Vernor Steffen Vinge (October 2, 1944 – March 20, 2024) was an American science fiction author and professor. He taught mathematics and computer science at San Diego State University. A pioneering figure in science fiction, Vinge was the first wide-scale popularizer of the technological singularity concept and among the first authors to introduce the idea of "cyberspace" in fiction. His work has been highly influential, earning him multiple Hugo Awards for his novels A Fire Upon the Deep (1992), A Deepness in the Sky (1999), and Rainbows End (2006), as well as his novellas Fast Times at Fairmont High (2001) and The Cookie Monster (2004).

Vinge's 1993 essay, "The Coming Technological Singularity", argues that exponential growth in technology will reach a point beyond which we cannot even speculate about the consequences. This concept has sparked widespread discussion and debate, solidifying his status as a visionary in both the scientific and literary communities.