Tom Swift and His Great Oil Gusher
"Tom Swift and His Great Oil Gusher" by Victor Appleton follows the inventive young protagonist, Tom Swift, as he embarks on a new adventure in the oil industry. The story begins with Tom and his friend Ned Newton taking a break from their work at the Swift Construction Company to enjoy a flight in Tom's airplane, the Hummingbird. During their flight, they witness an airplane in distress and manage to rescue the pilot, who is later revealed to be Hitt Goby, a young aviator with a mysterious past. Tom's interest in oil is piqued when he learns about the potential for wealth in the oil fields. He decides to venture into the oil business, driven by the challenge of inventing a new type of oil drill. Tom's innovative spirit leads him to develop a drill that promises to revolutionize oil drilling by increasing efficiency and reducing costs. The narrative takes Tom and his friends to Texas, where they aim to strike oil on the Goby farm, owned by Hitt's father, a blind man named Mr. Goby. Tom's group faces competition from a shady trio led by Hankinshaw, who are also interested in the Goby property. Despite the challenges, including a fire set by Hankinshaw's gang, Tom's determination and ingenuity lead to the successful drilling of a gusher, proving the effectiveness of his new drill. Throughout the story, themes of friendship, innovation, and perseverance are highlighted as Tom navigates the complexities of the oil industry and overcomes obstacles with the help of his friends and his inventive mind. The novel concludes with Tom's success in the oil venture, securing financial rewards for himself and the Goby family, and setting the stage for future adventures.
By Victor Appleton · First published 1924 · Genre: Adventure, Science Fiction, Juvenile Fiction · 25 chapters · 50,677 words
First lines
"A GRAND day for a spin in the air, Ned," remarked Tom Swift, as he stretched his arms and looked through the window of his office. "What do you say? Come along and let the wind blow some of the cobwebs out of your brain."
"Get thee behind me, Satan," replied Ned Newton, the young financial manager of the Swift Construction Company. "I've got a heap of work yet to do in checking up this last monthly statement."
What this Textopian page supports
Tom Swift and His Great Oil Gusher is listed on Textopian as a novel by Victor Appleton, dated 1924 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Novel
- Author: Victor Appleton
- Date: 1924 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Adventure, Science Fiction, Juvenile Fiction, Technothriller
- Length: 50,677 words
- Structure: 25 chapters, 1,085 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Tom Swift and His Great Oil Gusher by Victor Appleton
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
- Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph
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Genres
- Adventure — The narrative centers on daring exploits and high-stakes action, making adventure its most dominant element.
- Science Fiction — Innovative technologies and speculative scientific ideas drive the plot, aligning the work with science fiction tropes.
- Juvenile Fiction — Targeted at a younger audience, the style and themes are designed to engage and inspire youthful readers.
- Technothriller — The emphasis on invention and engineering challenges adds an element of tension and excitement typical of technothrillers.
Tags
adventure · invention · technology · industrial · oil · entrepreneurship · youth fiction · action · energy · engineering · machinery · innovation
Contents
- The Falling Airplane
- Almost a Tragedy
- An Attractive Offer
- Reckless Driving
- A Close Shave
- Suspicious Circumstances
- Trouble Brewing
- Through the Window
- The Midnight Prowler
- Caught in the Act
- A Rascal Foiled
- The New Drill
- A Night of Triumph
- Kicked for a Goal
- Off for the Oil Fields
- On the Trail of Fortune
- Closing the Deal
- A Test of Courage
- On the Verge
- Capping the Gusher
- The Inquisitive Stranger
- Rad Turns Up
- A Dastardly Plot
- Fighting the Fire
- Victory