Ernest William Callenbach was an American author, film critic, editor, and advocate for simple living. He was born on April 3, 1929, and passed away on April 16, 2012.

Callenbach became widely known for his internationally successful semi-utopian novel, Ecotopia, published in 1975. His work has had a significant influence beyond Northern California, where he was closely connected with a group of noted creative individuals.