Willis Everett McNelly (December 16, 1920 – April 7, 2003) was an influential American literature professor and writer known for creating The Dune Encyclopedia, a 1984 companion to Frank Herbert's Dune series of science fiction novels. He earned a doctorate in English literature from Northwestern University and edited pioneering textbooks on science fiction. McNelly advocated for science fiction's recognition as a significant form of modern literature and established the science fiction section at Cal State Fullerton's Pollak Library. He wrote Frank Herbert's eulogy in 1986 but faced opposition in reprinting The Dune Encyclopedia from Herbert's heirs.