Hardy Boys Survey Results

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Hardy Boys Survey Results
As of February 21, there have been 47 responses.

1) How old are you?: Less than 18 years old - 36% (17)
Over 45 years old - 19% (9)
25-34 years old - 19%(9)
35-44 years old - 17% (8)
19-24 years old - 9% (4)
2) Which character do you prefer - Frank or Joe?: Frank - 75% (35 votes)
Joe - 23% (11 votes)
No response - 2% (1)
3) Among the other characters, who is your favourite?: Chet - 22 votes
Mr. Hardy - 11 votes
Tony - 5 votes
Aunt Gertrude - 4 votes
Phil Cohen - 3 votes
Sam Radley - 1 vote
Biff - 1 vote
4) What is your favourite Hardy Boys series?: Grosset & Dunlap Hardcovers - 66% (31 votes)
Casefiles - 32% (15 votes)
Simon & Schuster Paperbacks - 2% (1 vote)
5) What is your favourite Hardy Boys book?: The House on the Cliff - 4 votes
Dead On Target (Casefiles) - 3 votes
The Tower Treasure - 3 votes
The Crisscross Shadow (Original) - 2 votes
The Missing Chums - 2 votes
The Mystery of Cabin Island (Original) - 2 votes
The Phantom Freighter - 2 votes
The Sinister Signpost - 2 votes
ONE VOTE FOR:
At All Costs, The Clue of the Broken Blade, Brother Against Brother, The Disappearing Floor, A Figure in Hiding (Original), Hunting for Hidden Gold (revised), The Lazarus Plot (Casefiles), The Mystery of the Chinese Junk, Perfect Getaway (Casefiles), Screamers (Casefiles #72), Secrets of the Nile (Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys SuperMystery), The secret trapdoor clue mystery :], The Shore Road Mystery, Thick as Thieves (Casefiles), What Happened at Midnight, Dead of Night (Casefile #80), Wild Wheels, Mystery Of The Chinese Junk, Secret of Skull Mountain (Original)
None in particular - 8
6) What, in your opinion, is the worst Hardy Boys book?: The Melted Coins - 4 votes
The Secret Agent on Flight 101 - 3 votes
The Mystery of the Chinese Junk - 2 votes
ONE VOTE FOR:
The Short-Wave Mystery, The Witchmaster's Key, The Short Wave Mystery (Revised), Campaign of Crime, The Mysterious Caravan, The Missing Chums, Shock Jock (Casefiles), The Haunted Fort, Poison Paradise, Danger on Vampire Trail, Power Play (Casefiles #50), The Viking's Revenge (Casefiles #124), "Any of the Casefiles", "Anything written by J. Button", "All books written after the mid 1960's are bad."
No reply - 23
7) Have you ever watched the Hardy Boys TV series that premiered in 1977?: Yes - 60% (28)
No - 40% (19)
8) Have you ever watched the Hardy Boys TV series that premiered in 1995?: No - 62% (29)
Yes - 38% (18)
9) Why do you think the Hardy Boys books are so popular?: "They are (or were at one time) well written, exciting adventures that weren't too far from the realm of possibilities of the young reader."

"They are exciting and easy to read."

"Because they represent to the average male youth the ultimate: two brothers who have freedom, money, fly, a boat, ice boat, their own ham radio station (which inspired me many years ago to get my ham license) and solve mysteries. Plus it is just plain fun!"

"Easy to read, Young persons [who] are smart, daring, etc."

"Easy to read, well written mystery stories."

"Adventure and mystery. These appeal to young boys (and even us older ones). Also, the fact they have been updated through the years keeps them alive with newer generations. Also, the way the books are designed that each chapter ends with a "cliffhanger" that make you want to keep reading."

"The stories are so exciting. I think that Franklin Dixon is one of the best mystery writers of all time."

"BECAUSE THEY CAN DO MANY THINGS THAT AVERAGE KIDS CAN'T DO, SUCH AS SOLVING MYSTERIES ALL OVER THE WORLD. THEY ARE CHARACTERS THAT KIDS ASPIRE TO BE LIKE. AND FRANK AND JOE ARE ALSO VERY INTELLIGENT, LIKEABLE, AND FRIENDLY. WHO WOULDN'T WANT TO BE THEIR FRIEND?"

"I think people like them because they are so believable. I like them because they are so realistic and educational."
-HardyBoy

"They have an interesting life ("school is called off for a boiler explosion--Great! Let's solve a mystery!) They never age, they're independent, resourceful, brave and adventurous!"

"Clearly defined consistent descriptions good series flow and timeless."

"It's not completely unrealistic and a lot of fun."

"They Are So COOL!!!!!"

"It's the life that most young boys want to lead adventure, excitement, respect of peers and parents, car/motorcycle/boat/iceboat/plane, good friends and girlfriends, good looks, intelligence, skill with technology and science, and (evidently) unlimited funds. Who wouldn't love all that?"

"For me, it is the nostalgic visit to simpler times. As a boy, it was the adventure and the idyllic life led by the brothers. I wanted real life to be like that. I reread them now, as an adult, to momentarily recapture my lost youth and innocence."

"They're just good books."

"They are kids just like you and me."

"Because they have a lot of action and they are smart."

"Nostalgia."

"I don't know. When I was really "into" them while a kid, it was "uncool" to read the Hardy Boys. They seem to be making a nostalgic comeback with older readers."

"They're fun to read and they get to do things that we all wished we could get away with."

"Easy to read, fun"

"I THINK THAT THE HARDY BOYS BOOKS ARE POPULAR BECAUSE THEY ARE FULL OF MYsTERY AND SUSPENSE!"

"They esacpes for kids and even adults. People can live the exciting lives that they don't have in reality. For kids, seeing other kids traveling around the world is a dream come true."

"I feel they are fun to read. Also the relationship of the brothers is well writen."

"because there are millions of coppies avalable to anyone"

"damn good read great atmosphere wish we lived in Bayport"

"Young boys like mystery and adventure stories. Frank and Joe are older boys who young readers idolize. The books that I grew up on written from the late 1930's to the mid 1960's were suspenseful and generally well written."

"because they are easy to read; because a 6 year old can even understand them"

"The Hardy Boys are the most famous detectives of the 20th. century. They're right next to Sherlock Holmes. I just love reading them."

"Because the authors are creative. They make the story full of suspense."
10) Any other comments?: "The revised stories are an abomination."

"I don't like the revised versions at all."

"Nice web site!" (Thanks!)

"Love this web page!" (Thanks again!)

"My grandfather introduced me to the Hardy Boys when I was real young. To me, Frank and Joe will always be a part of my life in that I feel I grew up with them. Someday when I'm married and have kids, I plan on introducing them to the Hardy Boys."

"I love the Hardy Boys casefiles books. They are directed toward older kids like myself. I plan to collect them all."

"IF THE PUBLISHERS HAVE THEIR WAY, THE HARDY BOYS MAY SOON BE JUST A DISTANT MEMORY. I THINK FANS OF THE SERIES SHOULD CONTACT THE PUBLISHERS AND LET THEM KNOW JUST HOW IMPORTANT THE HARDY BOYS ARE TO MANY PEOPLE."

"Hardy Boys are great!!! I don't think there was ever a better series."
-Hardy Boy

"Being female, I really enjoy the series, much better than any Nancy Drew stories. Frank and Joe do occasionally fight (being brothers they would) it gives it a much more realistic feel."

"I've heard a lot of bashing of the revised stories. I'm 31, and these are the stories I knew and loved as a boy. I have now read and appreciated the originals, but the revised blue covers will always be my favorites."

"Thank you for sharing your interest with others! It's good to know I'm not alone in cherishing this connection to my childhood."

"I like the Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys Supermystery series the best and you should add it to your website!!!!!!!!"

"A reading America is recalled....unfortunately it is gone forever!!!"

"Nice website"

"I WOULD LOVE TO SEE THE HARDY BOUS TV SERIES PREMIERRED IN 1977!"

"I always wanted to see Frank Hardy and Nancy Drew get together. And I always hoped that some day Iola Morton would be discovered alive, as per "The Lazarus Project"

"I am a big fan and own over 150 books. I hear that there ending some of the Hardy Boy's series and am disappointed. I love the casefiles and hoped they would change their minds."

"I have read them all"

"Leslie MacFarlane ghosted books are generally the best written."

"I think the Hardy Boys need another character in the story."

"I have been reading them all since I was about 6 or 7. The first one I ever read was The Mystery of the Chinese Junk. Please inform me of any books from any of the series that you might have for sale or someone you know of that has some for sale. Contact me at phs113@lex1.k12.state.sc.us"

"the books are just plain great"

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Page was last updated on Sunday February 22, 1998 at 17:34:54