William Tenn

Born Philip Klass in London on May 9, 1920, he became known to readers as William Tenn, a pen name he used for the satirical science fiction that made him famous. His family moved to New York when he was very young, and after serving in the U.S. Army during World War II, he began publishing fiction in the 1940s.

He became especially admired for short stories that mixed big speculative ideas with humor, skepticism, and a very human sense of folly. Readers and critics alike often point to his gift for satire, and he is also known for the novel Of Men and Monsters.

Later in life, he taught at Pennsylvania State University, where he was known not only as a writer but also as a teacher and mentor. He died on February 7, 2010, in Pennsylvania, leaving behind a body of work that still feels lively, witty, and surprisingly modern.