Janusz Andrzej Zajdel (15 August 1938 – 19 July 1985) was a Polish science fiction author, second in popularity in Poland to Stanisław Lem.

[2] He published a number of academic works, handbooks of safety regulations, as well as educational and popular science texts.

[1][2] By 1982 he had published four more collections: Przejście przez lustro (Through the Mirror, 1975); Iluzyt (1976); Feniks (The Phoenix, 1981); and Ogon diabła (The Devil's Tail, 1982).

[2] His first serious science-fiction novel was a "first contact"-type SF mystery, Prawo do powrotu [pl] (Right of Return, 1975); but it was his novels of the late 1970s and early 1980s – Cylinder van Troffa (Van Troff's Cylinder, 1980); Limes inferior (The Lower Limit, 1982); Cała prawda o planecie Ksi (The Whole Truth about Planet Xi, 1983); Wyjście z cienia [pl] (Out of the Shadows, 1983); and Paradyzja (Paradise: World in Orbit, 1984) – that earned him a reputation as one of the most important Polish science-fiction writers.

[2] Over time, a theme became increasingly visible in his works - a concern over dangers inherent in attempts to control the human society.

[2] His works are also recognized as being a critique of the totalitarian, communist state, a reality of his life in People's Republic of Poland.

[2][4][7] He has been an inspiration to a number of younger Polish science fiction authors such as Maciej Parowski and Marek Oramus.

[4] In 1973 Zajdel received an honorary award Magnum Trophaeum from the Młody Technik (Young Technician) magazine for long-term cooperation.

[8] In 1980 Zajdel received the Polish Ministry of Culture and Arts Best SF Book of the Year Award for Van Troff's Cylinder.