William Tenn is the pen name of Philip Klass. He's written dozens of short stories, many essays, and has three collections in print from NESFA Press. He also taught English at Penn State for many years.
Phil has been ill and has been moved to various facilities. Fruma suggests sending cards and notes to:
Phil Klass
12 Hazel Dr.
Mt. Lebanon, PA 15228-2146
Nebula Toastmaster Harry Harrison and Author Emeritus Katherine MacLean chat with old friends Fruma and Phil Klass (William Tenn) at the 2003 Nebula Awards Weekend in Philadelphia.
William Tenn, Former SFWA President Sharon Lee
and her Husband Steve Miller Autograph at Boskone 40
Phil Klass was born in London on May 9, 1920, and immigrated to the United States with his
parents, settling in New York. He began writing in 1945 after being discharged from the Army,
and his first story, "Alexander the Bait," was published a year later. His stories and articles have been widely anthologized,
a number of them in best-of -the-year collections. He is a Professor Emeritus of English and Comparative Literature at The
Pennsylvania State University, where he taught, among other things, a popular course on science fiction.
In 1999, he was honored as Author Emeritus by the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America at their annual Nebula Awards Banquet.
Tenn is best-known as a satirist, and by works such as "On Venus Have We Got a Rabbi" and
"Of Men and Monsters."
Phil Klass has been married to Fruma since 1957. They live in suburban Pittsburgh. Their daughter, Adina, lives in eastern Pennsylvania.
A stage adaptation of "Winthrop Was Stubborn" was performed during
the 2006 Three Rivers Arts Festival. Post-Gazette review.
This Philip Klass is not the same the same person as Philip J. Klass, who debunked UFOs. To add to
the confusion, both Philip Klasses were born about the same time.
Philip J. Klass was the avionics editor of Aviation Week and Space
Technology for many years, and died in Florida on August 9, 2005.
