Jay Williams

Jay Williams (1914-1978) was an American writer born in Buffalo, New York. He is best known for the Danny Dunn series, fifteen science-fiction adventures for young readers co-written with Raymond Abrashkin between 1956 and 1977, which introduced generations of children to inventions like antigravity paint and a homework machine. Williams also wrote historical novels, including Tomorrow's Fire and The Witches, and mysteries under the pseudonym Michael Delving, alongside nonfiction history books. A U.S. Army veteran of the Second World War who received the Purple Heart, he had earlier worked as a comedian in the Borscht Belt resort circuit. He died of a heart attack while in London.