Helen Phillips is an American author of science fiction and horror novels. She is best known for her debut novel, The Need, which was a finalist for the 2020 Kirkus Prize and the 2020 British Fantasy Award. Phillips has also written several short stories, including "The Great God Pan Is Dead," which won the Shirley Jackson Award for Best Novelette. Her work has been praised for its imaginative and thought-provoking themes, as well as its exploration of the human condition. Phillips is a graduate of the University of California, Berkeley, and currently lives in Brooklyn, New York. She is an active member of the literary community, and her work has been featured in numerous publications, including The New Yorker, The Atlantic, and The Guardian.