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Danny Dunn #9
Danny Dunn and the Voice from Space
Professor Bullfinch has created a radio telescope ("dish") for the government which will try to determine if extraterrestrials are trying to contact Earth. When Danny sneaks into the observatory, he hears non-random sounds coming from space. He then must figure out how to translate the sounds.
The observatory described in the book is similar to the real life SETI project!
The observatory described in the book is similar to the real life SETI project!
139 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1965
3 people are currently reading
68 people want to read
About the author
Jay Williams
154 books41 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author by this name in the Goodreads database.
Jay Williams (May 31, 1914–July 12, 1978) 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. Between 1931 and 1934 he attended the University of Pennsylvania and Columbia University where he took part in amateur theatrical productions.
Out of school and out of work during the end of the Depression, he worked as a comedian on the upstate New York Borscht Belt circuit. From 1936 until 1941, Jay Williams worked as a press agent for Dwight Deere Winman, Jed Harris and the Hollywood Theatre Alliance. And even though he played a feature role in the Cannes prize winning film, The Little Fugitive produced in 1953, he turned his attention to writing as a full time career after his discharge from the Army in 1945. He was the recipient of the Purple Heart. While serving in the Army he published his first book, The Stolen Oracle, in 1943.
Williams may be best-known for his young adult "Danny Dunn" science fiction/fantasy series which he co-authored with Raymond Abrashkin. Though Abrashkin died in 1960, he is listed as co-author of all 15 books of this series, which continued from 1956 until 1977. Jay Williams also wrote mysteries for young adults, such as The Stolen Oracle, The Counterfeit African, and The Roman Moon Mystery.
In all, he published at least 79 books including 11 picture books, 39 children's novels, 7 adult mysteries, 4 nonfiction books, 8 historical novels and a play.
Williams and his wife Barbara Girsdansky were married June 3, 1941. They had a son, Christopher ("Chris"), and a daughter, Victoria. Jay Williams died at age 64 from a heart attack while on a trip to London on July 12, 1978.
Jay Williams (May 31, 1914–July 12, 1978) 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. Between 1931 and 1934 he attended the University of Pennsylvania and Columbia University where he took part in amateur theatrical productions.
Out of school and out of work during the end of the Depression, he worked as a comedian on the upstate New York Borscht Belt circuit. From 1936 until 1941, Jay Williams worked as a press agent for Dwight Deere Winman, Jed Harris and the Hollywood Theatre Alliance. And even though he played a feature role in the Cannes prize winning film, The Little Fugitive produced in 1953, he turned his attention to writing as a full time career after his discharge from the Army in 1945. He was the recipient of the Purple Heart. While serving in the Army he published his first book, The Stolen Oracle, in 1943.
Williams may be best-known for his young adult "Danny Dunn" science fiction/fantasy series which he co-authored with Raymond Abrashkin. Though Abrashkin died in 1960, he is listed as co-author of all 15 books of this series, which continued from 1956 until 1977. Jay Williams also wrote mysteries for young adults, such as The Stolen Oracle, The Counterfeit African, and The Roman Moon Mystery.
In all, he published at least 79 books including 11 picture books, 39 children's novels, 7 adult mysteries, 4 nonfiction books, 8 historical novels and a play.
Williams and his wife Barbara Girsdansky were married June 3, 1941. They had a son, Christopher ("Chris"), and a daughter, Victoria. Jay Williams died at age 64 from a heart attack while on a trip to London on July 12, 1978.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
September 6, 2014
I would have expected that I didn't read this as a kid (much like DESERT ISLAND, "an AUTOMATIC HOUSE", who cares?") and yet, the moment I started I knew that I had.
This is another strong entry, which is surprising given the unpromising root conceit (I mean, they just traveled in TIME, for godsakes!) and is a consistently fun and funny read. Partly, this is due to William's growing skill's as a kid's dialogue writer (Danny and friends are bright, without being quippy) and, unexpectedly, as a solid builder and deployer of slapstick scenarios (the house spinning around like a carousel, Mrs. Dunn "scuttled" from underfoot). Also, the addition of a visiting character helps: Irene's 3 year old cousin Emmet who's a strange little Swee'Pea Oyl/Sunny Baudelaire type figure with a hypersonic scream (some funny moments with this), unintelligible to anyone except Irene and absolutely fixated on Joe.
This time, it's all robots, servomechanism and automation, as Danny is able to brainstorm an expansion of the Professor's very basic new invention, the "scuttler", into a new exhibit demanded by Midston University trustee Mr. String, who wants a flashy scientific invention at the science fair to get the college noticed (the more things change). And, the kids sneak into the completed house to experience it before anyone else and get locked in...
Grace notes: Nice to see Mrs. Dunn get more to do than just bake cookies (while observing her cooking in the kitchen, Danny thinks "My mother is a kind of research scientist of dinners"!) as she and the Professor discuss Le Corbusier's "A house is a machine for living" motto and her general distrust of automation:
“But gee, Mom,” Danny said, “you wouldn’t want to throw out all the new inventions would you? From what you said, it sounds as though you’d want to get rid of washing machines and freezers and all the rest.”
“No indeed. Those things are all useful tools. But I want them to be just that — tools I use, and nothing else. Things I run for my convenience, not things that run me.”
and
“Once you start trying to save work by putting in machines, you may find you’re spending all your time taking care of the machines and not getting any fun out of your work,” she said.
She was more right than she realized in 1965!
Also, following on the events of TIME TRAVELER, Prof. Bullfinch's house now has a back-story as a place where various scientists have lived through the ages. One also gets the feeling that the kids are slowly aging or at least becoming more mature. Joe writes and directs a successful play for school (Danny admires Joe's creative abilities as distinct from his own, Dr. Sundergard says “Science and art should always be friends”, and the book mentions Lewis Carroll and Georges Simenon's Jules Maigret) and, after they're trapped in the house, the moody poet shows uncharacteristic calm at their situation because, scared as he is, he doesn't want to upset little Emmet who looks up to him! Regarding this, Dr. Richards says “I’ve known young Dan for a good many years" so it's quite possible Williams is slowly maturing the characters - since Dan brainstormed the idea for the house, he even gets to sit in on the very adult University faculty meeting!
Irene, after being convinced by Dan to "unofficially" tour the automatic house, shows some insight as well:
"Irene squinched up her nose and peered at him through half-closed eyes. 'You know what?' she said. 'You’re a very persuasive boy. You’ll probably grow up to be a politician or a salesman, instead of a physicist.'"
God, let's hope not!
Finally, Professor Bullfinch almost sums up the entire rationale for the DANNY DUNN series when he says: "But in any case, I feel that the interest of children should be encouraged. They will be the men and women of the future. Surely you must realize how important it is to open the doors to them for research, for speculation, or the free play of their imagination?"
All in all, a bright, breezy entry!
This is another strong entry, which is surprising given the unpromising root conceit (I mean, they just traveled in TIME, for godsakes!) and is a consistently fun and funny read. Partly, this is due to William's growing skill's as a kid's dialogue writer (Danny and friends are bright, without being quippy) and, unexpectedly, as a solid builder and deployer of slapstick scenarios (the house spinning around like a carousel, Mrs. Dunn "scuttled" from underfoot). Also, the addition of a visiting character helps: Irene's 3 year old cousin Emmet who's a strange little Swee'Pea Oyl/Sunny Baudelaire type figure with a hypersonic scream (some funny moments with this), unintelligible to anyone except Irene and absolutely fixated on Joe.
This time, it's all robots, servomechanism and automation, as Danny is able to brainstorm an expansion of the Professor's very basic new invention, the "scuttler", into a new exhibit demanded by Midston University trustee Mr. String, who wants a flashy scientific invention at the science fair to get the college noticed (the more things change). And, the kids sneak into the completed house to experience it before anyone else and get locked in...
Grace notes: Nice to see Mrs. Dunn get more to do than just bake cookies (while observing her cooking in the kitchen, Danny thinks "My mother is a kind of research scientist of dinners"!) as she and the Professor discuss Le Corbusier's "A house is a machine for living" motto and her general distrust of automation:
“But gee, Mom,” Danny said, “you wouldn’t want to throw out all the new inventions would you? From what you said, it sounds as though you’d want to get rid of washing machines and freezers and all the rest.”
“No indeed. Those things are all useful tools. But I want them to be just that — tools I use, and nothing else. Things I run for my convenience, not things that run me.”
and
“Once you start trying to save work by putting in machines, you may find you’re spending all your time taking care of the machines and not getting any fun out of your work,” she said.
She was more right than she realized in 1965!
Also, following on the events of TIME TRAVELER, Prof. Bullfinch's house now has a back-story as a place where various scientists have lived through the ages. One also gets the feeling that the kids are slowly aging or at least becoming more mature. Joe writes and directs a successful play for school (Danny admires Joe's creative abilities as distinct from his own, Dr. Sundergard says “Science and art should always be friends”, and the book mentions Lewis Carroll and Georges Simenon's Jules Maigret) and, after they're trapped in the house, the moody poet shows uncharacteristic calm at their situation because, scared as he is, he doesn't want to upset little Emmet who looks up to him! Regarding this, Dr. Richards says “I’ve known young Dan for a good many years" so it's quite possible Williams is slowly maturing the characters - since Dan brainstormed the idea for the house, he even gets to sit in on the very adult University faculty meeting!
Irene, after being convinced by Dan to "unofficially" tour the automatic house, shows some insight as well:
"Irene squinched up her nose and peered at him through half-closed eyes. 'You know what?' she said. 'You’re a very persuasive boy. You’ll probably grow up to be a politician or a salesman, instead of a physicist.'"
God, let's hope not!
Finally, Professor Bullfinch almost sums up the entire rationale for the DANNY DUNN series when he says: "But in any case, I feel that the interest of children should be encouraged. They will be the men and women of the future. Surely you must realize how important it is to open the doors to them for research, for speculation, or the free play of their imagination?"
All in all, a bright, breezy entry!
July 15, 2023
A rather prescient story
In this book, Danny Dunn, Irene and Joe have an adventure with future technology along with a new companion, 5 year old Emmet. The help create a future home that foreshadows some current technologies like home entertainment systems, food preparation and robotic cleaning. It also foreshadows current concerns like the possibility of humans being replaced by machines.
In this book, Danny Dunn, Irene and Joe have an adventure with future technology along with a new companion, 5 year old Emmet. The help create a future home that foreshadows some current technologies like home entertainment systems, food preparation and robotic cleaning. It also foreshadows current concerns like the possibility of humans being replaced by machines.
November 7, 2021
Surprisingly fun if very dated book that is more about the three youngsters, plus a surprise guest, having adventures rather than science. The science is more domestic with robots and electronic appliances. Some of the ideas have come true, some misfired and a few might still happen. I'm looking forward to my robot butler.
The idea of a fair that featured science was quite popular for quite a few years as there were fairs all over the world for quite a few years including notable ones in London, New York and Chicago. It must have been quite fun to go to a world's fair and see all the modern gadgets. Now we can only read about them.
The idea of a fair that featured science was quite popular for quite a few years as there were fairs all over the world for quite a few years including notable ones in London, New York and Chicago. It must have been quite fun to go to a world's fair and see all the modern gadgets. Now we can only read about them.
June 3, 2021
I found this on the first floor of Hale Library, in the room where I had my MIT admissions interview, and now more time has passed since the fire than between the fire and that interview, if you can believe that.
Delightfully clever and imaginative, one might say.
Delightfully clever and imaginative, one might say.
February 2, 2021
I remembered the whole book
I read this book, oh, 25, 30 years ago, and yet I was surprised at all I remembered. There’s so many good bits here! It’s a lot of fun.
I read this book, oh, 25, 30 years ago, and yet I was surprised at all I remembered. There’s so many good bits here! It’s a lot of fun.
October 27, 2022
Pretty up to date for being over 50 years old. The automatic house has the equivalent of a Roomba and other current gadgets.
Read
October 21, 2016read in summer 1967
March 28, 2016
The Danny Dunn adventure stories that revolved around outer space have become quite dated, with everything that has gone into manned and unmanned space exploration in the intervening half-century.
This one, Danny Dunn and the Automatic House, is not space-related, but seems nearly as dated as those of space travel. I had forgotten the simplicity of the robot "Scuttler" and control systems, of push-button control panels that truly had physical buttons to push, and of punch-cards.
But in the story's defense, it has some awesome features: the interaction of recurring-character Joe with the newly-met Emmet is endearing; although Danny's rash decision is part of the dilemma, it is an accident that precipitates the real trouble, and the story is more about the people than ever before.
This one, Danny Dunn and the Automatic House, is not space-related, but seems nearly as dated as those of space travel. I had forgotten the simplicity of the robot "Scuttler" and control systems, of push-button control panels that truly had physical buttons to push, and of punch-cards.
But in the story's defense, it has some awesome features: the interaction of recurring-character Joe with the newly-met Emmet is endearing; although Danny's rash decision is part of the dilemma, it is an accident that precipitates the real trouble, and the story is more about the people than ever before.
January 17, 2018
These books are always entertaining and have genuinely funny parts (usually Joe’s lines). And how great is it to sit here 53 years after it was written and see how much of the “house of the future” the authors predicted has actually become a reality. One of my favorite things was the earliest use I’ve encountered of the phrase “Entertainment Center” and it describes something a lot like one today. (And the button to tune out commercials predated Tivo’s and DVR’s by decades.)
Read
October 4, 2007Williams, Jay and Abrashkin, Raymond
April 30, 2012
Cool idea for a kids book. Stuck in an automated house.
Read
April 25, 2017I loved all the Danny Dunn books as a kid. Really my first introduction to science fiction.
I have to admit, though, that what most stands out in my memory from this book, fifty years after I read it, is a pre-feminist discussion of an automatic kitchen.
I have to admit, though, that what most stands out in my memory from this book, fifty years after I read it, is a pre-feminist discussion of an automatic kitchen.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews