 |
William TennAmerican science fiction writer
Date of Birth: 09.05.1920
Country:  USA |
Content:
Biography of William Tenn
William Tenn, born as Philip Klass, was an American science fiction writer of British origin, known for his satirical works. He was born in London but moved to New York with his parents before his second birthday. He grew up in Brooklyn and was the eldest of three children. During World War II, Tenn served as a military engineer in Europe as part of the US Army Corps of Engineers. While there, he worked as a technical editor on military radar and in a radio laboratory, and later joined Bell Labs.
Early Writing Career
Tenn began writing in 1945, initially focusing on academic articles and essays before moving on to novellas and short stories. It was during this time that he was employed at Bell Labs, and his experience working on radar likely influenced his first work, the story "Alexander the Bait," in which one of the main characters explores the structure of the Moon using a powerful radar. The story was published in May 1946, and shortly after its release, the Signal Corps' radar was actually able to reach the Moon, turning Tenn's tale into reality. Another notable story, "Child's Play," depicts a lawyer creating people using a special construction set designed for children from the future. This story, published in Astounding Science Fiction, established Tenn as a promising young science fiction humorist.
Rise to Prominence
Throughout the 1950s, readers of Galaxy Science Fiction eagerly anticipated Tenn's new works in each issue. It was during this time that he wrote his most famous stories, including "Venus and the Seven Sexes," "Down Among the Dead Men," "Earth Liberation," "Time in Advance," and "On Venus, Have We Got a Rabbi?" In 1957, Tenn married Fruma Klass, and in the mid-1960s, they moved to State College, Pennsylvania. There, Tenn taught English and comparative literature at the State University, continuing his teaching career for twenty-four years. Many of his students went on to become professional writers, including Rambo author David Morrell, screenwriter Steven de Souza, and mystery author Ray Ring.
Later Life and Legacy
After retiring, Tenn and his wife relocated to a suburb of Pittsburgh near Lebanon Mountain in 1988. In the same year, Fruma Klass published her first story, "Before the Rainbow." In 2004, Tenn was a guest of honor at the World Science Fiction Convention "Noreascon 4" and an invited author at "Loscon 33" in Los Angeles. Most of Tenn's science fiction works were published under the pseudonym "William Tenn," while his non-fiction works were released under his real name. He was often confused with the well-known UFO debunker Philip J. Klass, as their names were similar and they were born only six months apart. However, Philip J. Klass passed away on August 9, 2005.
William Tenn himself passed away on February 7, 2010, from congestive heart failure. The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction describes Tenn as one of the most brilliant humorists in the history of science fiction.
