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Tom Swift Sr. #29
Tom Swift and his airline express; or, From ocean to ocean by daylight
In "Tom Swift and His Airline Express; or, From Ocean to Ocean by Daylight," Victor Appleton continues the adventures of the enterprising young inventor, Tom Swift, within a narrative filled with thrilling escapades and technological wonder. Written in the early 20th century, this installment showcases the spirit of innovation that characterized the era, blending elements of adventure fiction with burgeoning aviation technology. Appleton's engaging prose combines vivid descriptions with fast-paced dialogue, immersing the reader in an exhilarating journey across the continent, emphasizing themes of ingenuity, exploration, and the triumph of the human spirit. Victor Appleton, a pseudonym for a group of writers led by Edward Stratemeyer, crafted the Tom Swift series to capture the imaginations of young readers. Stratemeyer's vision encompassed not only excitement but also the promotion of science and technology, which was particularly resonant during the rapid advancements of the early 1900s. This context of technological optimism and youthful ambition influenced Apple's portrayal of Tom Swift as a role model who embodies the values of curiosity and resilience in the face of challenges. This book is a must-read for enthusiasts of classic adventure tales and those interested in the formative years of American youth literature. It serves not just as entertainment but also as an inspiring reminder of the power of innovation and the spirit of adventure, making it relevant for readers of all ages who cherish the themes of discovery and entrepreneurship.
158 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1926
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About the author
Victor Appleton
355 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 - 2 of 2 reviews
May 5, 2020
Published in 1926, this book can be considered part of the Tom Swift series 2.0. The early stories did not deviate much from the current levels of science and technology and neither does this one. Some of the early ones dealt with war machines, thankfully this one does not.
The main “invention” in this book is an airline where a passenger can travel from the east coast to the west coast in approximately 16 hours. In this story, two intermediate stops were required, the passenger compartment was detachable from the plane. Therefore, when the plane lands, the next one can be fueled and hot, all that needed to be done was to detach the compartment from the first plane and attach it to the next.
While the premise was superseded by the larger airliners with multiple motors and bigger fuel tanks, at the time this book was written, the module structure made sense. The flight crew was not put under great stress and the passengers never had to disembark to make their connecting flight. In many ways, this idea was quickly rendered obsolete, much like what the telegraph did to the Pony Express.
There are of course villains, which is the weakness of the story. The advent of new technology can be made interesting all by itself, sometimes the need to have human opponents to Tom weakens what could be an entertaining battle to tame and control the natural world. More about the new technology and the problems to be solved would have made this story more interesting.
The main “invention” in this book is an airline where a passenger can travel from the east coast to the west coast in approximately 16 hours. In this story, two intermediate stops were required, the passenger compartment was detachable from the plane. Therefore, when the plane lands, the next one can be fueled and hot, all that needed to be done was to detach the compartment from the first plane and attach it to the next.
While the premise was superseded by the larger airliners with multiple motors and bigger fuel tanks, at the time this book was written, the module structure made sense. The flight crew was not put under great stress and the passengers never had to disembark to make their connecting flight. In many ways, this idea was quickly rendered obsolete, much like what the telegraph did to the Pony Express.
There are of course villains, which is the weakness of the story. The advent of new technology can be made interesting all by itself, sometimes the need to have human opponents to Tom weakens what could be an entertaining battle to tame and control the natural world. More about the new technology and the problems to be solved would have made this story more interesting.
December 28, 2019
Our intrepid hero finally gets back to inventing things. Between kidnappings and being bombed, Tom creates a transcontinental air travel system. The passenger compartment is on wheels, and is locked into an airplane frame that carries it from place to place. Some bad guys fail at stealing the invention so they just try to stop it from working. Meanwhile Tom et al are worried the project will make the company go broke. Will the bad guys stop him? Will Swift Enterprises go belly up? Read the book and find out. (Pay no mind to the fact there is a book #30 . . . )
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews