William Tenn

Born Philip Klass in London in 1920 and raised in New York City, he became one of the most distinctive voices in mid-20th-century science fiction under the pen name William Tenn. He began publishing science fiction in the 1940s, and readers quickly noticed his gift for satire: his stories could be playful and absurd on the surface while taking a hard look at war, bureaucracy, fear, and wishful thinking.

He is especially remembered for short fiction that brought wit and bite to the genre, along with longer works including Of Men and Monsters and A Lamp for Medusa. After years as a working writer and editor, he also became a beloved teacher, helping shape later generations of science fiction writers through his long career at Penn State.

Tenn died in 2010, but his reputation has lasted because his fiction still feels lively and pointed. If you enjoy science fiction that is clever, funny, and a little mischievous, his work is easy to see as a lasting influence.