James Henry Schmitz was a German-American science fiction writer, born on October 15, 1911 in Hamburg, Germany, to American parents. Aside from two years spent at business school in Chicago, Schmitz lived in Germany until 1938, leaving just before World War II broke out in Europe in 1939.

During World War II, Schmitz served as an aerial photographer in the Pacific for the United States Army Air Corps. After the war, he and his brother-in-law operated a business manufacturing trailers until they dissolved the company in 1949.

Schmitz is best known for his works in the science fiction genre, particularly his space operas and strong female characters, such as Telzey Amberdon and Trigger Argee, who broke the mold of the "damsel in distress" stereotype that was prevalent in science fiction at the time.