Gyrdir Eliasson is one of Iceland’s Leading contemporary writers. His style has been described as ‘highly personal; a unique combination of lyrical fantasy and imaginative realism.’ He was nominated for the Nordic Council Literary Prize for Gula husid (The Yellow House), a collection of short stories published in 2000. He has also received the Icelandic Literary Prize and The Halldor Laxness Literary Prize.

Gyrdir's story 'The Water People' appears in Elsewhere.