Justin Cronin is an American author best known for his work in the genres of fiction and horror. He gained widespread recognition for his The Passage trilogy, which includes the novels The Passage, The Twelve, and The City of Mirrors. These books blend elements of science fiction and horror, exploring themes of survival and humanity in a post-apocalyptic world. In addition to his novels, Cronin has written several other works, including Mary and O'Neil, which won the Stephen Crane Award for First Fiction. He has also served as a professor of creative writing at Rice University, where he shares his expertise with aspiring writers.