Richard Thomas Condon was an American political novelist known for his satirical and thriller works.

His writing style was distinctive, combining a fast pace, outrage, and frequent humor while exploring themes of monetary greed and political corruption. Condon himself said: "Every book I've ever written has been about abuse of power. I feel very strongly about that. I'd like people to know how deeply their politicians wrong them."

Though his works were satire, they were often transformed into thrillers or semi-thrillers in other media, such as cinema. Condon is best remembered for his 1959 novel The Manchurian Candidate and a series of four novels about a family of New York gangsters named Prizzi.

Condon's writing was marked by complex plotting and a fascination with trivia, with a noticeable loathing for those in power. Characters in his novels typically exhibit obsession, often sexual or political, and strong family loyalty. His plots often draw on elements of classical tragedy, with protagonists whose pride leads them to destroy what they love.

His humorous autobiographical work And Then We Moved to Rossenarra recounts various places where he lived and his family's move to Rossenarra, County Kilkenny, Ireland in the 1970s.

Before becoming a successful novelist, Condon served in the United States Merchant Marine and achieved moderate success as a Hollywood publicist, ad writer, and agent. He began writing in 1957 after leaving his job at United Artists, spurred by an extraordinary gesture from his boss who encouraged him to write a novel.