Max Gladstone is an American fantasy author renowned for his innovative and thought-provoking works. He burst onto the literary scene with his 2012 debut novel Three Parts Dead, which forms a part of The Craft Sequence. His unique blend of urban fantasy and legal thriller has captivated readers worldwide and garnered critical acclaim. Max has also co-authored the internationally bestselling book This Is How You Lose the Time War alongside Amal El-Mohtar.

Before his rise as a novelist, Max graduated from Yale University, majoring in Chinese literature, which has significantly influenced his storytelling. His experiences abroad are as diverse as his writing, having spent time teaching in Anhui, China, and engaging in various roles from translator to tech industry analyst.

Max's creative prowess extends beyond traditional novels to interactive fiction, with the XYZZY-nominated Choice of the Deathless and Deathless: The City's Thirst, which are set in the world of The Craft Sequence. He also created the Serial Box series Bookburners, and contributed to the interactive television series Wizard School Dropout.

His life is as adventurous as his novels; from being thrown from a horse in Mongolia to wrecking a bicycle in Angkor Wat, Max's personal anecdotes often find echoes in his rich, fantastical narratives. Notably, he has been honored with nominations for the Hugo, Nebula, and Locus Awards, marking him as a significant figure in contemporary speculative fiction.