Tom Swift and His Motor-Cycle [Paperback]

Victor Appleton (Author), Victor Appleton (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 2000

First book of the original Tom Swift Series <

Tom Swift has gone through four series and through generations of the Tom Swift family. Quiet Vision has republished the first twenty five titles in the original Tom Swift series. The original Tom Swift series is referred to as Tom Swift Sr.

Quiet Vision tracks Tom Swift from "His Motor Cycle" to "His Electric Locomotive." Many characters reoccur through the series including: Mary Nestor, who Tom eventually marries, Mr. Damon who is always blessing almost everything, Eradicate Sampson, who is braver and more intelligent than assumed, and his mule Boomarang and many others.

Called an inventor, Tom Swift is more of a talented mechanic with a special love for airships and airplanes

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

This book is a standard print version using a minimum of 10 point type in a 6 by 9 inch size and perfect bound - a paperback. As with all Quiet Vision print books, it use a high grade, acid free paper for long life.

Product Details

• Paperback: 114 pages
• Publisher: Quiet Vision (July 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1576462013
• ISBN-13: 978-1576462010
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 5.1 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,539,295 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A wonderful Book!, October 10, 2001

By 

2 boyz mom (Tahoe) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Tom Swift & His Motor Cycle (Hardcover)

I read this book to my 8 1/2 year old son and he could hardly stand it when we ended the chapter at night, begging me to read to him the next night. We both loved it. The vernacular lent a perfect discussion to the meaning of words and expressions and how our language has changed. Others have referenced the character "Eradicate" who is a "Darky" as being a negative. I found it just the opposite with a wonderful teaching platform as to how our world has changed. My son understands that Blacks weren't always viewed with respect and he's thankful that has changed. He also loved thinking that his grandfather who died before he was born also read these books. I highly recommend it for some good old fashioned fun. Editor reccommends 4-8 years old. I'd say 8-16 years.

13 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A flawed masterpiece, April 6, 2001

By 

Kurt A. Johnson (North-Central Illinois, USA) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (TOP 100 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Tom Swift & His Motor Cycle (Hardcover)

Tom Swift is an above average teenager living in 1910; he is an inventor, and the son of an inventor. Tom's excitement begins when he gets the chance to trade his bicycle for a motorcycle, but really takes off when a group of scoundrels set their sights on stealing Barton Swift's (Tom's father) newest invention. Using his mechanical acumen, Tom helps anyone at the mercy of a malfunctioning machine, and foils the plans of those who would steal his father's newest invention.

This book is a wonderful window on the United States of 1910. When reading this book, one is struck by the mechanics of Tom's motorcycle, the quality of roads, the organization of the police, and so much more. The story is fascinating, and yet easy to read.

And now for the bad news: this book contains an African-American character that is routinely referred to as a "darky". He is ill-educated, and speaks in an irritating Amos and Andy patter, "He was a tramp, an' he had de nerve to ask me fer money--me, a hard-wukin' coon."

So, while this is a generally a very good book, its racism is a bit much to take. Overall, I would recommend that you consider before purchasing it for younger readers, but that it is still a book worth reading.

9 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A rousing adventure & story of a young man helping his Dad, January 9, 1999

By 

L. W. Wilson "Rusted Knight" - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Tom Swift & His Motor Cycle (Hardcover)

The first in the series of Tom Swift books. Young Tom shows his bravery in outwitting the bad guys, love for his father in putting himself in peril to save his Dad's invention, and compassion and lack of prejudice by helping others in need. Excellent kids book, unless the reader is sensitive to how Blacks were portrayed in the early 1900's. Subsequent Tom Swift books were much more sensitive to the portrayal of old "Eradicate". I highly recommend this book and all of the Tom Swift books written up through the early 1970's.