Diana Wynne Jones was a distinguished British novelist, poet, academic, literary critic, and short story writer. She was renowned for her fantasy and speculative fiction novels primarily targeted towards children and young adults. Her narrative style is characterized by the innovative use of fantasy elements, often interwoven with science fiction themes and a touch of realism. She skillfully explored themes such as time travel and parallel or multiple universes in her work.

Jones authored several acclaimed series including the Chrestomanci series, the Dalemark series, and the three Moving Castle novels, among which Dark Lord of Derkholm and The Tough Guide to Fantasyland are notably prominent. Her far-reaching influence extended to a generation of writers, with notable figures like Philip Pullman, Terry Pratchett, Penelope Lively, Robin McKinley, Dina Rabinovitch, Megan Whalen Turner, J.K. Rowling, and Neil Gaiman citing her as an inspiration. Gaiman, in particular, hailed her as "the best writer for children of her generation." Her literary contributions were recognized through multiple nominations for prestigious awards; she was a Hugo Award finalist twice, a Locus Award nominee fourteen times, a Mythopoeic Award nominee seven times, winning it twice, a British Fantasy Award winner in 1999, and a recipient of the World Fantasy Award in 2007.