Tom Swift and His Airship

Rating:
Summary: Good for a read
Review: I just finished this book this morning. I think the wonderful thing about this book is getting a perspective on people's views of technology in another time. One of my favorite glimpses was when Mr Sharp told Tom that someday these blimp-like airships would be everywhere. I think we have yet to see a mass market on blimps. Also, when the sherrif gets to ride in the Red Cloud, he wonders at the fact that he hadn't even ridden in a car before, and now he was riding in an airship. Imagine a sherrif who spent his life never driving or even riding a car. The other fun thing about this sort of book is the dialogue. I can't remember some of the better lines, but I smiled several times pondering the meaning of some old cliches, or tough fighting one-liners that no longer sound tough. Read it. You'll see.

Rating:
Summary: Good for a read
Review: I just finished this book this morning. I think the wonderful thing about this book is getting a perspective on people's views of technology in another time. One of my favorite glimpses was when Mr Sharp told Tom that someday these blimp-like airships would be everywhere. I think we have yet to see a mass market on blimps. Also, when the sherrif gets to ride in the Red Cloud, he wonders at the fact that he hadn't even ridden in a car before, and now he was riding in an airship. Imagine a sherrif who spent his life never driving or even riding a car. The other fun thing about this sort of book is the dialogue. I can't remember some of the better lines, but I smiled several times pondering the meaning of some old cliches, or tough fighting one-liners that no longer sound tough. Read it. You'll see.

Rating:
Summary: Another flashback to 1910
Review: In this sequel to Tom Swift and His Motor-Boat, Tom Swift and his new friend John Sharp build Sharp's dream aircraft, a hybrid dirigible/airplane. However, Happy Harry's gang is still around, and is up to no good. Why are they hanging around the bank? As usual, Tom combines his love of all things mechanical with his boyish energy and big heart to help his friends and bring the villains to justice.

I do love how these books present a window into the United States of 1910. Especially, I find the limitations on police work astounding, in light of the modern use of radio, etc. As always, Tom is presented as a good role model, which is very nice. Overall I did enjoy this book, and do recommend it to you.

Rating:
Summary: Very old but EXCELLENT boys' adventure book ! !
Review: This book was originally released in about 1910. The Airship is a kind of dirigible. Remember, this is before the Wright Brothers' flight. Old as these books are, they are full of thrilling adventures and most engaging characters. Huge numbers of these books were sold, partly because they are gripping and well done. In this book, Tom's souped up zepplin helps him and his friends to escape trumped up, false charges for a bank robbery-- actually committed by others. Tom also meets a sweetie girl-friend when his dirigible temporarily goes out of control and crashes into the roof of her school! The characters are a real treat! Fun, odd, colorful, and wonderfully drawn. Great gift for a young person. I believe this is a handsome facsimile of the 1910 edition.