José Luis Zárate Herrera is one of the most recognized and respected Mexican writers within the genre of science fiction, although he has also literary works of other genres. He has written essays, poetry, and narrative fiction, and is considered part of the late twentieth century movement in Mexican literature — noted for abandoning the prevailing nationalism in favor of more diverse and cosmopolitan themes. Zárate is one of the founding partners of the Mexican Association of Science Fiction and Fantasy and the Puebla Circle of Science Fiction and Scientific Disclosure. Both organizations are dedicated to celebrating and disseminating SFF throughout Mexico.

José Luis Zárate has won several national and international prizes, among which the Más Más Prize (1984), the Kalpa Prize (1992), the MECyF Prize (1998 and 2002) and the UPC Science Fiction Prize (2000).