Michel Houellebecq (born Michel Thomas on 26 February 1956) is a French author known for his novels, poems, and essays. He has also ventured into acting, filmmaking, and singing. His first book was a biographical essay on the horror writer H. P. Lovecraft.

Houellebecq published his first novel, Whatever, in 1994. His subsequent novel, Atomised, released in 1998, earned him international fame and sparked controversy. This was followed by Platform in 2001. He is also known for his poetry, including The Art of Struggle published in 1996.

An offhand remark about Islam during a publicity tour for Platform led to legal trouble for inciting racial hatred, but he was cleared of charges. After living in Ireland for a few years, he returned to France, where he currently resides. In 2015, he was recognized as "France’s biggest literary export and, some say, greatest living writer."

His novel The Map and the Territory won the prestigious Prix Goncourt in 2010. The 2015 novel Submission sparked further controversy over its depiction of Islam. Most recently, his novel Annihilation was released in 2022.