Best books by genre: Teens

One of the “Tom Swift” series of boy’s books produced by Stratemeyer Syndicate. The series were written by a number of authors under the general pseudonym Victor Appleton. They describe initially a young genius who creates inventions passing far ahead of the time. “Tom Swift and His Electric Locomotive” appears the second book, where Tom finds himself in a new adventure purchasing a damaged motorboat at auction.

This book was converted from its physical edition to the digital format by a community of volunteers. You may find it for free on the web. Purchase of the Kindle edition includes wireless delivery. --This text refers to the Kindle Edition edition.

Edward Stratemeyer (1862-1930) was born in Elizabeth, New Jersey. He was an American publisher and writer of books for children. He wrote 150 books himself, and created the most famous of the series books for juveniles, including the Rover Boys (1899 and after), Bobbsey Twins (1904), Tom Swift (1910), Hardy Boys (1927), and Nancy Drew (1930) series, among others. Stratemeyer pioneered the technique of producing long-running, consistent series of books using a team of freelance authors to write standardised novels, which were published under a pen name owned by his company. Through his Stratemeyer Syndicate, founded in 1906, Stratemeyer produced short plot summaries for the novels in each series, which he sent to other writers who completed the story. Stratemeyer's series were also innovative in that they were intended purely as entertainment, with little of the moral lessons or educational intent found in most other popular fiction of the early twentieth century. Stratemeyer's series included, besides the famous ones, many that are now forgotten except by collectors: The Motor Boys (1906), Honey Bunch (1923), The Blythe Girls (1925) and Bomba the Jungle Boy (1926).

Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: CHAPTER XIV. TBICLINIC SYSTEM—CONSTRUCTION OF AXES—SIMPLE FORMS—CONBINATIONS. Plates XXXVII. To XXXIX. In the triclinic system there are three axes, all unequal and intersecting at oblique angles. They are lettered a, b, c. The angle between the c or vertical axis and the a axis is measured from the + end of one to the + end of the other, it is lettered ft. The angle between the c and b axes is measured from the + end of one to the + end of the other; it is lettered a. The angle between the a and b axes is measured from the + end of the one to the + end of the other and is lettered y. Plate XXXVII. shows the construction of the triclinic axes. It is dependent on the O plan and profiles of the axes. The a axis is in the same direction as in the isometric system but has this difference, the + end in the triclinic system is either depressed or elevated a certain number of degrees, so that the axis is no longer at right angles to the c or vertical axis, its position is similar to the a axis of the monoclinic system. The b axis is neither at right angles to the c norTEICLINIC SYSTEM 121 to the a axis, therefore its position is quite altered from that of the isometric 2 axis. We will assume the lengths given on the plate for the three axes, making as usual the b axis = unity. The angles are also assumed /3 = 140, a = 75, y = 135. We start by finding the direction of the a axis in the usual manner, then find its plan by a profile (see Fig. 2) exactly as for the monoclinic a axis. Having thus obtained the plan of its semi-length, we mark it on the 0 plan as shown at a, x. We next find the plan of the semi b axis, in the same way by a profile, shown at Fig. 3. Having then the plans of the semi a and b axes, it would at first appear quite easy to construct ...

(Excerpt from Chapter I): At a pawnshop in the Gray's Inn Road, Richard Frencham Altar disposed of the last of his worldly goods. Four suits from a tailor in Saville Row, two pairs of shoes in brown and patent by a craftsman of Jermyn Street, some odds and ends of hosiery, a set of dressing table brushes with black monograms on ivory and the gold cigarette case Doreen had given him on the day of their engagement. In consideration for which he departed with a sum of twenty-seven pounds sixteen shillings in his trousers pockets. At his rooms in Golden Square he settled his account with the landlady, a luxury that reduced his wealth by a matter of nineteen pounds. Of the eight pounds sixteen shillings remaining, five guineas were placed on one side for the tobacconist who had supplied him with Gold Flake and the margin transferred to another pocket for the purpose of one final engagement with the habit of high living. After that-well time would show. It was futile to speculate upon the future. He had the clothes he stood up in, the brain and tissue heaven had provided him with and a spirit unawed by adversity. Many men have started life with less. A neighbouring clock chimed the hour. Too early to dine-besides there were things to be done first. From a highly decorated vase that stood upon a particularly restless over-mantel, he drew a small packet of letters and untied the tape that circled them. They were written in a careless sprawling hand, with lots of ink and little thought. They were very full of 'darlings' and 'dearests' and 'how much do you love me's.' They were very, very rapturous-they were very, very silly. They had made him very happy when first he read them because silliness and sincerity are often partners, but now he knew better-now they made him laugh. Not a very cheerful laugh perhaps-a little cynical maybe but on the whole tolerant and forbearing. He put a match to the first and lit the others in succession one by one until a charred chain of memories stretched across the tiling of the grate. The last 'Doreen' straggled scarlet across a black and twisting page, whitened, greyed and disappeared. --This text refers to the Kindle Edition edition.

George Manville Fenn (1831-1909) was a British writer. He worked as a teacher in Lincolnshire, until he became printer, editor and publisher of various magazines. He had eight children with his wife Susanna Leake, whom he had married in 1855. Most of his works are adventure stories for young readers, featuring Explorers, Smugglers, young Adventurers and Seamen. His adult novels offer critical social commentary on Victorian England, especially reconsidering economic questions. His works include: Hollowdell Grange (1866), Featherland (1866), Christmas Penny Readings (1867), The Blue Dragoons (1875), A Little World (1877), Begumbagh (1879), Bunyip Land (1880), My Patients (1883), The Golden Magnet (1884), The Chaplain's Craze (1886), Quicksilver (1888), Lady Maude's Mania (1890), The Weathercock (1892), Real Gold (1894), The Queen's Scarlet (1895), The Black Tor (1896), A Woman Worth Winning (1898), Draw Swords! (1898), A Crimson Crime (1899), The King's Sons (1900), Fitz the Filibuster (1903) and others.

Tom Swift and His Air Glider, or Seeking the Platinum Treasure. please visit www.valdebooks.com for a full list of titles

Illustrated by F.A. Stewart --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Margaret Bruce Clarke was the author of: The Little Heiress (1904) and Hunter's Marjory: A Story for Girls (1907). "Marjory was lying under a tree in the wood beyond her uncle's garden; her head was hidden in the long, soft coat of a black retriever, and she was crying-sobbing bitterly as if her heart would break, and as if nothing could ever comfort her again. "

William Taylor Adams (1822-1897) was a noted academic, author, and Massachusetts state legislator. He was born in Medway, Massachusetts. He became a teacher in the Boston, Massachusetts public schools in 1845, and remained in that capacity through 1865. He served as a member of the School Board of Dorchester, Massachusetts, for 14 years. In 1869, he became a member of the Massachusetts General Court. He wrote many books of fiction for boys under the pseudonym "Oliver Optic", including All Aboard; or, Life on the Lake (1855), Poor and Proud; or, The Fortunes of Katy Redburn (1858), The Soldier Boy; or, Tom Somers in the Army (1863), The Birthday Party: A Story for Little Folks (1864), Outward Bound; or, Young America Afloat (1867), Now or Never; or, The Adventures of Bobby Bright (1872), Taken by the Enemy (1888), Little by Little; or, The Cruise of the Flyaway (1888), On the Blockade (1890), Within the Enemy's Lines (1890), Stand by the Union (1891), Fighting for the Right (1893), A Victorious Union (1893), Haste and Waste; or, The Young Pilot of Lake Champlain (1894), and Across India; or, Live Boys in the Far East (1895).