Steven Karl Zoltán Brust is a renowned American fantasy and science fiction author of Hungarian descent, born on November 23, 1955. He is celebrated for his intriguing series of novels featuring the character Vlad Taltos, an assassin from a minority group living in the fantastical world of Dragaera. His talents extend beyond literature; Brust is also an accomplished drummer and singer-songwriter, having recorded one solo album and two albums with the band Cats Laughing. In collaboration with other artists, he contributed to the musical works of Boiled in Lead.

Brust has been part of influential writers' groups such as The Scribblies, alongside authors like Emma Bull and Pamela Dean, and the Pre-Joycean Fellowship, an ensemble with a penchant for humorously critiquing modern literature. His political inclinations lean towards Trotskyism, enhancing the political narratives within his works.

His notable collaborations include co-authoring The Incrementalists (2013) and its sequel The Skill of Our Hands (2017) with Skyler White.