Dan Simmons is an American science fiction and horror writer. Born on April 4, 1948, he is renowned for his works such as the Hyperion Cantos and the Ilium/Olympos cycles. His writing often spans the genres of science fiction, horror, and fantasy, with some novels intermingling these genres. Notably, his genre-blending novel Song of Kali (1985) won the World Fantasy Award.

Simmons also writes mysteries and thrillers, featuring recurring characters such as Joe Kurtz.