Considered by many to be the "mother of Canadian Science Fiction", Phyllis Gotlieb is a well-known poet and has received a nomination for a Governor General Award, Canada's most prestigious literary honor. In 1982 she received Canada's Aurora Award for best novel for A Judgement of Dragons and for her lifetime contribution to Canadian SF&F.

She lives in Toronto with her husband, Calvin. Her first novel, Sunburst (Gold Medal 1964), provides the name for Canada's Sunburst Award.