William Tenn

William Tenn is the pseudonym for the science fiction work of Philip Klass (born May 9, 1920). Born in London, he and his parents moved to New York in the 1920s. He served in the United States Army during World War II and started writing fiction while working at Bell Labs. He was a professor of English at Penn State University from the mid '60s to the late '80s, though he does not have a college degree. He has written over 60 stories, mostly satires on social and business themes. Some of his best-known stories are "On Venus, Have We Got a Rabbi," "Alexander the Bait," (his first story, which he now considers his worst) "Child's Play", "Time in Advance", "Down Among the Dead Men" and "Venus and the Seven Sexes".

Related Topics:
Pseudonym - Science fiction - May 9 - 1920 - London - New York - United States Army - World War II - Bell Labs - Penn State University - Satire - Venus and the Seven Sexes

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He also wrote a number of essays, including "Mr. Eavesdropper," which was later collected in Best Magazine Articles, 1968. His essay and interview collection, Dancing Naked, was nominated for a Hugo Award for Best Related Book, 2004.

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Tenn was a Guest of Honor at the 2004 World Science Fiction Convention, and was named Author Emeritus by the Science Fiction Writers of America in 1999. He lives in suburban Pittsburgh with his wife Fruma Klass.

Related Topics:
World Science Fiction Convention - Science Fiction Writers of America - Pittsburgh

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William Tenn is not the UFO debunker Philip J. Klass, born about the same time and who died on August 9, 2005.

Related Topics:
UFO - Philip J. Klass

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