On Top of the World

Tom Swift Young Inventor #5

by Victor Appleton

HIGH ELEVATIONS EQUAL HIGH STAKES FOR TOM!

Tom is headed to Mount Everest. Not only will he get some sweet practice time in on his new foil kite snowboard, but he and Bud are going to put his latest invention -- a robot Sherpa -- to the test. At Everst's high elevations they will really be able to run the Sherpa through its paces.

But Tom can't quite focus on the tasks at hand because while there are always rumors of the mysterious Yeti, Tom thinks he's seen one. And what's more is that there's a nasty bunch of hunters on the prowl to capture the yeti "at any cost." Tom knows that some things are better left a mystery and vows to do what he can to protect this natural environment -- and any mysterious species inhabiting it.

Genres: Science Fiction

160 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2007

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

[Norman Cook · Rating 2 out of 5]

The Tom Swift books were never high literature, but this volume in the revamped series published 6-7 years ago is just too dumbed down, with Tom and his pal Bud Barclay recast as smart surfer-type dudes who are more interested in girls and showing off than they are in their inventions. Perhaps the redeeming factor is that for the most part the science and engineering are shown fairly accurately. As far as I can tell, this series stopped at 6 volumes, indicating that it didn't sell very well. I suspect that the Tom Swift books published in the 1950s and 1960s are quite a bit dated, but still better reads than this.

[Luanne Hatcher · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tom Swift, Jr., son of the brain behind Swift Enterprises, has access to some really cool cybernetic devices, like Quantum Utilizing Interactive Processor (QUIP), a robot, and a sub-orbiter that travels at hypersonic speed. Tom and Bud are traveling to Napal in order to explore Mount Everest. They have camping equipment and two great guides. Sightings of Yeti have been the talk of the Camp. This is a science fiction that many boys will enjoy reading. If they like it, there are more books in the series.

[Daymon · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Tom Swift got a call on a mountain that the visit was ready, that is where Tom and his best friend Bud get to go to Everest. When they go they are not there to climb the mountain they are there for two other things:1 they want to try out a new robotic sherpa and 2 they want to find the yeti. But when they get a competition that is where the fun begins. I think if you like adventure then this is the book for you.

[Clare D' Lune]

It was good... not as good as Into the Abyss and the space one, but still good...