I haven't had any adventures since I won the prize at the Eagle Park aviation meet in my sky racer

[sovay]

I have just been given an original hardcover of Tom Swift and His Electric Rifle (1911). It was on the "Reserved" shelf at Raven Used Books. It wasn't being held for anyone; it had just fetched up there. I didn't know: I asked the clerk. He said I was the first person who'd shown any interest in it. After a moment, he asked if I wanted it. No charge.

Well, yes, obviously.

(Its subtitle is Daring Adventures in Elephant Land. I cannot imagine this will be handled well.)

Oh, and it's the inspiration-namesake of the Taser.

I love used book stores.

Comments

[sovay]

The only Tom Swift I've read was from the mid-century rebooted series. It was quite impressive that his skywriting "Graphicopter" was controlled by a graphics tablet interface.

We had a lot of Tom Swift, Jr. in the house when I was growing up, although I can't remember most of the titles now except for Tom Swift and his Subocean Geotron, because you don't forget a thing like that. I am also fairly certain about Tom Swift and the Caves of Nuclear Fire. I suspect I would find they're extremely Cold War-era books if I went back. Also, probably terrible. It didn't matter; I am fond of saying that I read everything that wasn't nailed down and some things that were, but it's really true. I read Asimov's Lucky Starr and the Pirates of the Asteroids (1958). And its sequels.