Victor Appleton

"Have you anything special to do to-night, Ned?" asked Tom Swift, the well-known inventor, as he paused in front of his chum's window, in the Shopton National Bank. "No, nothing in particular," replied the bank clerk, as he stacked up some bundles of bills. "Why do you ask?" "I wanted you to come over to the house for a while." "Going to have a surprise party, or something like that?" "No, only I've got something I'd like to show you." "A new invention?" "Well, not exactly new. You've seen it before, but not since I've improved it. I'm speaking of my new electric rifle. I've got it ready to try, now, and I'd like to see what you think of it. There's a rifle range over at the house, and we can practice some shooting, if you haven't anything else to do." "I haven't, and I'll be glad to come. What are you doing in the bank, anyhow; putting away more of your wealth, Tom?" "Yes, I just made a little deposit. It's some money I got from the government for the patents on my sky racer, and I'm salting it down here until Dad and I can think of a better investment."

"Are you all ready, Tom?" "All ready, Mr. Sharp," replied a young man, who was stationed near some complicated apparatus, while the questioner, a dark man, with a nervous manner, leaned over a large tank. "I'm going to turn on the gas now," went on the man. "Look out for yourself. I'm not sure what may happen." "Neither am I, but I'm ready for it. If it does explode it can't do much damage." "Oh, I hope it doesn't explode. We've had so much trouble with the airship, I trust nothing goes wrong now."

"Oh Tom, is it really safe?" A young lady-an exceedingly pretty young lady, she could be called-stood with one small, gloved hand on the outstretched wing of an aeroplane, and looked up at a young man, attired in a leather, fur-lined suit, who sat in the cockpit of the machine just above her. "Safe, Mary?" repeated the pilot, as he reached in under the hood of the craft to make sure about one of the controls. "Why, you ought to know by this time that I wouldn't go up if it wasn't safe " "Oh, yes, I know, Tom. It may be all right for you, but I've never been up in this kind of airship before, and I want to know if it's safe for me." The young man leaned over the edge of the padded cockpit, and clasped in his rather grimy hand the neatly gloved one of the young lady. And though the glove was new, and fitted the hand perfectly, there was no attempt to withdraw it. Instead, the young lady seemed to be very glad indeed that her hand was in such safe keeping.

Tom Swift, seated in his laboratory engaged in trying to solve a puzzling question that had arisen over one of his inventions, was startled by a loud knock on the door. So emphatic, in fact, was the summons that the door trembled, and Tom started to his feet in some alarm. "Hello there " he cried. "Don't break the door, Koku " and then he laughed. "No one but my giant would knock like that," he said to himself. "He never does seem able to do things gently. But I wonder why he is knocking. I told him to get the engine out of the airship, and Eradicate said he'd be around to answer the telephone and bell. I wonder if anything has happened? Tom shoved back his chair, pushed aside the mass of papers over which he had been puzzling, and strode to the door. Flinging it open he confronted a veritable giant of a man, nearly eight feet tall, and big in proportion.

Ceasing his restless walk up and down the room, Tom Swift strode to the window and gazed across the field toward the many buildings, where machines were turning out the products evolved from the brains of his father and himself. There was a worried look on the face of the young inventor, and he seemed preoccupied, as though thinking of something far removed from whatever it was his eyes gazed upon. "Well, I'll do it " suddenly exclaimed Tom. "I don't want to, but I will. It's in the line of 'doing my bit, ' I suppose; but I'd rather it was something else. I wonder-" "Ha Up to your old tricks, I see, Tom " exclaimed a voice, in which energy and friendliness mingled pleasingly. "Up to your old tricks " "Oh, hello, Mr. Damon " cried Tom, turning to shake hands with an elderly gentleman-that is, elderly in appearance but not in action, for he crossed the room with the springing step of a lad, and there was the enthusiasm of youth on his face. "What do you mean-my old tricks?"

"Some one to see you, Mr. Tom." It was Koku, or August, as he was sometimes called, the new giant servant of Tom Swift, who made this announcement to the young inventor. "Who is it, Koku?" inquired Tom, looking up from his work-bench in the machine shop, where he was busy over a part of the motor for his new noiseless airship. "Any one I know? Is it the 'Blessing Man'" for so Koku had come to call Mr. Damon, an eccentric friend of Tom's. "No, not him. A strange man. I never see before. He say he got quick business.

Tom Swift closed the book of adventures he had been reading, tossed it on the table, and got up. Then he yawned. "What's the matter?" asked his chum, Ned Newton, who was deep in another volume. "Oh, I thought this was going to be something exciting," replied Tom, motioning toward the book he had discarded. "But say the make- believe adventures that fellow had, weren't anything compared to those we went through in the city of gold, or while rescuing the exiles of Siberia." "Well," remarked Ned, "they would have to be pretty classy adventures to lay over those you and I have had lately. But where are you going?" he continued, for Tom had taken his cap and started for the door. "I thought I'd go out and take a little run in the aeroplane. Want to come along? It's more fun than sitting in the house reading about exciting things that never have happened.

"Well, Massa Tom, am yo' gwine out in yo' flyin' machine ag'in to- day?" "Yes, Rad, I think I will take a little flight. Perhaps I'll go over to Waterford, and call on Mr. Damon. I haven't seen very much of him, since we got back from our hunt after the diamond-makers." "Take a run clear ober t' Waterfield; eh, Massa Tom?" "Yes, Rad. Now, if you'll help me, I'll get out the Butterfly, and see what trim she's in for a speedy flight." Tom Swift, the young inventor, aided by Eradicate Sampson, the colored helper of the Swift household, walked over toward a small shed. A few minutes later the two had rolled into view, on its three bicycle wheels, a trim little monoplane-one of the speediest craft of the air that had ever skimmed along beneath the clouds. It was built to carry two, and had a very powerful motor.

"An electric locomotive that can make two miles a minute over a properly ballasted roadbed might not be an impossibility," said Mr. Barton Swift ruminatively. "It is one of those things that are coming," and he flashed his son, Tom Swift, a knowing smile. It had been a topic of conversation between them before the visitor from the West had been seated before the library fire and had sampled one of the elder Swift's good cigars. "It is not only a future possibility," said the latter gentleman, shrugging his shoulders. "As far as the Hendrickton and Pas Alos Railroad Company goes, a two mile a minute gait-not alone on a level track but through the Pas Alos Range-is an immediate necessity. It's got to be done now, or our stock will be selling on the curb for about two cents a share." "You do not mean just that, do you, Mr. Bartholomew?" asked Tom Swift earnestly, and staring at the big-little man before the fire.

"Is this Tom Swift, the inventor of several airships?" The man who had rung the bell glanced at the youth who answered his summons. "Yes, I'm Tom Swift," was the reply. "Did you wish to see me?" "I do. I'm Mr. James Gunmore, secretary of the Eagle Park Aviation Association. I had some correspondence with you about a prize contest we are going to hold. I believe-" "Oh, yes, I remember now," and the young inventor smiled pleasantly as he opened wider the door of his home. "Won't you come in? My father will be glad to see you. He is as much interested in airships as I am." And Tom led the way to the library, where the secretary of the aviation society was soon seated in a big, comfortable leather chair.

In this hardbound edition of novel 23 in this series, Tom must travel to Mars to find out just why the small moon, Phobos, has suddenly begun coming close to the surface. In fact it is coming down to lower and lower orbits that could, within months, endanger the colonists on the planet below. He first tries to use brute force and to push it back into higher orbit, but nearly loses several spacecraft in the attempt. So, he now is faced with finding out the why of it all before he can find a solution that won't mean simply destroying the moon. That, he fears, might backfire and do damage to the colony and the planet. He tries to find some answers with the aid of his Space Friends, but they seem to have disappeared from his life. Without their help he mounts an expedition of Phobos and finds about the last thing he might think of. Now it is a race against time to see if he can rectify the situation and re-place Phobos in its correct orbit.

In the 20th adventure of this new series, Tom Swift finds a pleasant day test sailing a new yacht is turning into an attack from the sky. Out of nowhere a lightning bolt strikes his boat and sucks all power from everywhere. Not a freak incident, it seems to be more of a warning of things to come when a large power generating station along the East Coast is attacked next, with the same loss of electricity as if it had been siphoned back into the sky. This time, there is a great deal of damage and a near death. More and more power stations are targeted and now Tom must try to find out several vital things: Who is attacking? Why are they invisible and how do they manage that? What is their purpose in zig-zagging up and down the country hitting station after station? Not only is he broadsided by these attack, he also finds out there is another Tom Swift out there; or rather a Tommy Swift. Together they work to uncover the evil attackers Bud Barclay has dubbed the Electricity Vampires.

In the twenty-first novel in this new series, Tom has defeated the Electricity Vampires and now wants something a bit less diabolical to take up his time. A new X-Prize is announced that intrigues him: fly a solar-powered aircraft, non-stop, around the globe in just 36 hours! That sort of speed will require an electrical powered jet, and that will burn up a lot of electricity. So, how can he manage to make what he needs by day... and still have enough to run at full speed at night? Might his recently discovered cousin in England, Thomasina Swift, be of some assistance? After all, she and her partner, Betty, have come up with an incredible solar cloth! Just as long as nothing ""exotic"" is used like one of Tom's Power Pods. Complicating things is a mysterious woman, and a deadly opponent, seemingly out to keep Tom from winning or perhaps from ever getting back home alive.

Adventure 22 in this new series sees Tom and Bud and their wives vacationing in Barbados, only to discover a terrible food shortage is about to befall several Caribbean islands. Tom's wife wants him to help, but it is only once a relatively new British Ministry comes to Swift Enterprises with money and an official request that he finds he may have an idea or two. The major obstacle is how do you build farm land on a totally used island where nothing more exists without ruining the ecology? When he settles on a unique growing environment, there are many things to overcome, not the least of which are rampant rumors on many of the islands saying that the Swifts are out to capture and steal their land. One man is so angry he shoots Tom during a public event. But, not a lot can get the inventor down except for a returning enemy out to destroy him and the humanitarian project. Obstacle after obstacle are overcome as he works to finish his SeaSpace HydroFarm.

In the exciting twentieth adventure of this new series, Tom Swift finds a pleasant day test sailing a new yacht is turning into an attack from the sky. Out of nowhere a lightning bolt strikes his boat and sucks all power from everywhere. Not a freak incident, it seems to be more of a warning of things to come when a large power generating station along the East Coast is attacked next, with the same loss of electricity as if it had been siphoned back into the sky. This time, there is a great deal of damage and a near death. More and more power stations are targeted and now Tom must try to find out several vital things: Who is attacking? Why are they invisible and how do they manage that? What is their purpose in zig-zagging up and down the country hitting station after station? Not only is he broadsided by these attack, he also finds out there is another Tom Swift out there; or rather a Tommy Swift. Together they work to uncover the evil attackers Bud Barclay has dubbed the Electricity Vampires. As the attacks go on and Tom gets no closer to uncovering them, it seems there is a final target in mind, and if they get there, it could be devastating

"That's the way to do it Whoop her up, Andy Shove the spark lever over, and turn on more gasolene We'll make a record this trip." Two lads in the tonneau of a touring car, that was whirling along a country road, leaned forward to speak to the one at the steering wheel. The latter was a red-haired youth, with somewhat squinty eyes, and not a very pleasant face, but his companions seemed to regard him with much favor. Perhaps it was because they were riding in his automobile. "Whoop her up, Andy " added the lad on the seat beside the driver. "This is immense " "I rather thought you'd like it," remarked Andy Foger, as he turned the car to avoid a stone in the road. "I'll make things hum around Shopton " "You have made them hum already, Andy," commented the lad beside him. "My ears are ringing. Wow There goes my cap " As the boy spoke, the breeze, created by the speed at which the car was traveling, lifted off his cap, and sent it whirling to the rear. Andy Foger turned for an instant's glance behind. Then he opened the throttle still wider, and exclaimed: "Let it go, Sam. We can get another. I want to see what time I can make to Mansburg I want to break a record, if I can." "Look out, or you'll break something else " cried a lad on the rear seat. "There's a fellow on a bicycle just ahead of us. Take care, Andy "

The fourth collection of invention stories involving Damon Swift, father to young inventor Tom Swift. As before, these are separate from any Tom Swift novels. Damon begins this book with a problem. The state-sponsored space program in India has been suffering disaster after disaster. And, rather than learn from it, they keep repeating launches hoping for the best. He wrangles an invitation to come observe and sees immediately that they have a problem with sabotage. But, will they accept his suggestions... and what about the elephant? Story two has Damon back in Australia. Even though politicians and ranchers have a major problem with wild livestock, they DO NOT WANT an outsider coming in telling them how to fix the problem. So much so that Damon is kidnapped and left to die. All this over a little robotic assistance he has in mind. Story three has him returning to NASA to assist in a probe project. But as more and more of the other contractors step away citing costs, timing and other reasons, he is getting into a position where he may need to also quit because of a no-compete clause he has with the U. S. Government. The real issue is that he and Enterprises can do it better, cheaper and faster if they are allowed to go it alone. To round things out, a shot bonus story is included concerning a mysteriously-growing island north of Hawaii and who might be behind it

For every Tom Swift novel there are at least one or two inventions that just seem to be "there" as if they always existed. Or, they are important but they don't really get described as to how they came into being or how they function. This book, like the other five in this series, aim to fix that. The ten stories in this collection are individually shorter than previous novellas, but they don't need to be lengthy. These are about 6,000 words each and can easily be read in a single sitting (or reclining.) The book includes: The Big Wheel - Tom designs and builds a fast monocycleFrom Toad to Pigeon - It is time to update the Pigeon aircraft, and Tom is being asked to come up with the new designThe Little Black Bag of Medical Tools - Doc Simpson addresses the AMA and tells them about the nifty tools Tom has created for himThe Pocket Drone - A chance letter gets the inventor working on a new type of drone that can save livesThe Mechanical Arm - An employee loses an arm in an accident, and Tom is determined to replace it with the best prostheses he can buildThe Wasp - The U. S. Navy needs a tiny helicopter and Tom believes he has just the thing, assuming he can prove something never tried can work The Incredible Pen and Pencil - To Swift always has his pen radio and pencil soldering iron in his shirt pocket, but why did he make them and how? The Other Great Polymer - Tomasite is amazing but too expensive, so when Tom is building the Sky Queen he needs a new, strong polymerThe Kangaroo Kub - There is to be a midget jet carried in the Sky Queen, but can Tom design one that will land inside a moving hangar? The Repelatron - It had to come from somewhere and this is the story of how Tom came up with the very first concept, and it was years before he used it for a spaceship