Entering Tom Swift’s private laboratory from a room farther down the hall, Ned Newton, who seemed somewhat out of breath, glanced at the young inventor and asked: “Do you seem to be getting anywhere with it, Tom?” For a moment there was no reply. Tom, who had been leaning over a complicated apparatus of wires, switches, and radio bulbs that glowed dimly, was slowly turning a dial. Ned repeated his question, adding: “What seems to be the trouble?” “Trouble?” queried Tom, looking at Ned with eyes, however, that did not see him. “There must be some trouble,” insisted Ned, “or you’d have been capering around here on one leg when I came in after doing my stuff back there,” and he nodded toward the room farther down the hall. “How about it?” Tom Swift glanced away from the apparatus, which very much resembled a radio receiving set, to a yard-square burnished sheet of metal hanging in front of him and connected to the other mechanism by several wires. This burnished sheet appeared to be made of a mirror of some metal with a square of heavy plate glass covering it. “Can’t you answer?” inquired Ned, with a chuckle. “Boy, I certainly did some acting back there all by myself! And I’d like to know whether I got it through to you. Did I? Bet I did that song and dance for the fiftieth time just now. Come on—wake up—did it come through? What’s the matter, anyhow?” “I—I’m thinking,” said Tom slowly. “Don’t need an interpreter to tell me that!” and again Ned chuckled. “I can see it with half an eye. But was it a success?” “Yes, and no,” replied Tom, turning a switch which seemed to cut off some electrical current, for at once a faint hum that had been audible in the laboratory ceased. “Yes, and no. It came through all right; that is, part of it did, but the rest——” Tom ceased speaking and bent over his apparatus. He adjusted some set screws, turned a couple of dials, and changed three of the radio tubes which, now that the power was cut off, no longer glowed with light beneath the quicksilver coatings on the thin glass. “Do you want me to go back there and do it over?” asked Ned. “I’m willing, if you say so,” and he started for the room he had just left—a room wherein, under the focused rays of a battery of powerful lights and close to a box containing a strange assortment of tubes and transmitters, Ned had done his “stunt,” which consisted of singing and dancing about on a small stage. He performed alone—there was no audience but the distant one of Tom Swift in his laboratory several hundred feet away.

DigiCat Publishing presents to you this special edition of "Tom Swift and his Talking Pictures, or, The Greatest Invention on Record" by Howard R. Garis. DigiCat Publishing considers every written word to be a legacy of humankind. Every DigiCat book has been carefully reproduced for republishing in a new modern format. The books are available in print, as well as ebooks. DigiCat hopes you will treat this work with the acknowledgment and passion it deserves as a classic of world literature.

In 'Tom Swift and His Giant Telescope' by Victor Appleton, readers are taken on a thrilling adventure as young inventor Tom Swift unveils his latest creation - a powerful telescope with capabilities beyond imagination. The book, written in a straightforward and engaging style, is a wonderful blend of science fiction and adventure, appealing to readers of all ages. Set in the early 20th century, the novel captures the spirit of discovery and innovation that characterized the time period. Appleton's vivid descriptions of the telescope's construction and its use for solving mysteries make the story both educational and entertaining. Fans of science fiction and technology will find this book a delightful read. Victor Appleton, a pseudonym used by the Stratemeyer Syndicate, was the author of the popular Tom Swift series, reflecting his interest in science and technology. His background as a journalist and his passion for invention contributed to the authenticity and excitement present in the book. Recommended for those who enjoy a mix of science, adventure, and mystery in their reading.

This book features the cover art of the original 40 books Tom Swift series commencing in 1910. The Tom Swift books have been credited with laying the foundations for success of American science fiction by focusing on brilliant scientists and inventors. Tom Swift's adventures have been popular since inception in 1910: by 1914, 150,000 copies a year were being sold. As of 2009, Tom Swift books have sold over 30 million copies worldwide.

This book reprints three stories each per book of the original Tom Swift series commencing in 1910. The Tom Swift books have been credited with laying the foundations for success of American science fiction by focusing on brilliant scientists and inventors. Tom Swift's adventures have been popular since inception in 1910: by 1914, 150,000 copies a year were being sold. As of 2009, Tom Swift books have sold over 30 million copies worldwide.

Tom Swift is approached by the owner of a circus to use one of his airships to search for a lost hunter, who went missing somewhere in South Africa while searching for a tribe of giants.

In this collection of essays, authorities on a wide range of topics related to science fiction discuss themes and works of special interest to young readers. The first section includes chapters on the origins of science fiction as a genre for young people, and containes essays on Victor Appleton's "Tom Swift" series and the contributions of Isaac Asimov, Robert A. Heinlein, and Madeleine L'Engle. The second section looks beyond the origins of science fiction to particular works and authors. The chapters in this section approach authors and their works from particular thematic perspectives and thus show how particular themes bind together and define the body of an author's writings. The third section, on science fiction as a vehicle for ideas, looks beyond the literary features of the genre. Chapters in this section discuss science fiction as a means for conveying religious, philosophical, and social messages.