Piers Anthony, born as Piers Anthony Dillingham Jacob in Oxford, England, is a renowned American author best known for his contributions to the science fiction and fantasy genres. He spent the initial years of his life in England before his family moved to Spain and later immigrated to the United States when he was six years old.

Anthony graduated from Goddard College in Vermont in 1956, the same year he married his wife, Carol Marble. After trying out various jobs, he joined the U.S. Army in 1957 for a steady income and medical insurance. During his service, he became an editor and cartoonist for the Battalion newspaper. In 1958, he acquired U.S. citizenship and left the army in 1959 to teach public school briefly before committing to writing full-time.

He is most celebrated for his long-running novel series set in the fictional realm of Xanth, with many of his books landing on The New York Times Best Seller list. Anthony takes pride in having published a book starting with every letter of the alphabet, ranging from Anthonology to Zombie Lover. Currently, he resides with his wife on a tree farm he owns in Florida.