Tom Swift and His Giant Telescope

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

21188

Title

Tom Swift and His Giant Telescope

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

Victor Appleton's classic adventure follows young inventor Tom Swift as he develops a revolutionary 'space eye' capable of seeing through solid objects. After a series of mishaps involving sabotage and a dramatic flight, Tom and his friends travel to the Adirondacks to unveil a giant telescope. Powered by a mysterious substance from a meteorite, the device reveals a bustling city on Mars, proving that life exists on other worlds in this thrilling tale of science and discovery.

Summary up to 500 words

In Victor Appleton's *Tom Swift and His Giant Telescope*, the youthful inventor Tom Swift unveils a revolutionary optical device: a telescope lens crafted from a mysterious green substance derived from a meteorite. This 'space eye' possesses the unique ability to become invisible when electrified, allowing observers to see through solid obstacles with startling clarity. While Tom's friend Ned Newton is initially skeptical, the demonstration successfully reveals a bird's nest hidden within a tree trunk, proving the device's efficacy. The narrative takes a dramatic turn when a saboteur infiltrates Tom's laboratory while his giant servant, Koku, is distracted. The intruder steals Tom's secret formula for bendable glass, a material Tom had been refining using the new element 'X.' Tom and Ned subsequently fly to Key West to meet Captain Britten, an eccentric salvage expert, only to face further peril. A saboteur has tampered with their airplane, disabling the landing gear and draining the fuel tanks. Through Tom's bravery and Captain Britten's resourcefulness, they manage to land safely on Lake Carlopa after a narrow escape involving a desperate transfer of fuel mid-flight. Upon returning home, Tom discovers his laboratory breached again. Koku captures the thief, but his accomplice, Hammer, has already secured the stolen formula. Tom and his friends must track down the criminals to recover the intellectual property before it is lost forever. Meanwhile, Tom continues his experiments, refining the new element 'X' to create a massive green disk for a colossal telescope. With the help of Professor Standish and a team of workers, Tom constructs a massive observatory on a mountain in the Adirondacks. After a tense wait and the successful recovery of the stolen formula, the group gathers to witness the final test. Tom activates the giant telescope, and the green disk glows, rendering the massive lens invisible. Peering through the eyepiece, Tom and his companions are transfixed by a breathtaking view of Mars. They see a great city with peculiar people, weird aircraft, and gigantic buildings, confirming that life exists on the Red Planet. The story concludes with the group celebrating this monumental scientific achievement, marking a new era in astronomy and exploration.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

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Categories

• Adventure
• Fiction
• Science