Tom Swift in the Caves of Ice

Tom Swift Sr. #8

by Victor Appleton

In "Tom Swift in the Caves of Ice" by Victor Appleton, the intrepid young inventor, Tom Swift, embarks on an extraordinary journey to a frozen and treacherous region in search of a rare and valuable mineral. This thrilling installment of the Tom Swift series follows Tom's daring expedition and the numerous challenges he faces in the unforgiving landscape. The story begins with Tom Swift receiving news about the discovery of a unique and precious mineral deep within the Caves of Ice, an icy and perilous region located in a remote part of the world. Intrigued by the potential scientific and economic significance of this discovery, Tom is determined to explore the caves and extract the valuable mineral for further study. Tom, accompanied by his close friends and loyal crew, sets off on an expedition to the Arctic to reach the Caves of Ice. As they venture deeper into the frozen wilderness, they encounter harsh weather conditions, dangerous crevasses, and unpredictable ice formations that test their skills and courage. Along the way, the team faces other challenges, including encounters with hostile individuals who also seek to claim the valuable mineral for themselves. Tom's ingenuity and quick thinking are put to the test as he devises innovative solutions to overcome these obstacles and protect his team and their mission. Amidst the breathtaking backdrop of ice and snow, the novel delves into themes of exploration, scientific curiosity, and the spirit of adventure. Tom Swift's unwavering determination, scientific expertise, and resourcefulness shine through as he navigates the harsh environment and tackles unforeseen dangers. Throughout the story, Victor Appleton paints a vivid picture of the Arctic landscape, immersing readers in the awe-inspiring beauty and treacherous nature of the region. The novel not only captivates young readers with its thrilling storyline but also sparks their imagination about the wonders of science and the mysteries that lie within the Earth's unexplored terrains. As the expedition progresses, Tom and his companions uncover surprising secrets hidden within the Caves of Ice, and their discoveries have far-reaching implications for science and industry. The novel celebrates the pursuit of knowledge and the value of teamwork, as Tom and his friends work together to achieve their shared goals. In conclusion, "Tom Swift in the Caves of Ice" is an enthralling adventure that takes readers on a captivating journey through a frozen and uncharted world. Victor Appleton's skillful storytelling, combined with the charm of Tom Swift's character, makes this novel a compelling read for young audiences, inspiring them to embrace the wonders of exploration, innovation, and the limitless possibilities of science.

Genres: Fiction, Science Fiction, Adventure, Childrens, Classics

114 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1911

About the author

Victor 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

Reviews

[Bill Riggs · Rating 4 out of 5]

Classic high adventure for young readers. This one takes Tom and his friends to a frozen wasteland at the top of the world in a search for gold. Many perils are faced along the way that the young adventurer and his crew must overcome.
It’s probably been at least 40 years since I last read any of these, they hold up surprisingly well.

[Craig · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is eighth book in the original Tom Swift series. It was produced by the Stratemeyer syndicate for publication by Grosset & Dunlap and was written by Howard Garis, though it of course appeared under the house byline Victor Appleton. It was published in 1911; the first fifteen books in the series appeared five per year in 1910, '11, and '12, before going to a single annual schedule through 1935. I read them all as a child many years ago and have been recently enjoying revisiting the ones available via LibriVox. I remember that this one was my least favorite the first time around and still think it's the weakest of the ones I've reread. The main new invention is probably the silliest of the series; a hybrid dirigible/aeroplane with a new lifting gas to make it more buoyant. (I think it may be the only time in the series that the new invention gets abandoned and destroyed before the end of the book.) Also, the Alaskan locale seems very poorly researched, with unlikely ice caves full of gold forming inexplicably, and a random attack by a herd of musk oxen. The racist element seems over the top, with tribes of Indians and Eskimoes attacking because they "want what White Men have," not to mention poor Eradicate Sampson going for a terrified ride in the first chapter. It was 1911, but still... Andy Foger and his father follow the adventurers to the scene of the adventure rather than staying in Shopton, and the Swift party lets the Foger party walk all over them and then decide not to do anything about it. Enough, enough... The novel is performed a little unevenly but mostly quite well from a cast of volunteers, but I don't recommend this one except to Swift completists.

[Jon E · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was a good book and one of my favorite parts is when they scared the Fogers away and when the airship was destroyed and I thought it was kind of ridiculous how the Fogers arrived.

[David Hibberd · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read the Tom Swift Sr. books as a child and again when I got my Kindle in 2010. They are an easy read and enjoyable. It is interesting to see how writing has changed since these books were written.

[Tiffany Tinkham · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really good old classic young readers book about a young inventor that invents this awesome inventions and then goes on these wild and crazy adventures, sometimes getting into trouble in the process.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tom and his friends are off to Alaska! Book 7 Tom Swift Among the Diamond Makers introduces a new character who helps rescue Tom off Phantom Mountain- an old miner named Abe Abercrombie. Abe comes to town with a proposition for Tom. He knows where gold is hidden in frozen Alaska. All he needs is a way to get there and Tom has a plane - The Red Cloud. Previous supporting characters Mr Damon and Professor Parker, who predicts gloom everywhere he goes, accompany him. Bully Andy Foger overhears and steals the map to the gold. Will Tom and his group beat Andy and his father to the gold?

Tom was likely modeled off Horatio Alger Jr.'s boy characters. Tom is honest, loyal, and courageous. He gets into frequent spats with the town bully, Andy Foger. Andy is mean and treacherous and lies and steals. Tom never starts a battle but is always very quick to defend himself and always comes out the victor. While all the Tom Swift books can be read on their own, I wouldn't start mid-way through the series. You really should start with #1.

[Joe Stevens · Rating 3 out of 5]

Off we fly again... eventually. About the first two-thirds of the book is about getting the airship to Alaska. The title gives away the most important bit of the book which is the wreck of the airship. This makes for an odd plot that seems more like a travelogue than a novel at points.
Since Tom's air machine makes no sense as a dirigible and an airplane tied together, it almost seems like the purpose of this book is to get rid of the implausible albatross. Since the next book sees Tom create a new and modern airplane, this concept of this occasional novel as a tweener book seems like more than idle speculation. Still, there is old-school amusement to be had here for fans of the Swift one.

[Tom · Rating 4 out of 5]

In modern times, wealth from Alaska comes in the form of oil. In the book Tom Swift in the Caves of Ice, wealth from Alaska came in the form of gold, decades before Alaska became a state. Abe Abercrombie, an old prospector who Tom met at the end of the book Tom Swift Among the Diamond Makers, had a map that showed a valley of gold and wanted Tom to take him there in the airship called RED CLOUD. After some preliminary thoughts, Tom decides to go. His fellow adventurers include his friend Ned Newton, Mr. Wakefield Damon, Mr. Ralph Parker, and Abe, of course.

As in the previous two books, it appears that Mother Nature is trying to kill Tom and his companions. The other adversaries are Andy Foger and his father. Their actions are more extreme in this book than they were in earlier books. The father and son appear, off and on, throughout the novel. As you read, you will feel the tension and anxiety these villains cause.

In this book, Tom’s only new invention is an electric rifle that he happens to take along on the trip. He notes that it isn’t fully developed, but it proves effective two different times in the trip. All of the adventurers are armed with conventional rifles and sufficient ammunition. No humans were killed, but there is gunfire.

Overall, I enjoyed reading this book and recommend it as another good Tom Swift story.