Tom Swift and His Giant Cannon; Or, The Longest Shots on Record

"Tom Swift and His Giant Cannon; Or, The Longest Shots on Record" by Victor Appleton is an action-packed tale of a young inventor who will stop at nothing to achieve his goals. Meet Tom Swift, a brilliant young man who decides to design the biggest cannon the world has ever seen, with the aim to protect the Panama Canal. The book starts off with Tom's father almost investing in a risky opal mine scheme, and then Tom has a near-death experience while testing his airship. Luckily, an old friend saves Tom, and he's inspired to continue designing his giant cannon and demonstrate his invention at a government test, making it a story full of excitement and friendship.