John Keith Laumer was an American science fiction author whose career spanned multiple fields. Before dedicating himself to writing fiction full-time, he served as an officer in the United States Air Force and worked as a diplomat in the United States Foreign Service. These experiences in military and diplomatic service likely informed his science fiction work. Laumer came from a family of writers. His older brother March Laumer was also a writer, known for creating adult reinterpretations of the Land of Oz. His youngest brother Frank Laumer became a historian and writer as well, making the Laumer family notable for its literary contributions across different genres and fields.