#43 Strategic Moves (31st Anniversary Review)

[tomswift2002]

With everything now going on with Russia and other surrounding counties, it's even more apparent.

The Hardy's have dealt with Russia few times, mostly in the Casefiles, but we saw back in 1981 the Hardy's tangle with the Russians and Soviets in The Submarine Caper & The Four-Headed Dragon. 

[Hardy Boys UB Fan]

The Hardy's have dealt with Russia few times, mostly in the Casefiles, but we saw back in 1981 the Hardy's tangle with the Russians and Soviets in The Submarine Caper & The Four-Headed Dragon. 

The Silver Star and Swamp Monster as well, right?

[tomswift2002]

I don't remember the Russians/Soviets playing a role in Swamp Monster.

But the 1954-1971 The New Tom Swift Jr Adventure/Tom Swift Science Adventures dealt with two fictional countries that were stand ins for Russia and other Soviet countries: Brungaria & Kranjovia.

[Hardy Boys UB Fan]

I don't remember the Russians/Soviets playing a role in Swamp Monster.

But 1954-1971 The New Tom Swift Jr Adventure/Tom Swift Science Adventures dealt with two fictional countries that were stand-ins for Russia and other Soviet countries: Brungaria & Kranjovia.

Tom Swift Science Adventures?

[tomswift2002]

Tom Swift Science Adventures?

In the UK the series was called The Tom Swift Science Adventures.  Also only 20 of the 33 books were issued there.  But copies of books near the end of the series, like Cosmotron Express are cheaper in the UK variant versus the US.

https://www.tomswift.info/homepage/british.html

[Hardy Boys UB Fan]

In the UK the series was called The Tom Swift Science Adventures.  Also, only 20 of the 33 books were issued there.  But copies of books near the end of the series, like Cosmotron Express are cheaper in the UK variant versus the US.

https://www.tomswift.info/homepage/british.html

I'll have to see if I can get them.

[tomswift2002]

I'm just thinking of this novel right new with the Breaking News of former Soviet Union leader Mikhail Gorbachev's passing.

[MacGyver]

I hadn't heard that about Mikhail Gorbachev's death! Wow- I remember when that guy was leader of the USSR. May God bless and comfort his family in this sad time.

[tomswift2002]

I hadn't heard that about Mikhail Gorbachev's death! Wow- I remember when that guy was leader of the USSR. May God bless and comfort his family in this sad time.

It's actual interesting when you look at pictures of Gorbachev, you notice that birth mark on the top of his head.  In the 1930's there was a prophecy made about him coming to power and letting the Jews leave the Soviet Union.

https://youtu.be/VA9JyRWNLqg

[MacGyver]

It's actual interesting when you look at pictures of Gorbachev, you notice that birth mark on the top of his head.  In the 1930's there was a prophecy made about him coming to power and letting the Jews leave the Soviet Union.

https://youtu.be/VA9JyRWNLqg

The only prophecies I'm concerned about are the ones in The Bible. And given the number of scandals surrounding Perry Stone and the ridiculous claims he's made, it's hard for me to take anything he says seriously.

[SkyWarp]

So as I start to get into reading this book the VERY first thing that pops out at me is that Pyotr and Petra are from Kiev, USSR.  And Of course, Kiev is part of Ukraine now. 

I really don't remember much of anything from this book considering I am pretty sure I last read it back in 1990.  I am pretty sure I have never read this one again since.  I am actually really interested in it.  I am just a chapter into it, so hopefully it holds up to my expectations. 

[MacGyver]

I particularly enjoy the chess scenes in this book!  

[CalvinKnox]

Just read this book again for the first time in a few years. It would probably rank somewhere among my top 20 casefiles.  For patriotic reasons I didn't really the portrayal of the main British villain.  The death toll is pretty high, and I can't recall any other books where two good guys get gunned down by machine gun in the actual text, rather than dying "off stage". 
Prince Charles, now King Charles III is also mentioned, which got me to thinking how the vast majority of HB books, from the last of the original texts, all the way to the Undercover Brothers and Adventures series, were all written when the UK (and other Commonwealth realms) had Elizabeth II as head of state.

[tomswift2002]

Just read this book again for the first time in a few years. It would probably rank somewhere among my top 20 casefiles.  For patriotic reasons I didn't really the portrayal of the main British villain.  The death toll is pretty high, and I can't recall any other books where two good guys get gunned down by machine gun in the actual text, rather than dying "off stage". 
Prince Charles, now King Charles III is also mentioned, which got me to thinking how the vast majority of HB books, from the last of the original texts, all the way to the Undercover Brothers and Adventures series, were all written when the UK (and other Commonwealth realms) had Elizabeth II as head of state.

Well she was on the throne for 3/4 of a century, the longest of any British monarch.  Even before that, the Hardy's were written under George V, Edward VIII and George VI.

[MysteryFan89]

Okay, whoever wrote this book didn't know that Kiev, USSR is now Kiev, Ukraine. I'm pretty sure the wall came down in 1990. Maybe I'm messed up on dates, but no one uses that term anymore. KGB, I think is the FSB now.