Raymond E. Feist, born Raymond Elias Gonzales III, on December 21, 1945, is an acclaimed American author of fantasy fiction. He is best known for his series The Riftwar Cycle, which encompasses numerous novels and short stories. Feist's works have been translated into multiple languages, amassing over 15 million copies sold globally.

Feist is a Southern Californian by birth and resides in San Diego by choice. He pursued his education at the University of California, San Diego, earning a B.A. in Communication Arts with Honors in 1977. It was during this time he conceived the idea for a novel about a boy who becomes a magician, which he later wrote and published in 1982 under the title Magician.

In his personal life, Raymond E. Feist is an enthusiast of fine wine, DVDs, and books, particularly those on biographies, history, and American Professional Football. He continues to live in San Diego with his children.