Rodman Philbrick is an American writer born on January 22, 1951, known for his novels for both adults and children. Some of his popular children's books include Freak the Mighty, Max the Mighty, and The Last Book in the Universe. He has also written mysteries and thrillers for adults.

Growing up on the New England coast, Philbrick worked as a longshoreman and boat builder. He spent many years writing mysteries and detective novels. His T.D. Stash series was twice nominated for best detective novel by the Private Eye Writers of America, which also selected his novel Brothers & Sinners as Best Novel in 1993.

Under the pen name William R. Dantz, Philbrick has explored the near-future worlds of genetic engineering and hi-tech brain control in books like Hunger, Pulse, The Seventh Sleeper, and Nine Levels Down.

Philbrick drew inspiration from the life of a boy who lived a few blocks away to write Freak The Mighty, an award-winning young-adult novel that has been translated into numerous languages.