John Brunner (1934-1995) was born in Preston Crowmarsh, Great Britain. He is the author of over one hundred books, including the Hugo Award-winning Stand on Zanzibar, as well as The Jagged Orbit, The Sheep Look Up, The Shockwave Rider, A Maze of Stars, and The Compleat Traveller in Black. In addition to writing mystery, science fiction, and fantasy novels, he was a linguist and translator and served as an officer in the Royal Air Force.