Tom Swift

Tom Swift is the main character of six series of American juvenile science fiction and adventure novels that emphasize science, invention, and technology. First published in 1910, the series totals more than 100 volumes. The longest-running Tom Swift series is the Tom Swift Youngventor series, begun in 2006 and published by Simon & Schuster.

About Tom Swift in brief

Summary Tom SwiftTom Swift is the main character of six series of American juvenile science fiction and adventure novels that emphasize science, invention, and technology. First published in 1910, the series totals more than 100 volumes. The character was created by Edward Stratemeyer, the founder of a book-packaging firm. The books generally describe the effects of science and technology as wholly beneficial, and the role of the inventor in society as admirable and heroic. Tom Swift has been cited as an inspiration by various scientists and inventors, including aircraft designer Kelly Johnson. In his various incarnations, Tom Swift, usually a teenager, is inventive and science-minded, \”Swift by name and swift by nature. \” Tom is portrayed as a natural genius. Many of Tom Swift’s fictional inventions describe actual technological developments or predate technologies now considered commonplace. The longest-running Tom Swift series is the Tom Swift Youngventor series, begun in 2006 and published by Simon & Schuster. The book series has sold more than 30 million copies worldwide, and has been the subject of a board game and several attempted adaptations into other media. The series has been translated into many languages, including English, Spanish, German, French, and Italian. The main character is described as “Tom Swift, Jr.’’, described as the son of the original Tom Swift. The name ‘Tom Swift’ was first used in 1903 in Shorthand Tom the Reporter; Or, the Exploits of a Bright Boy.

In the earlier series, he is said to have had little formal education, the character modeled originally after such inventors as Henry Ford, Thomas Edison, aviation pioneer Glenn Curtiss and Alberto Santos-Dumont. The novels were published using the house pseudonym “Victor Appleton’”. For most of the series, each book concerns Tom’s latest invention and its role either in solving a problem or mystery, or in assisting Tom in feats of exploration or rescue. In 1954, Harriet Adams created theTom Swift Jr. series, which was published using Victor Appleton II as author. For this series, and some of the later series, the main characters are Tom Swift and his younger brother, Tom Jr. The Tom Swift Junior series ended in 1971 and a third series was begun in 1981 and lasted until 1984. A fourth series was published from 1991 to 1993, and a fifth series was produced from 1994 to 2006. The last series was released in 2007, and it was written by William Dougherty, among other writers, including John Almquist, Richard Sklar, James Duncan, Lawrence Lawrence, Richard McKenna, and Richard McKenna. The first Tom Swift Series ended in 1941, The second series began in 1951, and the third series in 1971,   A third series begun in 1953, and the fourth series in 1954,  The fifth series began in 1961, and  the sixth series in 1982.