort of like Superman except that he has no alter ego like Clark Kent. He is simply Koku, the friendly giant. He has no superpowers, just his size and strength.
There are dangers and excitement in this book as there are in the other books in the Tom Swift series. However, Tom Swift and His Wizard Camera is as much a travelogue as it is an adventure. There is an invention, and it is used for the benefit of Tom and others, but it didn’t interest me as much as his other inventions.
Mary Nestor makes appearances at the beginning and end of this book. She wishes him well upon his departure and listens to his stories after he returns. I would like her to be more involved. In the book about Earthquake Island, both of Mary’s parents are present. In this book, her father is an active participant in the adventure. So, perhaps Mary can be an active partner of Tom sometime in the future. I will find out as I read the remaining books.
November 5, 2021
In this book, Tom invents a new camera for taking motion pictures. He does so after being approached by named James Period, called Spotty by his friends. Spotty is a businessman that has grandiose ideas about action movies that he wants created to be shown in theaters. He wants action from natural events such as volcanoes, earthquakes to wars, nature films of wild animals battling each other and being herded to encountering storms at sea. Therefore, his proposal to Tom is that Tom invent a camera that can capture such action and then use his airship to fly around the world to film the events.
Ned, Mr. Damon, Koku and Mr. Nestor accompany Tom on his adventures and in this case, there is an unusual twist. Mr. Nestor has a major financial stake in the business ventures of Spotty, and he will face significant financial hardship if Tom does not agree to deal with Spotty. This overcomes Tom’s initial reluctance to travel the world in search of action/adventure to film.
Very little ink is used in the actions leading up to the successful creation of the camera, most of the text deals with the travels of the group as well as the action that they experience and film. Spotty learns of events that are taking place and sends Tom messages concerning where he is to go. As would be expected in such an adventure story, members of Tom’s group often narrowly escape death or injury in their quest to get the best camera shots.
Far more an adventure story than one about an invention, this one has Tom being more of an entrepreneur than a genius inventor. His goal in this case is to make money for himself and his associates.
Ned, Mr. Damon, Koku and Mr. Nestor accompany Tom on his adventures and in this case, there is an unusual twist. Mr. Nestor has a major financial stake in the business ventures of Spotty, and he will face significant financial hardship if Tom does not agree to deal with Spotty. This overcomes Tom’s initial reluctance to travel the world in search of action/adventure to film.
Very little ink is used in the actions leading up to the successful creation of the camera, most of the text deals with the travels of the group as well as the action that they experience and film. Spotty learns of events that are taking place and sends Tom messages concerning where he is to go. As would be expected in such an adventure story, members of Tom’s group often narrowly escape death or injury in their quest to get the best camera shots.
Far more an adventure story than one about an invention, this one has Tom being more of an entrepreneur than a genius inventor. His goal in this case is to make money for himself and his associates.
February 26, 2024
Tom Swift novels are never strong on plot, tending to rely instead on momentary crises and vaguely motivated bad guys to move things along. This one really leans into that formula, and basically has no real coherent plot as a result. It's just neat that we are flying around with Tom and his friends, always arriving just in time to capture something 1 in a million, and somehow (despite being so smart) always landing in mortal peril. Tom's real enemy in this novel is his unreliable airship, which either creates delays or nearly kills them four or five times a chapter. The sheer repetition of these moments just might be a measure of how cranky tech was at the start of the 20th century, but if so then shouldn't Tom and friends known better than to take such risks?
This is also where Appleton tries to replace Rad with Koku, maybe because he thinks a giant walking Negro servile stereotype is more exotic than a blubbermouthed minstrel show escapee? anyway, Rad is made to seem more feeble and aged than he does in any other novel I've found so far, and is relegated to comic relief mostly. Koku however is just as cringe, but is immensely strong, so is that a trade up? No matter, in future volumes these two interchangeable stereotypes become friendly rivals for Tom's love, and an annoying background to the action.
To sum up, for many reason this is the weakest and the worst of the first cycle of Tom Swift novels, but I like them. So 2 stars.
This is also where Appleton tries to replace Rad with Koku, maybe because he thinks a giant walking Negro servile stereotype is more exotic than a blubbermouthed minstrel show escapee? anyway, Rad is made to seem more feeble and aged than he does in any other novel I've found so far, and is relegated to comic relief mostly. Koku however is just as cringe, but is immensely strong, so is that a trade up? No matter, in future volumes these two interchangeable stereotypes become friendly rivals for Tom's love, and an annoying background to the action.
To sum up, for many reason this is the weakest and the worst of the first cycle of Tom Swift novels, but I like them. So 2 stars.
February 28, 2022
#14 in the Tom Swift series. This 1912 series entry by pseudonymous author Victor Appleton is average for the series. Tom is hired to invent a movie camera and travel around the world taking newsreels of wild animals, volcanos, avalanches, and the like. Fairly pedestrian today, but this was written in 1912
October 13, 2018
It was interesting because he made a portable camera - a bit bigger. He used it for scenes for a movie. He got brilliant scenes of avalanches, volcanoes, eathquakes and elephant stampedes as well as jungle wildfire. It was a very enjoyable book.
May 8, 2022
Slightly less racist than some of the other early Tom Swift books. Read it to find out if Tom will beat those dastardly Jews who control Hollywood.
October 17, 2015
This is one of the more jarring early 20th century children's books I've read. It's got everything that could mark it as horrifying to modern readers, from the common offenders of racism and colonialism as warm and fuzzy markers of American superiority to some rarer reasons to keep this in the archives, including Tom Swift's giant South American bodyguard who can kill a man with his bare hands, but is terrified of fish. Apparently, in the last book, the other giants got sold to the circus, which was a grand act of benevolence on Tom Swift's part.
As far as this book goes, I think that it is about Tom Swift, a brilliant sociopath, who does not care who dies or what gets destroyed, so long as he can take some "dandy pictures" with the moving picture camera that he invented. There's a bizarre level of paranoia about the backstabbing nature of the motion picture industry in this book, coupled with the lead's total disregard for human life when it comes to getting some good documentary footage. He watches a boat burn and explode, films a tribal battle, kicks back to film an earthquake and volcano, and almost kills several elephant hunters, all without any guilt. I realize that as a 21st century grad student, I have a different perspective on this than the intended audience, but seriously, Tom Swift is a monster.
Tom Swift and His Wizard Camera, even taken as "a product of its time," is a weird and appalling novel about a horrible boy and his annoying friends having science adventures in a cultural vacuum that makes it very useful for scholarly work.
This is decently useful for my project, which is why it got two stars. I think it could also read as a pretentious horror novel about the excesses of American racism, if it had been framed differently.
As far as this book goes, I think that it is about Tom Swift, a brilliant sociopath, who does not care who dies or what gets destroyed, so long as he can take some "dandy pictures" with the moving picture camera that he invented. There's a bizarre level of paranoia about the backstabbing nature of the motion picture industry in this book, coupled with the lead's total disregard for human life when it comes to getting some good documentary footage. He watches a boat burn and explode, films a tribal battle, kicks back to film an earthquake and volcano, and almost kills several elephant hunters, all without any guilt. I realize that as a 21st century grad student, I have a different perspective on this than the intended audience, but seriously, Tom Swift is a monster.
Tom Swift and His Wizard Camera, even taken as "a product of its time," is a weird and appalling novel about a horrible boy and his annoying friends having science adventures in a cultural vacuum that makes it very useful for scholarly work.
This is decently useful for my project, which is why it got two stars. I think it could also read as a pretentious horror novel about the excesses of American racism, if it had been framed differently.
September 10, 2013
In this installment our hero invents a movie camera and goes to film exciting things. Of course the rivals of the man who commissioned this do all sorts of things to stop Tom. Tom also nearly gets himself killed several times over by trying to film dangerous events. Interestingly enough, Tom films lions in India and Tigers in Africa!
June 9, 2012
I read the Tom Swift Sr. books as a child and again when I got my Kindle in 2010. They are an easy read and enjoyable. It is interesting to see how writing has changed since these books were written.
January 2, 2016
Really good old classic young readers book about a young inventor that invents this awesome inventions and then goes on these wild and crazy adventures, sometimes getting into trouble in the process.
April 22, 2017
Definitely more of a low point in the series. The adventures just get more ridiculous as time goes on, with Tom and his multiple friends taking a couple months off just to fly around and take some movies all over the planet.
I realize this was from about 100 years ago, but the views of other cultures just get worse the longer these books go on.
I realize this was from about 100 years ago, but the views of other cultures just get worse the longer these books go on.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews