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Tom Swift IV #1
The Black Dragon
Tom Swift, a brilliant young inventor-adventurer, must use his new skyboard to battle attack robots, laser weaponry, and an evil mastermind when his best friend is abducted by a mad scientific genius, the Black Dragon
165 pages, Paperback
First published April 1, 1991
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About the author
Victor Appleton
411 books46 followersVictor Appleton was a house pseudonym used by the Stratemeyer Syndicate and its successors, most famous for being associated with the Tom Swift series of books.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Victor_...
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
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Victor_...
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
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
January 11, 2013
To be perfectly honest, I wasn't expecting to enjoy The Black Dragon, the first book in the fourth Tom Swift series of young-adult science fiction, as much as I did. Ostensibly written by one Victor Appleton II (but actually SF author Bill McCay, as "Victor Appleton" was the house styling of the trademark owner of "Tom Swift"), The Black Dragon is utterly inconsequential—but utterly inoffensive as well.
For those not familiar with the concept, Tom Swift is the character of the "boy scientist/inventor", genius-about-town. For what it sets out to do, The Black Dragon succeeds: It introduces the cast of characters, gives some detail about who they are, and moves the plot forward. While not a rapt page-turner, The Black Dragon is sufficiently compelling that I was interested to know what happened next. In terms of writing style, McCay/Appleton writes in a workmanlike but professional manner; in some senses, the writing is even better than in, say, A Spell for Chameleon (which I just finished), insofar as there are fewer adverbs and a minimum, if any, of puns and "Tom Swifties" (look them up). The novel is decidedly aimed at young adults, though it is not without its appeal to older readers, particularly of a nostalgic bent (I enjoyed two novels from the third Tom Swift series in the 1980s, as a teenager).
Perhaps the biggest detractions from the book are that the back cover blurb telegraphs too much of the plot—perhaps forgivable for a work of this caliber—and that it is somewhat dated in places—less forgivable, particularly in a scene with a cutting-edge robot using videocassettes, of all things. (The first Tom Swift series, featuring the father of The Black Dragon's protagonist, was notable for its prescience vis-à-vis new technology.) The book, ultimately, is fluff—perfectly enjoyable, yet on the whole forgettable. Only its length—165 pages—redeems it from overstaying its considerable welcome.
We'll see how much I enjoy Cyborg Kickboxer, the third book in the series, and the next book on my to-read list.
For those not familiar with the concept, Tom Swift is the character of the "boy scientist/inventor", genius-about-town. For what it sets out to do, The Black Dragon succeeds: It introduces the cast of characters, gives some detail about who they are, and moves the plot forward. While not a rapt page-turner, The Black Dragon is sufficiently compelling that I was interested to know what happened next. In terms of writing style, McCay/Appleton writes in a workmanlike but professional manner; in some senses, the writing is even better than in, say, A Spell for Chameleon (which I just finished), insofar as there are fewer adverbs and a minimum, if any, of puns and "Tom Swifties" (look them up). The novel is decidedly aimed at young adults, though it is not without its appeal to older readers, particularly of a nostalgic bent (I enjoyed two novels from the third Tom Swift series in the 1980s, as a teenager).
Perhaps the biggest detractions from the book are that the back cover blurb telegraphs too much of the plot—perhaps forgivable for a work of this caliber—and that it is somewhat dated in places—less forgivable, particularly in a scene with a cutting-edge robot using videocassettes, of all things. (The first Tom Swift series, featuring the father of The Black Dragon's protagonist, was notable for its prescience vis-à-vis new technology.) The book, ultimately, is fluff—perfectly enjoyable, yet on the whole forgettable. Only its length—165 pages—redeems it from overstaying its considerable welcome.
We'll see how much I enjoy Cyborg Kickboxer, the third book in the series, and the next book on my to-read list.
August 24, 2015
I weep for the youth of 1991.
November 11, 2018
A pretty good introduction to the new series, which is marketed as science fiction Hardy Boys. You get a good sense of who all the characters all, what the series is going to be like, and there's plenty of action. I particularly liked the scenes of Tom trying to flirt with his crush, Mandy. My only major complaint is that I wanted some more character development, in particular, something with Tom's genius sister Sandra.
January 12, 2019
It was fine. It’s really dated, but that’s ok. It’s fun for what it is.
January 5, 2022
I remember reading this book as a kid and greatly enjoyed it as it had adventure and cool technology .
July 26, 2011
For a teen fiction book from the early 90s, Tom Swift: The Black Dragon holds up surprisingly well, both as an entertaining story and as a science fiction book. The sci-fi is all hard science fiction, based entirely on real inventions based on real theories. The characters actually have snappy dialogue and a bit of depth, and though the book contains a bit too much description of personal attire, hair styles, and Tom Swift's teenage awkwardness around women, it still has plenty of action and humor.
Also, for a first book of a series, I appreciate that the author spent most of the book on world building and not the juicy "invention-of-the-week". Establishing the world and the characters is vital for any series, and the author did that well.
My favorite bit? Tom Swift's robot Rob and his constant sighing over newly acquired dents.
Also, for a first book of a series, I appreciate that the author spent most of the book on world building and not the juicy "invention-of-the-week". Establishing the world and the characters is vital for any series, and the author did that well.
My favorite bit? Tom Swift's robot Rob and his constant sighing over newly acquired dents.
September 25, 2014
I loved the crap out of this series when I was a kid. I don't remember much of the details, but I most definitely remember that hoverboard. There's a hoverboard race on the beach that was the coolest thing I'd ever read, and might still be the coolest thing I've ever read. I don't know how I'd respond to the books today, but I doubt I could overstate how influential this series was on my taste in books.
August 18, 2014
Tom Swift was a long-running series of novelettes for teens with science fiction and adventure themes. The central character, Tom, is a teenage genius and explorer, and many of his futuristic inventions mirror or presage actual technological developments. I've read books from the 4th series (written in the 1990s) in my teen years, and enjoyed them.
November 8, 2015
This book definitely isn't literature. It was written to entertain teenage readers in the 1990's, and focuses a lot on sci-fi gimmicks and thrills.
However, there are moments where it is distinctly well-written, and the author uses good pacing and description to keep the story going.
So, my twelve-year-old self loved it.
However, there are moments where it is distinctly well-written, and the author uses good pacing and description to keep the story going.
So, my twelve-year-old self loved it.
March 15, 2011
This sets up what I expected to be the big bad of the series, but by the fourth book they haven't really come back again.
I'd love a flying surfboard, but I would also love to have some more practical applications of this technology.
I'd love a flying surfboard, but I would also love to have some more practical applications of this technology.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 14, 2011
Tnis was one of the best books I've ever read besides the Iron Fey series of course :)
September 2, 2012
Lots of fun!
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews