Eric S. Nylund is an American novelist and professional technical writer, born on November 12, 1964. He is renowned for his contributions to science fiction, notably the Halo universe. Nylund holds a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from the University of California, Santa Barbara, and a Master's degree in Chemical Physics from the University of California, San Diego.

He resides in North Bend, Washington, with his wife, Syne Mitchell, who is also a science fiction writer, and their son, Kai Nylund.

Eric Nylund is best known for authoring three novels set in the Halo universe: Halo: The Fall of Reach, Halo: First Strike, and Halo: Ghosts of Onyx. He also contributed a short story to Halo: Evolutions and the graphic novel Halo Wars: Genesis.

In addition to his work in the Halo universe, Nylund is employed as a writer for Microsoft Game Studios, where his responsibilities include developing story bibles, preparing marketing materials, and coordinating with various departments within Microsoft.

During the 1990s, Nylund was hired by Microsoft to assist in rewriting and editing portions of Microsoft's multi-media encyclopedia. His collaborations include several novels based on Microsoft-published games, including the Crimson Skies series, co-written with Eric S. Trautmann.

Beyond his work with Microsoft, Nylund has written several original novels, including Signal to Noise, A Signal Shattered, and Dry Water. He is also the author of Mortal Coils and its sequel, All That Lives Must Die, which are the first two books in a proposed five-book series.