Tom Swift and the Wreck of the Airship: Swift by Name and Swift by Nature!

By Victor Appleton

A Colorado miner reveals to Tom a tale of a "valley of gold" in the far reaches of Alaska. The gang out to destroy Tom, learns of the place by stealing and copying Tom's treasure map. The evil syndicate builds a large tri-plane to race Tom to the valley to collect as much gold as is possible before winter storms make travel impossible. The story ends in near-tragedy, but you will have to read it to find out the exciting conclusion!Tom Swift, the inspirational boyhood hero of Steve Wozniak and Isaac Asimov, is an all-American young inventor in his teens. These fantastic and future-predicting stories are VERY alive today. Swift was modeled after the entrepreneurial and inventive geniuses Henry Ford and Thomas Edison, who both changed our world more than any other two people. Like Arthur C. Clarke, Swift invented or predicted many modern discoveries including the Taser, camcorder, video-phone, electric car, and several others.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1448613884
• ISBN13: 9781448613885
• Release Date: June 2009
• Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform
• Length: 162 Pages
• Weight: 0.67 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.0" x 0.4" x 6.0"

Customer Reviews

Don't settle for crumbs!

If there ever was a time for a hero who is all about being independent, hard working, loyal yet willing to go his own way, smart, brave, polite, and adventurous it was during the poor economic times in America's history. This books were written and read during the depression, and were not just an escape from the reality of the day, they were so popular because they demonstrated that self reliance and not government was the key to success. Tom Swift, the hero, is often asked to 'sell out', give up his rights, inventions, patents, etc, but he does not. While he is very often looking for wealth, its BIG wealth, not nickels and dimes. Tom shows the way to success in a BIG way, and not to settle for crumbs. If you want to feed your brain some great inspirational stories, and you like either adventure, inventions and tinkering, or you are seeking to be free of a boss, and want to work for yourself, I can't think of a better set of books to read. These are just as good for teens as adults. I'm in my 50's and value this sort of inspiration, and while it's not going to win a price for prose, the stories inspire me to work harder for myself, and my family, and not for a B.O.S.S.

it's a world of Thomas Edison...

My three son's just discovered Tom Swift at Christmas... What a hit! it was interesting to watch them enjoy this book, one is 14, one is 17 and one is 21. Each of them is very bright, and very interested in new technology and gadgets. I think it was the gadgets that got them interested in Tom Swift. As much as I can tell, each story is about some invention that the young man made, and often there is a very serious attempt to explain how and why it works. Men and their zeppelins! Of course there is adventure, and travel to areas of the world not yet explored in the early 1900's or so, it's a world of Thomas Edison, where one person can actually effect the course of the world...I can understand men missing that part of life in today's world. Mom's, offer your son's some of these Tom Swift books, your may see a very good change in him!

No matter what age you are, if there is an inventor in you, enjoy this book!

My father is a real life inventor. So was his father. I gave my father one of these Tom Swift books a short time ago, and he said he remembered his father talking about them, but he had never read any as a kid. So, just for fun, and because I gave it to him, he read it. Now, I think it only took him an hour or two, but he read it all, jumped up and was back on his designs. Later he said that reading that book was more inspiring to him than any other `inspirational' book, or tape that he had seen or heard. He laughed, and said as much as it's a kids book, it's a book that really champions hard work, inventiveness, and `never quit' attitudes. He's getting more of these and truly feels that they sum up the mindset of inventors - and as such give him so much enthusiasm and determination. He says they are revitalizing and stimulating. So, if you are of the inventive type, you just might need a bit of Tom Swift to get your motor going again! It worked in our house! Tom Swift and the castaways of Earthquake Island: Swift by Name and Swift by Nature! Tom Swift creates a Giant Cannon: Swift by Name and Swift by Nature! No matter what age you are, if there is an inventor in you, enjoy this book!

A great book to inspire your kids or grand kids - or yourself!

Many of our parents or grandparents grew up on this series - the original one - while back then it was called science fiction or adventure, it was still very plausible and very realistic. For those kids Tom Swift was better than Saturday morning cartoons - or YouTube. It created a 'I can do it' or 'it can be done' attitude among its readers. In fact so much of what was 'invented' by Tom Swift has long come about - the Taser, camcorder, video-phone, electric car, pulse guns, etc. These books inspired kids, and continue to! In Tom Swift and the Wreck of the Airship, Tom uses all his inventive genius to build a special, unheard of tri-plane! Tom is helping an old Colorado gold miner to find gold in Alaska, however, an evil team of rivals are determined to steal the gold and put an end to Tom for good! Enjoy this adventure as Tom and his team need to fight all sorts of dangers! Amazing stuff for something written in the 1900's! Fun, hearty and a great read! Gripping cliffhanger endings to each chapter, the book is a great read for young or old - and the science is explained and believable - no 'alien gismos' or 'lithium crystals' all basic stuff that you could actually imagine working if you wanted to try it. A great book to inspire your kids or grand kids - or yourself!