Mercedes Lackey

Mercedes Lackey (born June 24, 1950) is a prolific American author of fantasy novels for adults. Many of her novels and trilogies are interlinked and set in the world of Valdemar. Some disparage her books as being about 'talking horses', but she specialises in depicting a wide range of cultures and environments. Her Valdemar novels form a complex tapestry of interaction between human and non-human protagonists, with many different cultures and social mores.

There is a Mercedes Lackey fan group on Usenet and many people would like to 'play' in her worlds, but as she keeps a tight hold on her copyrights, no published fanfiction is allowed.

Her earlier novels are all solo projects, but later volumes in the Valdemar saga are illustrated by her husband Larry Dixon[?], and in her latest works he is also credited as co-author.

She is a protegee of Marion Zimmer Bradley, and got her start writing short stories in Bradley's story collections.