- Danny Dunn and the Anti-Gravity Paint
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Danny Dunn and the Anti-Gravity Paint Author(s) Raymond Abrashkin, Jay Williams Illustrator Ezra Jack Keats Series Danny Dunn Genre(s) Science Fiction Novel Publication date 1956 Followed by Danny Dunn on a Desert Island Danny 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.
Contents
Plot
Through a mishap in Professor Bulfinch's laboratory, Danny accidentally creates an anti-gravity paint. In time, the government constructs a spaceship which uses the paint as a propulsion system. The spaceship is launched prematurely after Danny and Joe follow Professor Bulfinch and Dr. Grimes on a tour of the ship. A mechanical failure dooms the four to a trip out of the Solar System unless they can repair the ship. Should they fail in this, they will drift too far from the Sun and freeze to death.
Current Science
The book was published in 1956, one year before the start of the Space Age. It explores the aspects of actual space exploration versus science fiction. Danny's teacher, in an effort to get him to stop daydreaming about space adventures, punishes him by making him write repeatedly "Space travel is at least one hundred years away". After his teacher congratulates Danny for his spaceflight, he gives her the punishment assignment which he worked on while on board, and she humbly says she will keep it as a souvenir.
Editions
McGraw-Hill
- (Paperback, 1956, illustrated by Ezra Jack Keats)
- (Hardback, 1956, illustrated by Ezra Jack Keats)
- (Hardback, 1959, illustrated by Ezra Jack Keats)
Archway Books
- (Paperback, 1979, #7 in their series)
Pocket Books
- (Paperback, 1983 reissue, illustrated by Ezra Jack Keats)
References
- "Space-Boy". The New York Times. November 18, 1956. http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F70C12F635591B7B93CAA8178AD95F428585F9. Retrieved November 15, 2010.
- "Books Illustrated by Keats". Ezra Jack Keats Foundation. http://www.ezra-jack-keats.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=71&Itemid=63. Retrieved November 15, 2010.
Danny Dunn novels by Raymond Abrashkin and Jay Williams Danny Dunn and the Anti-Gravity Paint (1956) • Danny Dunn on a Desert Island (1957) • Danny Dunn and the Homework Machine (1958) • Danny Dunn and the Weather Machine (1959) • Danny Dunn on the Ocean Floor (1960) • Danny Dunn and the Fossil Cave (1961) • Danny Dunn and the Heat Ray (1962) • Danny Dunn, Time Traveler (1963) • Danny Dunn and the Automatic House (1965) • Danny Dunn and the Voice from Space (1967) • Danny Dunn and the Smallifying Machine (1969) • Danny Dunn and the Swamp Monster (1971) • Danny Dunn, Invisible Boy (1974) • Danny Dunn Scientific Detective (1976) • Danny Dunn and the Universal Glue (1977)Categories:- 1956 novels
- Danny Dunn
- American children's novels
- American science fiction novels
- Children's novel stubs
- Science fiction novel stubs
- 1950s science fiction novel stubs
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