Paolo Tadini Bacigalupi, born on August 6, 1972, is a prominent American writer renowned for his contributions to the science fiction and fantasy genres. His exceptional work has earned him numerous prestigious awards, including the Hugo, Nebula, John W. Campbell, Compton Crook, Theodore Sturgeon, and Michael L. Printz awards. He has also been a contender for the National Book Award.

Bacigalupi's captivating stories have graced the pages of eminent publications such as The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction and Asimov's Science Fiction. His thought-provoking nonfiction essays have been featured on Salon.com and in High Country News, with syndication across various newspapers including the Idaho Statesman, the Albuquerque Journal, and the Salt Lake Tribune.

His anthology, Pump Six and Other Stories, unveiled by Night Shade Books in 2008, showcases Bacigalupi's short fiction prowess. His first novel, The Windup Girl, also from Night Shade Books, achieved remarkable acclaim, securing the Hugo, Nebula, and John W. Campbell Memorial Awards in 2010, and was heralded by Time as one of the Top 10 Books of 2009. The book's impact resonated internationally, winning awards such as the Seiun Award in Japan, The Ignotus Award in Spain, The Kurd-Laßwitz-Preis in Germany, and the Grand Prix de l’Imaginaire in France.

His foray into young adult literature was equally successful with Ship Breaker, published by Little, Brown in 2010, which garnered the Michael L. Printz Award and was a finalist for the National Book Award for Young People's Literature. Its sequel, The Drowned Cities, was celebrated as a 2012 Kirkus Reviews Best of YA Book, a VOYA Perfect Ten Book, and a finalist for the 2012 Los Angeles Times Book Prize. The series concluded with Tool of War, further cementing Bacigalupi's status as a significant voice in young adult fiction.