R.F. Kuang is a Chinese-American author of fantasy and science fiction. She is best known for her debut novel, The Poppy War, which won the 2019 Locus Award for Best First Novel. Kuang's work is heavily influenced by her Chinese heritage and her experiences as a Chinese-American. She is passionate about exploring the complexities of identity, colonialism, and war in her writing. Kuang is also an avid gamer and has a degree in East Asian Studies from Harvard University. Her writing has been praised for its vivid world-building and complex characters. Kuang is currently working on her next novel, The Dragon Republic, which is set to be released in 2020.