4 chapters across the catalog
The hosts open the program by discussing the literary history of the Bobbsey Twins and Tom Swift book series, noting the 1910 origins of the latter. They transition to the significance of November 5th, referencing the Gunpowder Plot against the British Parliament and its modern cultural depiction in the film V for Vendetta.
John C. Dvorak shares a "fun fact" that the name "Taser" is an acronym for "Thomas A. Swift's Electric Rifle." The inventor, Jack Cover, named the device after his favorite childhood science fiction character, Tom Swift. Dvorak notes that he has read all the Tom Swift books, though he remains skeptical of some "reverse-engineered" etymologies.
The name "Taser" is an acronym for "Thomas A. Swift's Electric Rifle," named by inventor Jack Cover after his favorite science fiction character. The hosts debate the validity of this factoid, questioning if the name was reverse-engineered to fit the acronym.
Audio Book Production, Tom Swift and Dialect
The challenges of recording audiobooks are discussed, including maintaining consistent intonation and dealing with historical texts written in dialect. The hosts explore the political correctness of reading Mark Twain or the Tom Swift series in their original forms and the availability of public domain works on Project Gutenberg.
