Roger Joseph Zelazny was an American fantasy and science fiction writer known for his short stories and novels, most notably The Chronicles of Amber. He was born on May 13, 1937, in Euclid, Ohio, and passed away on June 14, 1995, in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

Zelazny was a prolific author, celebrated for his ability to create new worlds with plausible magical systems, powers, and supernatural beings. His captivating descriptions of magical events in his imagined worlds set his works apart from those of his contemporaries.

He won the prestigious Nebula Award three times and the Hugo Award six times, with notable works including the serialized novel ...And Call Me Conrad, later published as This Immortal, and Lord of Light. His novel Lord of Light features a character named Sam, who reinvents Buddhism as a vehicle for political subversion on a colony planet.

Zelazny's career was also marked by his excellent short stories, including A Rose for Ecclesiastes, where a poet strives to convince dying and sterile Martians that life is worth continuing.

He studied at the Western Reserve University, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in English, and later attended Columbia University, where he earned a Master of Arts specializing in Jacobean and Elizabethan theater.

Despite his many standalone books, Zelazny is also known for creating series, most notably The Amber Chronicles, which explores the ruling family of a Platonic realm.