L. Neil Smith was a libertarian science fiction author and political activist. He has authored numerous books, including the bestselling The Probability Broach and won the Prometheus award for best novel three times. Smith's writing is characterized by a libertarian perspective, which focuses on individual rights and free markets. His works often explore themes of individualism, self-reliance, and the struggle against government oppression. His writing has been praised for its strong characters and engaging narratives, as well as its incorporation of libertarian ideology. Smith was inducted Libertarian Futurist Society's Hall of Fame Award 2001. In addition to his writing, Smith has been active in libertarian politics, serving as the Arizona Libertarian Party's campaign manager in 1980 and running for President of the United States on the Libertarian Party ticket in 2000. He was born in Denver, Colorado and died in Fort Collins Colorado, his residence for the later part of his life, in 2021.