Jay Williams

Born in Buffalo, New York, on May 31, 1914, Jay Williams was an American author and former actor who went on to write a remarkably large body of work, much of it for children. His fiction ranged across science fiction, fantasy, and historical adventure, and he also published mysteries under the name Michael Delving.

He is most closely associated with the Danny Dunn series, written with Raymond Abrashkin. Beginning with Danny Dunn and the Anti-Gravity Paint in 1956, the books introduced young readers to inventions, experiments, and future-facing ideas through fast-moving adventures. The series ran for fifteen books and became the work many readers remember him for best.

Williams also wrote many standalone novels, including The Stolen Oracle, UNIAD, and The People of the Ax. Reference sources describe his work as consistently good-natured, and that sense of curiosity and generosity helps explain why his books have stayed appealing long after their original publication. He died in London on July 12, 1978.