Editing Tom Swift (section)

=== Fourth series (1991–1993) ===
{{main|Tom Swift IV}}

The fourth series featuring Tom Swift (again a "Jr.") is set mostly on Earth (with occasional voyages to the Moon); Swift Enterprises is now located in California.<ref>Davis (1991), 73.</ref> In the first book, ''The Black Dragon'', it's mentioned that Tom is the son of Tom Swift Sr. and Mary Nestor. The books deal with what Richard Pyle describes as "modern and futuristic concepts" and, as in the third series, feature an ethnically diverse cast of characters.<ref name="Pyle"/>

Like the Tom Swift Jr. series, the series portrays Tom as a scientist as well as an inventor whose inventions depend on a knowledge of theory.<ref name="Von279"/> The series differs from previous versions of the character, however, in that Tom's inventive genius is portrayed as problematic and sometimes dangerous. As Robert Von der Osten argues, Tom's inventions for this series often have unexpected and negative repercussions.

<blockquote>
a device to create a miniature [[black hole]] which casts him into an alternative universe; a device that trains muscles but also distorts the mind of the user; and a genetic process which, combined with the effect of his black hole, results in a terrifying [[devolution (biology)|devolution]]. Genius here begins to recapitulate earlier myths of the mad scientist whose technological and scientific ambitions are so out of harmony with nature and contemporary science that the results are usually unfortunate.<ref name="Vonder"/>
</blockquote>

The series features more violence than previous series; in ''The Negative Zone'', Tom blows up a motel room to escape the authorities.<ref name="Disch"/>

There was a derivative of this series featuring Tom Swift and the Hardy Boys called ''A Hardy Boys & Tom Swift Ultra Thriller'' that was published from 1992 to 1993, and only had two volumes released.  Both books dealt with science fictional topics (time travel and aliens landing on earth).