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Danny Dunn #6
Danny Dunn and the Fossil Cave
The 11th title in the Danny Dunn scientific adventure mystery series for young adults in paperback form.
144 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1961
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77 people want to read
About the author
Jay Williams
159Ìýbooks41ÌýfollowersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author by this name in the Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ 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 - 17 of 17 reviews
August 7, 2014
So, here's the sixth Danny Dunn adventure, in which Danny, Irene, Joe, Professor Bullfinch and visiting Geologist Dr. Tresselt (who, if Mr. Turkle's illustrations are any indication, should have been played by Brian Keith or Brian Dennehy in a live-action adaptation) explore a cave in Sugarloaf mountain that Danny recently discovered, all the while learning all about Geology, Mineralogy and even Paleontology. Partly, this is to test out the Professor's newest invention, the C-Ray ("See"-Ray) which works like a radar or sonar but with radiation and can see through layers of rock. But, as usual, after a rock collapse and a sprained ankle, they find themselves trapped and must find a way out!
I definitely read this one as a kid because I'm almost certain this is the book that taught me what stalactite and stalagmites were. This, like the preceding OCEAN FLOOR, was an exceptional installment - it's a bit more sedately paced, as befits the subject matter, and there are moments where the prose really shines as the main characters stop to reflect on the deep silence and darkness underground, and the vastness of time. Much like OCEAN FLOOR, there's another scene where Danny beats himself up for his impetuous nature and The Professor and he have a calm discussion about how he's not completely to blame for their predicament.
In fact, that's one of the interesting grace notes in this book - the danger of the "absent minded scientist" (which, in a way, is the reverse of Danny's impetuousness). Dr. Tresselt has a tendency to get so absorbed in what he's looking at or discussing that he and Professor Bullfinch actually cause the rock-fall that traps the group, and later he wanders off into a side-cavern to examine fossils and has to be retrieved by the boys. Some other nice details: Irene has a charm bracelet with charms for all the branches of science, Joe's poetry serves as an aesthetic counterpoint/accompaniment to scientific investigation (Joe also references Wells' Morlocks at one point!) and the book rather soberly underlines how dangerous spelunking can be and how easy it is to get lost underground. The highlight in regards to this aspect is an excellent sequence where Danny impulsively rushes ahead down a side-tunnel which gets thinner and thinner until, wedging himself through a gap, he nearly steps off into the empty space of a 400 foot pit! He can tell how deep it is because he drops his flashlight and is forced to slowly work his way backwards to the group in pitch darkness! Excellent stuff!. Two good quotes follow:
***
“Boy! There are times when I get the feeling that science develops things that are supposed to be good for us, but that just make trouble.�
Dr. Tresselt’s blue eyes seemed to throw out sparks of amusement. “I know how you feel, Joe,� he said. “But my stars, boy, nobody can be alive and never have any trouble! Being alive is just meeting troubles every day and overcoming them. Just to stand up straight against the pull of gravity is a fight, isn’t it?�
****
“How quiet it is,� Danny said, digging in his knapsack for the canteen full of water he had brought. “You don’t realize how scary it is, having a whole mountain on top of you, until you’re in the dark as I was in that tunnel, or when you begin hearing the silence.�
“I didn’t know you could hear silence,� said Irene.
“Then just listen.�
They sat still, and Danny added, “Put out the flashlights for a minute.�
In the dark, they understood what he meant. All the familiar noises of the upper world were gone: the wind, the rustle of branches or leaves, the chirping of birds, the sounds of automobiles and doors slamming, and people laughing. There was nothing but the faint tinkle of droplets of water, each drop like a distant musical chime, and each one pursued by tiny echoes. Then, after such a note had sounded there would be a long and empty quiet in which they could hear their own breathing and the steady beating of their hearts. They found themselves straining their eyes to see something—anything—the slightest sign of light, but they could not even tell the difference between opening their eyes and shutting them.
Irene burst out suddenly, “Put on the lights!�
Danny let out his breath with a whoosh. They all snapped on their lamps, and as the welcome light flooded the chamber, he said, “It’s —it’s like being buried alive.�
“Don’t let’s try that experiment again,� Irene said, with a shiver. “I just hope we get out of here before our flashlights give out.�
I definitely read this one as a kid because I'm almost certain this is the book that taught me what stalactite and stalagmites were. This, like the preceding OCEAN FLOOR, was an exceptional installment - it's a bit more sedately paced, as befits the subject matter, and there are moments where the prose really shines as the main characters stop to reflect on the deep silence and darkness underground, and the vastness of time. Much like OCEAN FLOOR, there's another scene where Danny beats himself up for his impetuous nature and The Professor and he have a calm discussion about how he's not completely to blame for their predicament.
In fact, that's one of the interesting grace notes in this book - the danger of the "absent minded scientist" (which, in a way, is the reverse of Danny's impetuousness). Dr. Tresselt has a tendency to get so absorbed in what he's looking at or discussing that he and Professor Bullfinch actually cause the rock-fall that traps the group, and later he wanders off into a side-cavern to examine fossils and has to be retrieved by the boys. Some other nice details: Irene has a charm bracelet with charms for all the branches of science, Joe's poetry serves as an aesthetic counterpoint/accompaniment to scientific investigation (Joe also references Wells' Morlocks at one point!) and the book rather soberly underlines how dangerous spelunking can be and how easy it is to get lost underground. The highlight in regards to this aspect is an excellent sequence where Danny impulsively rushes ahead down a side-tunnel which gets thinner and thinner until, wedging himself through a gap, he nearly steps off into the empty space of a 400 foot pit! He can tell how deep it is because he drops his flashlight and is forced to slowly work his way backwards to the group in pitch darkness! Excellent stuff!. Two good quotes follow:
***
“Boy! There are times when I get the feeling that science develops things that are supposed to be good for us, but that just make trouble.�
Dr. Tresselt’s blue eyes seemed to throw out sparks of amusement. “I know how you feel, Joe,� he said. “But my stars, boy, nobody can be alive and never have any trouble! Being alive is just meeting troubles every day and overcoming them. Just to stand up straight against the pull of gravity is a fight, isn’t it?�
****
“How quiet it is,� Danny said, digging in his knapsack for the canteen full of water he had brought. “You don’t realize how scary it is, having a whole mountain on top of you, until you’re in the dark as I was in that tunnel, or when you begin hearing the silence.�
“I didn’t know you could hear silence,� said Irene.
“Then just listen.�
They sat still, and Danny added, “Put out the flashlights for a minute.�
In the dark, they understood what he meant. All the familiar noises of the upper world were gone: the wind, the rustle of branches or leaves, the chirping of birds, the sounds of automobiles and doors slamming, and people laughing. There was nothing but the faint tinkle of droplets of water, each drop like a distant musical chime, and each one pursued by tiny echoes. Then, after such a note had sounded there would be a long and empty quiet in which they could hear their own breathing and the steady beating of their hearts. They found themselves straining their eyes to see something—anything—the slightest sign of light, but they could not even tell the difference between opening their eyes and shutting them.
Irene burst out suddenly, “Put on the lights!�
Danny let out his breath with a whoosh. They all snapped on their lamps, and as the welcome light flooded the chamber, he said, “It’s —it’s like being buried alive.�
“Don’t let’s try that experiment again,� Irene said, with a shiver. “I just hope we get out of here before our flashlights give out.�
February 15, 2008
This book turned my onto Geology, my future college major. I received this book in a book-of-the-month club.
As far as I know, I read every Danny Dunn book.
As far as I know, I read every Danny Dunn book.
October 29, 2014
Read these as a kid, they are still wonderful.
September 9, 2020
One bonus star for a character named Professor Alvin Tresselt. Otherwise fairly routine story and characters.
February 3, 2011
The three friends - Danny, Irene and Joe - find a cave and with two adults along - one a geologist and one a science teacher, have a fun but semi-dangerous exploration of the cave. They find an amazing creature and come out with only minor injuries.
A great book for the younger set (maybe 7-12) interested in rocks and/or caves. The only thing that annoyed me (but young boys would probably enjoy) was the continuous lecturing about every little thing they found inside the cave. To me it was tedious and obvious but a boy might find it fascinating. This is part of a series - Danny and his friends have many adventures. It was written in 1967 and is still relevant today.
A great book for the younger set (maybe 7-12) interested in rocks and/or caves. The only thing that annoyed me (but young boys would probably enjoy) was the continuous lecturing about every little thing they found inside the cave. To me it was tedious and obvious but a boy might find it fascinating. This is part of a series - Danny and his friends have many adventures. It was written in 1967 and is still relevant today.
November 11, 2012
I've loved the Danny Dunn books since I was a kid. Had never seen "The Fossil Cave" until I stumbled upon it in a used book store last week.
The story has all of the usual Danny Dunn charm: kids and adults interacting sensibly, headstrong Danny, mopey Joe, smart Jill. This story seemed a bit heavy on the Danny might someday make a good scientist if he doesn't get killed first sort of vibe.
I was pleasantly surprised to see Seneca Caverns listed in the Author's Note about places to go explore caves.
The story has all of the usual Danny Dunn charm: kids and adults interacting sensibly, headstrong Danny, mopey Joe, smart Jill. This story seemed a bit heavy on the Danny might someday make a good scientist if he doesn't get killed first sort of vibe.
I was pleasantly surprised to see Seneca Caverns listed in the Author's Note about places to go explore caves.
December 3, 2017
I wanted to re-read a Danny Dunn story I read in grade school back in the 1900s, but my library didn’t have that one so I borrowed two others instead. I loved it. There’s humor and adults who treat kids with respect and a smart girl and all the best parts of caving without the cost (on the downside, I did feel claustrophobic when Danny was trapped and dropped his light).
Read
October 4, 2007Williams, Jay and Abrashkin, Raymond
April 25, 2021
The Danny Dunn adventure series for young adults is a good one for all ages, not just the target one. In this case, Danny has discovered a cave and having no light, decided to come back and explore it. Fortunately, geologist Dr. Tresselt is visiting Professor Euclid Bullfinch, Danny’s guardian. With Danny’s friends Irene Miller and Joe Pearson, the two professors and Danny set out to investigate the cave.
Their actions are a lesson in some of the features of caves, including what is normally found in one. There is some danger, but as is the case with young heroes, they manage to overcome all the difficulties and when they are lost, Danny comes up with the clue that allows them to find an alternate exit.
What is a bit different about this book is that Irene is portrayed as an effective member of the investigatory team. She is smart, capable and willing to follow the others into danger. That was not always the case in books published in the sixties. It is a fun read for people of all ages that enjoy basic adventure books and has aged well.
Their actions are a lesson in some of the features of caves, including what is normally found in one. There is some danger, but as is the case with young heroes, they manage to overcome all the difficulties and when they are lost, Danny comes up with the clue that allows them to find an alternate exit.
What is a bit different about this book is that Irene is portrayed as an effective member of the investigatory team. She is smart, capable and willing to follow the others into danger. That was not always the case in books published in the sixties. It is a fun read for people of all ages that enjoy basic adventure books and has aged well.
January 13, 2024
As someone who used to do a lot of caving, I enjoyed this book. It was definitely "educational" with things like in character explanations of how caves form and what stalactites are etc. but not too heavy handed about it. I liked the characters and there were negative consequences when the characters did something stupid. I can't stand books that tell kids that doing things that can get them killed (like being stupid in a cave) makes them brave or interesting. Our hero was impulsive and, well, acted very much like a little boy, but the results were realistic. He does get to save the day, as you no doubt guessed, but by being thoughtful and attentive and a little bit lucky. Definitely going to share this one with my little nephew.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 17, 2021
An OK read. But Dr. Tresselt, pro spelunker and guest egghead, can't walk 10 feet without being distracted and losing track of his surroundings and companions.
The magic-box invention develops a fault and it seems incredible that nobody notices. Irene supplies the unlikely repair-- she's implausibly good.
Still a fun read!
The magic-box invention develops a fault and it seems incredible that nobody notices. Irene supplies the unlikely repair-- she's implausibly good.
Still a fun read!
November 3, 2021
A solid entry in the series. I like the books where they go exploring. Oddly it did remind me a bit of reading the unabridged 20000 Leagues under the Sea in that there seemed to be a bit too nature description. I'm in the short and concise category I guess.
December 9, 2023
Follow Danny Dunn and his 2 friends, Irene and Joe, along with a science professor and a geologist as they explore a cave. They make some amazing discoveries but also encounter some dangers while in the cave.
May 9, 2025
Danny and his friends, along with Professor Bulfinch and his old friend friend Dr. Tresselt explore a local cave and make some surprising discoveries. This book is fun and somewhat educational.
December 14, 2020
Great adventure
My kids loved it. Great learning about caves, fossils, dinosaurs, and all sorts of little science lessons throughout these books.
My kids loved it. Great learning about caves, fossils, dinosaurs, and all sorts of little science lessons throughout these books.
August 13, 2010
Good book for kids 8 and up. Mystery.
March 12, 2012
I liked it a lot but there was some evolution.
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