Thomas Ligotti is an American horror author born on July 9, 1953. He is known for his distinctive works in the realm of philosophical horror, often crafted into short stories and novellas that follow the tradition of gothic fiction. Ligotti's writings are heavily rooted in several literary genres, most prominently weird fiction, and are described by critics as both pessimistic and nihilistic.

Despite his significant contributions to the genre, he remains a reclusive literary cult figure, acknowledged by The Washington Post as "the best kept secret in contemporary horror fiction." Ligotti's ability to suggest horror in such a manner that it remains impactful even when left offstage has been praised by many critics.