Frank Herbert (8 October, 1920 – 11 February, 1986) was an American author known for his science-fiction masterpiece Dune, a Nebula and Hugo awards winner.

Rodney William Whitaker (12 June, 1931 – 14 December, 2005) was an author, educator, and film scholar. Mr. Whitaker wrote under several nom de plumes, but the most famous one was Trevanian.