Elena Khaetskaya (pseudonyms: Daria Ivolgina, Yaroslav Khabarov, Madeline Simons, Elena Tolstaya, Vladimir Lensky, Douglas Brian, etc.) graduated from the Faculty of Journalism of Leningrad State University in 1986. She made her debut in science fiction with the fantasy novel Sword and Rainbow, published in 1993 under the pseudonym Madeline Simons imposed by the publishing house. The novel became a significant event and even gave rise to its own fan movement. In 1996, Khaetskaya already under her real name published the novel "The Conquerors," and in 1997 - her most significant works: the cycle of short stories "Mrakobes," awarded the Bronze Snail Prize as the best fantastic work of the year in the category "Medium Form," and the novel "Babylonian Chronicles."