Tom Swift (in some versions Tom Swift, Jr.) is the name of the central character in five series, totaling over 100 volumes, of juvenile
science fiction and adventure novels that emphasize science, invention, and technology. The character was created by
Edward Stratemeyer, the founder of the
Stratemeyer Syndicate, a
book-packaging firm. His adventures have been written by a number of different
ghostwriters over the years. Most of the books are published under the collective
pseudonymVictor Appleton. The 33 volumes of the second series use the pseudonym Victor Appleton II.
The character first appeared in 1910. New titles have been published as recently as 2007. Most of the various series focus on Tom’s inventions, a number of which have anticipated actual inventions. The character has been presented in different ways over the years. In general, the books portray science and technology as wholly beneficial in their effects, and the role of the inventor in society has been treated as admirable and heroic.
Translated into a number of languages, the books have sold over 20 million copies worldwide. Tom Swift has also been the subject of aboard game and atelevision show. Development of a feature film based on the series was announced in 2008. A number of prominent figures, includingSteve Wozniak andIsaac Asimov, have cited "Tom Swift" as an inspiration. Several inventions, including thetaser, have been directly inspired by the fictional inventions.
