What do you think?
Rate this book
Tom Swift Jr. #27
Tom Swift and His Sub-ocean Geotron
Tom must recover a valuable capsule left on Earth on the ocean floor off Easter Island thousands of years ago by colonists from another planet.
- GenresScience FictionFiction
178 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1966
77 people want to read
About the author
Victor Appleton II
122 books22 followerssee also Victor Appleton
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
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
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
July 1, 2018
Loved this novel, brought me back to my childhood. This was one of my favorite series when I was a kid and I am now trying to get the dozen or so novels that I don’t have and complete this wonderful series.
July 9, 2018
As the name implies, the main invention of this book is a device that will allow Tom and Bud to go underneath the ocean floor. That alone is just another invention in the long line of achievements by Tom. However, in this case the Swifts are in contact with two alien species that claim to be rivals, each side stating that the other is the one that humans should be wary of. That is both the strength and weakness of this installment of the Tom Swift Jr. series.
The strength is that the plot device of the aliens provides an enormous amount of potential for branching storylines. The series is very formulaic in that Tom is presented with an issue that requires an invention and the first one or two tries places him and Bud in a dangerous situation as the new device does not work right. However, when the pressure is on, the invention works properly, and the task is completed. This is essentially what happens in this story.
What is different is that Tom and Bud are searching for a device of alien origin and there are two different alien groups trying to convince Tom and his father to aid them in the recovery of the device. The problem is that this situation presents so many options for interesting plot devices and the author simply fumbles the opportunity.
With two groups of aliens capable of space travel vying for the trust and assistance of the Swift group, it is possible that the fate of the Earth hangs in the balance. Yet, the situation is treated as largely a routine communication rather than a struggle between species with Earth in the middle. Which is unfortunate, because it was such a promising plot device.
The strength is that the plot device of the aliens provides an enormous amount of potential for branching storylines. The series is very formulaic in that Tom is presented with an issue that requires an invention and the first one or two tries places him and Bud in a dangerous situation as the new device does not work right. However, when the pressure is on, the invention works properly, and the task is completed. This is essentially what happens in this story.
What is different is that Tom and Bud are searching for a device of alien origin and there are two different alien groups trying to convince Tom and his father to aid them in the recovery of the device. The problem is that this situation presents so many options for interesting plot devices and the author simply fumbles the opportunity.
With two groups of aliens capable of space travel vying for the trust and assistance of the Swift group, it is possible that the fate of the Earth hangs in the balance. Yet, the situation is treated as largely a routine communication rather than a struggle between species with Earth in the middle. Which is unfortunate, because it was such a promising plot device.
April 6, 2023
I'll never forget the day I encountered a Geotron on my morning walk. At that time in my life I was taking walks with tea in hand almost every morning before heading into the office. I enjoyed those walks because of the calmness that it brought me in that early part of the day. Typically, the most prominent sound was that of birds chirping.
Well, on this particular morning I had made it as far as the local dog park when I began to feel a quiver in the ground beneath my feet. It swiftly grew in intensity until even my body was shaking and hot tea was leaping out of my mug. I can then only describe what I saw as a submarine surfacing nose-first up through the ground not 20 yards in front of me. I dropped my mug and could only stare as a man with short blond hair waved at me through a glass panel on the vehicle. Without any explanation from the man within, the vehicle then submerged back into the ground leaving nothing but a large patch of ruined grass. No hole was left behind.
Suffice to say, my nerves were completely shot and my morning walk ruined. I was so upset by the incident that I wrote to the town. They told me they had been receiving similar reports and that what I had seen was called a Geotron. Rules and regulations surrounding Geotron use are much stricter now than they were back in the 1960s. And thank goodness!
Anyways, I felt I had to pick up this book when I saw it and I must admit I enjoyed it. Tom Swift is a genius, but he sure can be reckless.
Well, on this particular morning I had made it as far as the local dog park when I began to feel a quiver in the ground beneath my feet. It swiftly grew in intensity until even my body was shaking and hot tea was leaping out of my mug. I can then only describe what I saw as a submarine surfacing nose-first up through the ground not 20 yards in front of me. I dropped my mug and could only stare as a man with short blond hair waved at me through a glass panel on the vehicle. Without any explanation from the man within, the vehicle then submerged back into the ground leaving nothing but a large patch of ruined grass. No hole was left behind.
Suffice to say, my nerves were completely shot and my morning walk ruined. I was so upset by the incident that I wrote to the town. They told me they had been receiving similar reports and that what I had seen was called a Geotron. Rules and regulations surrounding Geotron use are much stricter now than they were back in the 1960s. And thank goodness!
Anyways, I felt I had to pick up this book when I saw it and I must admit I enjoyed it. Tom Swift is a genius, but he sure can be reckless.
January 16, 2024
I really enjoy Tom Swift's adventures . . . and this one is no exception. I'll even excuse all the wild plots involving aliens and their attempts to colonize earth in the past.
As usual Tom is amazing, whipping out highly complex inventions in a matter of days. Seriously though, how in the world does Swift Enterprises get all the money and materials to build not only the finished product, but the prototypes that'll inevitably get stolen, sabotaged, or destroyed? Oh well, I've learned to ignore the logistics and enjoy the adventure.
I'll say here and now that I'm a wimp when it comes to certain scary situations - namely, a character being trapped somewhere, especially if oxygen is running out. Like the scenes in the movie Dunkirk where the soldiers are trapped underwater; gah, I start to hyperventilate. Tom and Bud
Overall a nice light read, not as much foreign intrigue as some of the other Tom Swift Jrs, but enough to mix things up.
As usual Tom is amazing, whipping out highly complex inventions in a matter of days. Seriously though, how in the world does Swift Enterprises get all the money and materials to build not only the finished product, but the prototypes that'll inevitably get stolen, sabotaged, or destroyed? Oh well, I've learned to ignore the logistics and enjoy the adventure.
I'll say here and now that I'm a wimp when it comes to certain scary situations - namely, a character being trapped somewhere, especially if oxygen is running out. Like the scenes in the movie Dunkirk where the soldiers are trapped underwater; gah, I start to hyperventilate. Tom and Bud
Overall a nice light read, not as much foreign intrigue as some of the other Tom Swift Jrs, but enough to mix things up.
June 28, 2015
The Tom Swift, Jr., books were a fun, upbeat, and interesting adventure series published for kids from 1954 to 1971 that promoted science, fair-play, patriotism, and team-work; they were good, positive books. The series served as a sequel to the original Tom Swift series that appeared from 1910 to the beginnings of World War II; Tom and his sister, Sandy, are the children of the first Tom and his wife, Mary Nestor; Tom's girlfriend Phyllis Newton is the daughter of Tom Sr.'s sidekick Ned Newton (now Uncle Ned to Tom and Sandy); the family home is still located in Shopton along Lake Carlopa, etc. It's nice that the continuity is preserved rather than just being over-written as happened to The Hardy Boys; in the first Tom Jr., book beings make contact that were first hinted at in the final real Tom Sr., book, Planet Stone, and throughout the series references to the history are made such as naming a device the Damonscope in honor of a character from the first series, Mr. Wakefield Damon. In addition to the Swifts and Newtons, Tom Jr. has his own sidekick, Bud Barclay, and there are several interesting supporting characters such as Phil Radnor, Harlan Ames (I wonder if Harlan Ellison was the inspiration for the name?), Hank Sterling, Miss Trent (who I don't believe ever had a first name), and especially Chow Winkler, Tom's cook, a former "Texas chuck-wagon" cook who was given to a variety of wild and unlikely expressions such as, "Well, brand my space biscuits!" The earlier books had nice covers, end-papers, and illustrations: Graham Kaye and Charles Brey provided the art for the first twenty-five volumes, followed by Edward Moretz, after which the artistic (as well as the literary) quality starting going downhill. Tom invented and built many fantastic inventions (but remember it was the '50s and '60s), and had many exciting adventures along with his friends and family. They faced off against saboteurs and spies and the evil Brungarians but their good spirits and hard work and can-do attitude always paid off in the end. The continuity didn't always hold logically from book to book, and looking back it's easy to pick apart one thing or another, but they were fun and fine books in their time. This twenty-seventh volume has a weak cover showing the undersea egg suits. The story is more undersea hijinks seeking alien tech.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews