Danny Dunn
Encyclopedia
Danny Dunn is the name of a fictional character
and protagonist
of a series of juvenile science fiction
/adventure books written by Raymond Abrashkin
and Jay Williams
, in the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s. The stories were set in the fictional American town of Midston and featured characters who were interested in science and math.
Raymond Abrashkin suffered from paralysis, and died after the fifth book. Williams, however, insisted on Abrashkin being given co-author credit on the subsequent books as well, since he had been instrumental in constructing the series. Ezra Jack Keats
illustrated the first four novels in the series.
Fictional character
A character is the representation of a person in a narrative work of art . Derived from the ancient Greek word kharaktêr , the earliest use in English, in this sense, dates from the Restoration, although it became widely used after its appearance in Tom Jones in 1749. From this, the sense of...
and protagonist
Protagonist
A protagonist is the main character of a literary, theatrical, cinematic, or musical narrative, around whom the events of the narrative's plot revolve and with whom the audience is intended to most identify...
of a series of juvenile science fiction
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
/adventure books written by Raymond Abrashkin
Raymond Abrashkin
Raymond Abrashkin was an American writer best known for writing, co-producing, and co-directing the acclaimed movie, The Little Fugitive, and for co-creating and co-authoring the highly successful Danny Dunn series of science fiction books for children with Jay Williams.-Family:Raymond's parents...
and Jay Williams
Jay Williams (author)
Jay Williams was an American author born in Buffalo, New York, the son of Max and Lillian Jacobson. He cited the experience of growing up as the son of a vaudeville show producer as leading him to pursue his acting career as early as college...
, in the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s. The stories were set in the fictional American town of Midston and featured characters who were interested in science and math.
Raymond Abrashkin suffered from paralysis, and died after the fifth book. Williams, however, insisted on Abrashkin being given co-author credit on the subsequent books as well, since he had been instrumental in constructing the series. Ezra Jack Keats
Ezra Jack Keats
Ezra Jack Keats , Caldecott-winning author of The Snowy Day, was one of the most important children's literature authors and illustrators of the 20th Century....
illustrated the first four novels in the series.
Characters
- Professor Euclid Bullfinch, a researcher at the fictional Midston University. The professor was also a musician who played the bass viol (also known colloquially as the "bull fiddle"). He is plump and somewhat bald.
- Teenager (some books depicted an elementary school setting) Danny Dunn, who would always get into complicated problems involving the professor's latest invention. Danny is looking forward to a career in science, and admires Professor Bullfinch as a mentor.
- Mrs. Dunn, Danny's widowed mother, who was a live-in housekeeperHousekeeper (servant)A housekeeper is an individual responsible for the cleaning and maintenance of the interior of a residence, including direction of subordinate maids...
for Professor Bullfinch. - Teenager Irene Miller, Danny's friend and next-door neighbor. Irene's father taught Astronomy at Midston University. Irene was particularly interested in biologyBiologyBiology is a natural science concerned with the study of life and living organisms, including their structure, function, growth, origin, evolution, distribution, and taxonomy. Biology is a vast subject containing many subdivisions, topics, and disciplines...
. - Teenager Joe Pearson, Danny's friend. Joe was the poetPoetA poet is a person who writes poetry. A poet's work can be literal, meaning that his work is derived from a specific event, or metaphorical, meaning that his work can take on many meanings and forms. Poets have existed since antiquity, in nearly all languages, and have produced works that vary...
of the group. He often functioned as an amusing sidekick to Danny, expressing bafflement at the complicated technology employed by Danny and the Professor. - Teenager Eddie (Snitcher) Phillips, rival of Danny
- Doctor A.J. Grimes, a friend of Professor Bullfinch introduced in the first book, Danny Dunn and the Anti-Gravity Paint. Grimes is a curmudgeonly figure, rarely taking the teenagers seriously, and often trying to antagonize the Professor. Doctor Grimes was also a musician who played the piccoloPiccoloThe piccolo is a half-size flute, and a member of the woodwind family of musical instruments. The piccolo has the same fingerings as its larger sibling, the standard transverse flute, but the sound it produces is an octave higher than written...
; he and Professor Bullfinch would on occasion play duets. Tall and lanky, he is in many ways a contrast to his friend Bullfinch.
Books
- Danny Dunn and the Anti-Gravity PaintDanny Dunn and the Anti-Gravity PaintDanny Dunn and the Anti-Gravity Paint is the first novel in the Danny Dunn series of juvenile science fiction/adventure books written by Raymond Abrashkin and Jay Williams. The book was first published in 1956 and originally illustrated by Ezra Jack Keats.-Plot:Through a mishap in Professor...
(1956) - Danny Dunn on a Desert IslandDanny Dunn on a Desert IslandDanny Dunn on a Desert Island is the second novel in the Danny Dunn series of juvenile science fiction/adventure books written by Raymond Abrashkin and Jay Williams...
(1957) - Danny Dunn and the Homework MachineDanny Dunn and the Homework MachineDanny Dunn and the Homework Machine is the third novel in the Danny Dunn series of juvenile science fiction/adventure books written by Raymond Abrashkin and Jay Williams. The book was first published in 1958 and originally illustrated by Ezra Jack Keats...
(1958) (Irene introduced) - Danny Dunn and the Weather MachineDanny Dunn and the Weather MachineDanny Dunn and the Weather Machine is the fourth novel in the Danny Dunn series of juvenile science fiction/adventure books written by Raymond Abrashkin and Jay Williams...
(1959) - Danny Dunn on the Ocean FloorDanny Dunn on the Ocean FloorDanny Dunn on the Ocean Floor is the fifth novel in the Danny Dunn series of juvenile science fiction/adventure books written by Raymond Abrashkin and Jay Williams. The book was first published in 1960.-Plot:...
(1960) - Danny Dunn and the Fossil CaveDanny Dunn and the Fossil CaveDanny Dunn and the Fossil Cave is the sixth novel in the Danny Dunn series of juvenile science fiction/adventure books written by Raymond Abrashkin and Jay Williams. The book was first published in 1961.-Plot:...
(1961) - Danny Dunn and the Heat RayDanny Dunn and the Heat RayDanny Dunn and the Heat Ray is the seventh novel in the Danny Dunn series of juvenile science fiction/adventure books written by Raymond Abrashkin and Jay Williams...
(1962) - Danny Dunn, Time TravelerDanny Dunn, Time TravelerDanny Dunn, Time Traveler is the eighth novel in the Danny Dunn series of juvenile science fiction/adventure books written by Raymond Abrashkin and Jay Williams. The book was first published in 1963....
(1963) - Danny Dunn and the Automatic HouseDanny Dunn and the Automatic HouseDanny Dunn and the Automatic House is the ninth novel in the Danny Dunn series of juvenile science fiction/adventure books written by Raymond Abrashkin and Jay Williams. The book was first published in 1965.-Plot introduction:...
(1965) - Danny Dunn and the Voice from SpaceDanny Dunn and the Voice from SpaceDanny Dunn and the Voice from Space is the tenth novel in the Danny Dunn series of juvenile science fiction/adventure books written by Raymond Abrashkin and Jay Williams...
(1967) - Danny Dunn and the Smallifying MachineDanny Dunn and the Smallifying MachineDanny Dunn and the Smallifying Machine is the eleventh novel in the Danny Dunn series of juvenile science fiction/adventure books written by Raymond Abrashkin and Jay Williams. The book was first published in 1969.-Summary:...
(1969) - Danny Dunn and the Swamp MonsterDanny Dunn and the Swamp MonsterDanny Dunn and the Swamp Monster is the twelfth novel in the Danny Dunn series of juvenile science fiction/adventure books written by Raymond Abrashkin and Jay Williams. The book was first published in 1971.-Plot introduction:...
(1971) - Danny Dunn, Invisible BoyDanny Dunn, Invisible BoyDanny Dunn, Invisible Boy is the thirteenth novel in the Danny Dunn series of juvenile science fiction/adventure books written by Raymond Abrashkin and Jay Williams. The book was first published in 1974.-Plot summary:...
(1974) - Danny Dunn Scientific DetectiveDanny Dunn Scientific DetectiveDanny Dunn Scientific Detective is the fourteenth novel in the Danny Dunn series of juvenile science fiction/adventure books written by Raymond Abrashkin and Jay Williams. The book was first published in 1976.-Plot introduction:...
(1976) - Danny Dunn and the Universal GlueDanny Dunn and the Universal GlueDanny Dunn and the Universal Glue is the fifteenth and final novel in the Danny Dunn series of juvenile science fiction/adventure books written by Raymond Abrashkin and Jay Williams. The book was first published in 1977.-Plot summary:...
(1977)
Albums
- Danny Dunn and the Homework Machine was turned into a musical children's album on Golden Records (Golden LP 239), with music composed by Julie Mandel.