Bob Shaw, born Robert Shaw, was an Irish science fiction author and fan noted for his originality and wit. He was two-time recipient of the Hugo Award for Best Fan Writer. His short story "Light of Other Days" was a Hugo Award nominee in 1967, as was his novel The Ragged Astronauts in 1987.

He was born and raised in Belfast. He and his wife and children left Northern Ireland for England in the 1970s, because they were worried about the political situation. Shaw was trained as a structural engineer, but also worked as a journalist and aircraft designer before turning to fiction writing.