Altough the Casefiles ended, it's possible that some got made into digests. The Criss Cross Crime is a certain one, and there's still a debate on wether Training For Trouble is. It is possible some others were made into digests. So what I perpose it that some Casefile fans start reading the digests and see if any other Casefiles escaped the series ending by being made into digests. I have already started and here are may results so far:
Unlikley to be Casefiles published as digest:
-No Way Out (digest about the missing maze creator, not the casefile)
-End Of Trail (unless I start seeing some action very soon, this is probily just a digest. Too bad, from the back cover it looked like a likey canidate)
-The London Desception (Unlikly, unless they were going to make and digest like casefile, like Mission: Myhem)
Could be...but not sure, or Now Reading:
-I want to read In Plane Sight again, cause I remeber quite a few fist fights, however, I'm not sure...
-I'm also trying to finnish Danger In The Exterime, so far it looks like a normal digest, but I may have to re-read cause I was very tried when I read some of the book.
-Daredevils I'm also reading. I'm only at the second chapter though.
Needs to be read:
-Wreck N' Roll (a review I read critzied it for "pointless violance". If the reviewer had neaver read a casefile, witch have a ton of violance, then he could have thought the high amounnt of violance was pointless.) Sadly my libary does not have this book, so I'm hoping another member can find it.
If anyone can help me, I'd appreate it. Just rember, when the book was changed to a digest, it could have been edited to eather:
-Remove Casefile excuive characters
-Edit out some violance
-Change the writing style a bit
-or, if there was only a plot summery, the book could have been complety chnaged into a digest format.
I've got Wreck 'N' Roll in my own personal library. I read it when it first came out and I remember that it was a poorly written book. The plot didn't even make any sense. As it turned out it was the rock band's manager that was causing all the trouble to try and amp up publicity so that the band would resign with her when their contract ended.
That's off the list!
Also, you might want to think about limiting the search to Digests mostly published from January 1998 onwards, since if you started to read Digests from the 1979-1984 era when the Stratemeyer Syndicate was still running the series you would find tons of fist fights and violence more at the level that was in the classic series than what was in the Casefiles series, even though Revenge of the Desert Phantom & The Skyfire Puzzle are both Casefiles pilots.
Quote from: tomswift2002 on October 29, 2008, 06:23:22 PM
Also, you might want to think about limiting the search to Digests mostly published from January 1998 onwards, since if you started to read Digests from the 1979-1984 era when the Stratemeyer Syndicate was still running the series you would find tons of fist fights and violence more at the level that was in the classic series than what was in the Casefiles series, even though Revenge of the Desert Phantom & The Skyfire Puzzle are both Casefiles pilots.
I am, I'm reading digests that came after the casefiles.
Oh yeah, plese look at the reading leavel. The main suspects are books with reading leavels of Grade 7 (maybe grade 6), witch should narrow down our search.
I've changed my mind about end of the trail. I read the rest of the book and altough it was slow at the start the action picked up very quickly, and soon the Hardys got into a ton of fights. The same can be said with Revenge Of The Desert Phantom, and we know that book is in casefile format. So End Of The Trail is a possiblity. Unforently, I didn't look at the reading level, so until someone does, it's on the Could be...but not sure list.
Danger In the extrime I have finnished, and I'm perty sure it's a digest. Unless, it was suppoed to be a digest like casefile.
Quote from: Dinosaur Dan on November 08, 2008, 03:18:50 PM
I've changed my mind about end of the trail. I read the rest of the book and altough it was slow at the start the action picked up very quickly, and soon the Hardys got into a ton of fights. The same can be said with Revenge Of The Desert Phantom, and we know that book is in casefile format. So End Of The Trail is a possiblity. Unforently, I didn't look at the reading level, so until someone does, it's on the Could be...but not sure list.
Danger In the extrime I have finnished, and I'm perty sure it's a digest. Unless, it was suppoed to be a digest like casefile.
#162
The End Of The Trail: Reading Level: 5.2 (roughly the reading level of a 5th Grader around October)
#152
Danger In The Extreme: Reading Level: 7.2 (Minstrel Edition); Ages 8-12 (Aladdin Edition).
Quote from: tomswift2002 on November 09, 2008, 03:00:41 PM
#162 The End Of The Trail: Reading Level: 5.2 (roughly the reading level of a 5th Grader around October)
Hmmmm, that's strange, to me it seemed like a level 7, hmmmmmm. Then again, I'm pertty sure some of the digest like casefiles, Mission: Myhem for example would get the same rating. How do they decide reading leavels?
Quote from: Dinosaur Dan on November 09, 2008, 05:44:22 PM
Hmmmm, that's strange, to me it seemed like a level 7, hmmmmmm. Then again, I'm pertty sure some of the digest like casefiles, Mission: Myhem for example would get the same rating. How do they decide reading leavels?
Well, that's the level that is on the back of the book.
i only read passport to danger wreck n roll, no way out ,motorcycle
madness and some others which i cant remember
Yeah, but how do they decide the reading levels?
They have a realy big wheel that they spin.
C'mon Big Levels Big Levels!
Yes! Clues brothers #5 got a collage reading level!
I'd like to buy a grade 11
I'm sorry there are no 11th graders on the puzzle.
Oh man, hey can I use this free spin now?
Sure. *Nzone spins wheel.*
AHH MAN! Why do we even have a bankrupt on the board?
*Nzone's book company goes out of business.*
Ohh no. Time for our next contestant.
(In high-pitched voice, wearing wig)
It's me, Positive Area
Plese spin Positive Area.
YEAH I'M GOING TO DISNEYWORLD I'M GOING TO DISNEYWORLD! Wait, I have to get a level first ... um, level 6?
There are 6 level 6s.
*Oliva puts them up on the board*
YEAH! YEAH! *Joba fist pump* Um, I'd like to buy a level. Are there any 7's?
Yes there are 20 level 7s. Would you like to solve the puzzle?
Um, Grade 6-9?
Quote from: NZone on November 26, 2008, 05:51:13 PM
Yeah, but how do they decide the reading levels?
When the manuscripts for books are sent to the publisher they are usually scanned into a computer and then in a document publishing program the editors will usually have the Readability statistics activated so that the computer can give them a grade level per chapter and then they add those up, divide them by the chapters, and get the grade level that is seen on the outside of the book. Except, now instead of having to do that, the publisher just slaps on Ages 8-12 and that covers that part from being looked at too heavily.
You can activate the Readability Statistics in Microsoft Word or Corel Wordperfect or whatever word publishing program you are using at home. Just look in the Help menu under "Flesh-Kincaid Reading level" or "Readability Statistics" to find out how to activate your Readability Statistics.
Quote from: 003Robin457 on November 26, 2008, 07:10:54 PM
There are 6 level 6s.
*Oliva puts them up on the board*
ROTFLOL!
Hey Olivia, you got Vanna White's job! 8) :D
What? Okay, as long as I get the final say on my wardrobe and my pay. In addition, one of the clauses on my contract states that I get regular breaks from fake-smiling for hours on end. And I don't have to talk to the contestants if I don't want to. I'll fake it a little for the cameras though.
Well, I'm borrowing several digests from the libary in a few weeks, so I might find some others. I'm reading in Plane Sight, as that's a possible canidate. If anyone else could read some digests that came after the casefiles, that would be good.
Here are some suggestions for some good Digests that were published between 1997 and 2005.
#188 Farming Fear
#143 The Giant Rat of Sumatra
#147 Trial and Terror
#153 Eye on Crime
#152 Danger In the Extreme
#158 The London Deception
#159 Daredevils
#160 A Game Called Chaos
#163 The Spy That Never Lies
#166 Past and Present Danger
#165 Crime In the Cards - this is a really good book if you are into Pokemon or Magic cards
#170 Kickoff To Danger
#172 Trouble In Warp Space
#175 Trick-Or-Trouble - great Hallowe'en read
#181 Double Jeopardy
#182 The Secret of The Soldier's Gold
#186 Hidden Mountain
Do you know if any have a grade 7 reading leavel? Or if any have a lot of action.
I have read:
Danger In the Extreme
The London Deception
And both in my opion were not suppoesed to be Casefiles, I'm reading Daredevils, and I have it and Trouble in warp space.
Here are some suggestions for some good Digests that were published between 1997 and 2005 (S&S discontinued putting the reading levels on the books with #171. So the last Hardy Boys book with the Flesch-Kincaid level on the back cover is #170.)
#188 Farming Fear - the Hardys spend Christmas vacation at Chet and Iola's grandparent's farm, that just happens to be located outside of Bayport (this is one thing that S&S tried to sneak into the series without the fans realizing it, so you have to ask what happened to the Morton farm, since this book seems to indicate that the farm that we have grown to love actually belongs to Chet's grandparent's). While there, the Hardys get trapped in the Morton barn during a blizzard, that some one tries to torch.
#143 The Giant Rat of Sumatra 5.4
#147 Trial and Terror 5.8 - but the Hardys do help the courts figure out if a defendant is guilt of trying to murder his ex-girlfriend, who is also soap opera actress, and the only evidence is a small piece of pink enamel.
#153 Eye on Crime 6.3 - in this book Frank, Joe, Callie and Iola all get accused of robbing a number of jewllery stores in Bayport.
#159 Daredevils - 6.2 - there are a couple of scenes with TNT and explosives that they would use on a TV/Movie set. And the Hardys do come close to getting blown up.
#160 A Game Called Chaos 6.2 - this has more hi-tech crime than any other Digest. The only other Digest that comes close is #106 Attack of the Video Villains, but even then the Hardys are investigating cheating at a videogame competition. But with this book, the Hardys actually find out who kidnapped a computer programmer. The story in this book more closely follows the events of Casefile #86 Virtual Villainy.
#163 The Spy That Never Lies 5.0 - Bayport's installed a bunch of high-tech security camera's, and now those camera's are starting to malfunction and take some not so right pictures.
#166 Past and Present Danger 5.0 - story is in the same style as Casefiles #18 A Killing In The Market. Extremely personal Aunt Gertrude story, dealing about a former lover who has come back into her life, and has danger following him.
#165 Crime In the Cards - this is a really good book if you are into Pokemon or Magic cards - 5.2
#170 Kickoff To Danger 4.9 - Tony Prito, Biff Hooper and Phil Cohen each get knocked around pretty bad in this story, so bad that Phil ends up in a coma.
#172 Trouble In Warp Space (book just lists Ages 8-12) - Chet gets shot at, with a real bullet, on the set of a sci-fi show, that is eerily similar to the real-life show Star Trek Enterprise.
#175 Trick-Or-Trouble - great Hallowe'en read - plus a showdown on a very ratty and old train trestle, plus Joe nearly gets his head knocked into his hands by an old windmill blade.
#181 Double Jeopardy - Frank and Joe are at the Formula One race in Indianaopolis. One of the racers lands in the hospital, while another racers garage gets torched. Joe even gets into the seat of an out-of-control Formula One car that has no brakes.
#182 The Secret of The Soldier's Gold - this is in the vein of Casefiles #127 Dead In The Water, with the Hardys searching for a buried WWII treasure. But this book is better than DITW, and a lot better than The Secret of Pirate's Hill. If I were to guess at the Flesch-Kincaid level of this book, I would have to pin it at no lower than 6.8, and no higher than 7.5.
#186 Hidden Mountain - the Hardys have to escort a new friend to a hidden government installation, all the while being trailed by two hired assassins who have orders to kill the Hardy's friend and their family, along with all the other Witness Protection Program families being kept at this top secret location. And when the Hardys get there, the government won't let them leave.
Looks like these books are the best bet:
Hidden Mountain
Trial and Terror (as there is attemped murder)
A Game Called Chaos
Trouble In Warp Space
Daredevils
Ps. Secret Of Stigma Seven (another digest) seems to have been based off Star Wars, juging by the cover.
Quote from: Dinosaur Dan on March 12, 2009, 06:22:37 PM
Trial and Terror (as there is attemped murder)
Yes, three infact
Quote
Ps. Secret Of Stigma Seven (another digest) seems to have been based off Star Wars, juging by the cover.
You judged correctly.
I'm still not sure about End Of The Trail, as the book is very violent. However,I'll have to let that one go until someone searches and finding evidence that is was based of a casefile plot summery, since all other apects seem to be digest like, and unlike Training For Trouble there is no extrime violance.
Hidden Mountain seems a good possilbity of being a digest based off a casefile plot summery.
Quote from: Dinosaur Dan on March 13, 2009, 05:16:59 PM
I'm still not sure about End Of The Trail, as the book is very violent. However,I'll have to let that one go until someone searches and finding evidence that is was based of a casefile plot summery, since all other apects seem to be digest like, and unlike Training For Trouble there is no extrime violance.
I remember that when
End of the Trail came out in 2000, a lot of Hardy Boys fans were wondering if Simon & Schuster was actually going to "axe" the series right there, since the title was so ominus for a Hardy Boys title.
Trouble in Warp Space is defently just a digest, the first mentions Ioa a ton of times. However, I'm still going to read it as as it is awsome!
Spoiler about Trouble In Warp Space
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I thought that the scene at the end with Frank and Joe fighting the bad guy on the starship bridge was pretty good, and sounded like it might've fit right into a Star Trek episode; just like The Enemy Within where the "evil" Kirk is fighting with crewmembers on the bridge.
I'm reading Trail and Terror right now, and it seems like it could have been plained to be a casefile. The story has a darker theme then most Digests, and there are some Casefile like scenes.
Quote from: Dinosaur Dan on June 21, 2009, 10:46:16 AM
I'm reading Trail and Terror right now, and it seems like it could have been plained to be a casefile. The story has a darker theme then most Digests, and there are some Casefile like scenes.
I finished this one not to long ago....it was really good.
Quote from: Lola on June 21, 2009, 07:02:39 PM
I finished this one not to long ago....it was really good.
Do you think it might have been planned to be a casefile before the casefiles ended?
It might've been, but you have to remember that the book was published a month before Casefile #127 Dead In The Water was released. So, when you are talking about dates, while Trial And Terror may have a Casefiles feel to it, until we can find authoratative proof that the book was intended as #133 or if it was even intended for the Casefiles series.
But it might also be interesting to check the ISBN numbers of the Digests and Casefiles for those years, just to see which ISBN number came first and all that. I know that a lot of people have figured that with the Tom Swift Young Inventor series, due images that were originally released by Simon & Schuster, and also the ISBN numbers on the book, we can guess that Simon & Schuster originally planned for Robot Olympic's[/i] to be #1 in the series before Into The Abyss, but then for whatever reason S&S changed the series order.
It might be intersting to see if the ISBN's for, say volumes 136-166 (Digest) and 110-127 (Casefiles), go in some sort of order, or if a series of books contains some anamoulous ISBN numbering.
Here you go, I found something quite interesting:
Casefiles
127. 0-671-56242-8
126. 0-671-56125-1
125. 0-671-56241-X
124. 0-671-56124-3
123. 0-671-56122-7
Digests
The Mark of the Blue Tattoo: 0671000586
Trial and Terror: 0671000594
Training For Trouble: 0671047582
At least three of the possible Casefiles turned into digests have the same first four numbers as the Casefiles (0-671) , oddly, Crisscross Crime does not.
Crisscross Crime: 0606134646
Now, let?s look at one of the last digests:
The Dangerous Transmission: 0689863780
tomswift2002, what do you think this means? I?m puzzled.
The first four numbers identify the publisher. I've seen the 0-671 prefix on Hardy Boys, Tom Swift, Nancy Drew and Star Trek (both Adult and Children's lines) for most books printed in the 1990's.
Now then here are the ISBN's for TSYI as an example:
1. 1-4169-1518-4
2. 1-4169-1361-0
3. 1-4169-1751-9
4. 1-4169-3488-X
5. 1-4169-3643-2
6. 1-4169-3644-0
As you can see, the ISBN for #2, Robot Olympics was applied for and granted way before the ISBN for #1, Into The Abyss, most likely meaning that 'Olympics' was written as the introductory book, but was later switched.
Even in the 90's Tom Swift series we can assume, based on ISBN's, the Time Bomb was originally meant to come out in December 1992, rather than August 1992, and was to take place after Mutant Beach and Mayhem in Motion/Rigged For Revenge because TB has ISBN 0-671-75661-3, compared to MB's 0-671-75657-5.
And between the different series you can usually tell which books were applied for, since you might find a Hardy Boys that ends in67889, and a Star Trek that ends in 67890 (last digit is not important).
But here's something that will add to the confusion: in the late 80's through the mid-90's S&S would assign a new ISBN to a book whenever it went through the printers for a reprint.
That's interesting what you say about The Robot Olympics, Trevor. When I read that one, I thought it would have been better as the first book, considering it takes place in Tom's hometown, and describes the supporting cast in greater detail than Into the Abyss did.
Quote from: SDLagent on June 22, 2009, 03:25:15 PM
That's interesting what you say about The Robot Olympics, Trevor. When I read that one, I thought it would have been better as the first book, considering it takes place in Tom's hometown, and describes the supporting cast in greater detail than Into the Abyss did.
You should also realize that editors may originally think that one story may work well to introduce a new series but then realize that for beginning book the pacing is too slow, so they'll pull another one up to the top spot hoping the faster paced story will draw people to the series.
Or sometimes it may be that 2 out of 3 books take place in a foreign location (ie Germany), while the third takes place in the characters hometown. In which case it might be easier if the first book has a mention at the end of the characters boarding a plane for a return home, to have that as the second book, while the third might say that the characters are staying a little while longer. Then the third book might appear before or after the character's trip.
I know that on TV shows, sometimes when they are doing 2 or 3 part episodes, the guest cast may not be available for 2 or 3 straight weeks, but may be available over 4 to 6 weeks. So what the producers tend to do is schedule and produce the parts on the weeks the guests are available, and then do other episodes on the weeks in between. That leads to 2-part episodes not being, say, 48 & 49, but 48 & 51, but airing one after the other.
Here's two qoutes that some of you might find interesting:
"After the Casefiles series was canceled, leaving the remaining unbought-published books a destiny of bargain bins, several stories (in various stages of completion) were revised and made into Digests." from: http://web.archive.org/web/20060318042439/www.hardy-boys.com/bg/9/bg_9_4.html
"After the demise of the Casefiles series, some unused manuscripts from that series were recycled for use in the digest series." from: http://hardyboys.bobfinnan.com/hbpb.htm
It seems that the Criss-Cross Crime was not the only Casefile turned into a digest after all. Now if only we could find out what the other ones were, Training For Trouble certainly fits the bill, as it has:
-Several scenes with blood, including Joe getting stabbed.
-Frank and someone else being chased by a gunman.
-A cliffhanger where Joe asks "Frank, am I dieing?"
Also, Ioa has very little desciption, and could have replaced Vannesa when the book was changed from a Casefile to a digest. Don't forget the 7.5 reading level.
I now think Danger In The Extreme could have been based off a Casefile plot summery, as the plot does seem like something out of a Casefile, and it does have a high reading level. However the writing and the some of the action is highly digest like.
Quote from: Santa Claus on October 29, 2008, 06:14:46 PM
I've got Wreck 'N' Roll in my own personal library. I read it when it first came out and I remember that it was a poorly written book. The plot didn't even make any sense. As it turned out it was the rock band's manager that was causing all the trouble to try and amp up publicity so that the band would resign with her when their contract ended.
Wreck and Roll gets:
2.4
(Weakling) from my Book Rating System.
Hope this'll help you, Dinosaur Dan!