Robert Rankin is a prolific British author known for his comedic fantasy novels. He was born on 27 July 1949 in Parsons Green, London. Rankin began his writing career in the late 1970s and achieved bestseller status with Snuff Fiction in 1999. By then, his previous eighteen books had already sold around one million copies.

His novels often blend elements of science fiction, fantasy, the occult, urban legends, running gags, metafiction, steampunk, and feature outrageous characters. Rankin refers to his unique style as 'Far Fetched Fiction,' in an effort to establish a dedicated section for his works in bookshops.

Many of Rankin's books are set in Brentford, a suburb of London where he grew up. These narratives frequently involve alien conspiracies and ancient evil. During the 1980s, he served as the Writer in Residence at Brentford's Watermans Arts Centre and organized what he claims was Britain's largest regular poetry event. He has also performed on stage with various bands.

Rankin's fan club, The Order of the Golden Sprout, named after his obsession with the vegetable, maintains a website and arranges events, particularly in Brentford. In 2009, he was recognized as the first Fellow of The Victorian Steampunk Society for his contributions to the genre.

Rankin is currently residing in Brighton with his wife, Dr. Rachel Hayward-Rankin. In 2012, he republished his first 23 novels (up to Fandom of the Operator) on Kindle, under his publishing enterprise, Far Fetched Books, with new cover artwork, thus reaching a wider audience.