History YMMV / TomSwift

** ''Tom Swift and His Electric Rifle'' contains some seriously racist depictions of Africans as “wild, savage and ferocious ... like little red apes." That really wouldn't fly today.

* {{Defictionalization}}: [[ShockAndAwe Thomas A Swift's Electric Rifle]].

** Also, in the original pre-UsefulNotes/{{WW2}} stories, the [[FamilyFriendlyFirearms raygun]]-powered ImprobableAimingSkills and ATeamFiring of the later stories were averted as both sides regularly racked up an impressive body count with rather nonchalantly employed machine guns and artillery.

** Also, in the original pre-{{WW2}} stories, the [[FamilyFriendlyFirearms raygun]]-powered ImprobableAimingSkills and ATeamFiring of the later stories were averted as both sides regularly racked up an impressive body count with rather nonchalantly employed machine guns and artillery.

* ValuesDissonance: The [[RaceTropes race relations]] in the 1950s books are fairly cringe-worthy now. ThomasPynchon called this out in his 1964 short story "The Secret Integration".

** Also, in the original pre-{{WW2}} stories, the [[FamilyFriendlyFirearms raygun]]-powered ImprobableAimingSkills and ATeamFiring of the later stories were averted as both sides regularly racked up an impressive body count with rather nonchalantly employed machine guns and artillery.
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!!The ''Mystery Science Theater 3000'' presentation of ''[[http://keithpalmer.ca/mst3k/favourites/tom-swifts-war-tank.txt Tom Swift's War Tank]]'':
* CrowningMomentOfFunny:
-->''The lad observed that the stranger was clean shaven, except for a small moustache which curled up at the ends slightly.''
-->'''Joel''': [Gasp!]
-->'''Servo''': A GERMAN!
-->'''Crow''': KILL IT BEFORE IT BREEDS!
* EnsembleDarkhorse: [[EthnicScrappy Eradicate]] may be a walking, talking [[UnfortunateImplications ethnic]] [[UncleTomfoolery slur]], but he is the only one to successfully deceive and capture a German spy unaided - with nothing but a shed, a donkey and promises of sauerkraut. Tom and Crow are inspired to create their own German spy trap, [[MST3KMantra which somehow works despite being on a satellite]].
* WhatAnIdiot: [[OverlyLongGag Ned]].
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* CanonSue: Tom Swift.

* DudeNotFunny: Having been written in the midst of WorldWarOne, the book is bursting at the seams with PatrioticFervor and rampant jingoism. Joel is particularly offended by Swift describing years of brutal trench warfare as "[[WarIsGlorious great times]]".

** Also, reading the original pre-{{WW2}} stories after the 1950s Tom Swift Jr. ones, [[EricDVH I]] was somewhat surprised to see the [[FamilyFriendlyFirearms raygun]]-powered ImprobableAimingSkills and ATeamFiring of the later stories averted as both sides regularly racked up an impressive body count with rather nonchalantly employed machine guns and artillery.

* MemeticMutation: The "Tom Swifties," mentioned above, which are now the most memorable thing from the series. [[BeamMeUpScotty Even if they didn't actually appear like that in the originals]].