John Eric Holmes
Encyclopedia
John Eric Holmes, M.D. (February 16, 1930 – March 20, 2010), was a former associate professor
of neurology
at the University of Southern California
School of Medicine, an author and promoter of fantasy role-playing games
, a noted fan and enthusiast of Edgar Rice Burroughs
, and an American
writer of non-fiction
, fantasy
and science fiction
. His writings appeared under his full name and under variants such as Eric Holmes and J. Eric Holmes.
Holmes's non-fiction relates to both his chosen profession and the role-playing game phenomenon. He was a one-time editor of the Dungeons & Dragons
Basic Set
RPG rule book. His fantasy consists of a series set in a D&D-influenced world, including four short stories and one novel, while his science fiction includes two pastiche
s of the Pellucidar
novels of Edgar Rice Burroughs and the Buck Rogers
novel
Mordred.
The first of his Pellucidar pastiches, Mahars of Pellucidar was authorized by the Burroughs estate, but it reportedly blocked his follow-up novel, Red Axe of Pellucidar. Ready for publication in 1980, it only saw print thirteen years later in a private printing. A planned third novel in the series remained unwritten.
Other writing projects included two unfinished novels, one a collaboration with Burroughs' son John Coleman Burroughs
, whom he helped treat for Parkinson's disease, and the other a "Conan the Barbarian
" novel contracted and paid for by Tor Books
but later canceled.
Holmes was a regular guest at Burroughs fan conventions such as the Edgar Rice Burroughs Chain of Friendship (ECOF). He received its Lifetime Achievement Award for his Burroughs pastiches at ECOF '93 in Willows, California
. He was slated to appear as Guest of Honor at 2004's ECOF Convention in Sacramento, California
, but suffered a stroke and was unable to attend. He was a special guest at the June 2005 ECOF in Portland, Oregon
.
Professor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
of neurology
Neurology
Neurology is a medical specialty dealing with disorders of the nervous system. Specifically, it deals with the diagnosis and treatment of all categories of disease involving the central, peripheral, and autonomic nervous systems, including their coverings, blood vessels, and all effector tissue,...
at the University of Southern California
University of Southern California
The University of Southern California is a private, not-for-profit, nonsectarian, research university located in Los Angeles, California, United States. USC was founded in 1880, making it California's oldest private research university...
School of Medicine, an author and promoter of fantasy role-playing games
Role-playing game
A role-playing game is a game in which players assume the roles of characters in a fictional setting. Players take responsibility for acting out these roles within a narrative, either through literal acting, or through a process of structured decision-making or character development...
, a noted fan and enthusiast of Edgar Rice Burroughs
Edgar Rice Burroughs
Edgar Rice Burroughs was an American author, best known for his creation of the jungle hero Tarzan and the heroic Mars adventurer John Carter, although he produced works in many genres.-Biography:...
, and an American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
writer of non-fiction
Non-fiction
Non-fiction is the form of any narrative, account, or other communicative work whose assertions and descriptions are understood to be fact...
, fantasy
Fantasy
Fantasy is a genre of fiction that commonly uses magic and other supernatural phenomena as a primary element of plot, theme, or setting. Many works within the genre take place in imaginary worlds where magic is common...
and science fiction
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
. His writings appeared under his full name and under variants such as Eric Holmes and J. Eric Holmes.
Writing career
Dungeons & Dragons
Dungeons & Dragons is a fantasy role-playing game originally designed by Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson, and first published in 1974 by Tactical Studies Rules, Inc. . The game has been published by Wizards of the Coast since 1997...
Basic Set
Dungeons & Dragons Basic Set
The original Dungeons & Dragons Basic Set boxed set was first published by TSR, Inc. in 1977, and comprised a separate edition of the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, distinct from the first edition of the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons game, which was initially published in the same...
RPG rule book. His fantasy consists of a series set in a D&D-influenced world, including four short stories and one novel, while his science fiction includes two pastiche
Pastiche
A pastiche is a literary or other artistic genre or technique that is a "hodge-podge" or imitation. The word is also a linguistic term used to describe an early stage in the development of a pidgin language.-Hodge-podge:...
s of the Pellucidar
Pellucidar
Pellucidar is a fictional Hollow Earth milieu invented by Tarzan creator Edgar Rice Burroughs for a series of action adventure stories. In a notable crossover event between Burroughs' series, there is a Tarzan story in which the Ape Man travels into Pellucidar.The stories initially involve the...
novels of Edgar Rice Burroughs and the Buck Rogers
Buck Rogers
Anthony Rogers is a fictional character that first appeared in Armageddon 2419 A.D. by Philip Francis Nowlan in the August 1928 issue of the pulp magazine Amazing Stories. A sequel, The Airlords of Han, was published in the March 1929 issue....
novel
Novel
A novel is a book of long narrative in literary prose. The genre has historical roots both in the fields of the medieval and early modern romance and in the tradition of the novella. The latter supplied the present generic term in the late 18th century....
Mordred.
The first of his Pellucidar pastiches, Mahars of Pellucidar was authorized by the Burroughs estate, but it reportedly blocked his follow-up novel, Red Axe of Pellucidar. Ready for publication in 1980, it only saw print thirteen years later in a private printing. A planned third novel in the series remained unwritten.
Other writing projects included two unfinished novels, one a collaboration with Burroughs' son John Coleman Burroughs
John Coleman Burroughs
John Coleman "Jack" Burroughs was an American illustrator known for his illustrations of the works of his father, Edgar Rice Burroughs.-Life:...
, whom he helped treat for Parkinson's disease, and the other a "Conan the Barbarian
Conan the Barbarian
Conan the Barbarian is a fictional sword and sorcery hero that originated in pulp fiction magazines and has since been adapted to books, comics, several films , television programs, video games, roleplaying games and other media...
" novel contracted and paid for by Tor Books
Tor Books
Tor Books is one of two imprints of Tom Doherty Associates LLC, based in New York City. It is noted for its science fiction and fantasy titles. Tom Doherty Associates also publishes mainstream fiction, mystery, and occasional military history titles under its Forge imprint. The company was founded...
but later canceled.
Holmes was a regular guest at Burroughs fan conventions such as the Edgar Rice Burroughs Chain of Friendship (ECOF). He received its Lifetime Achievement Award for his Burroughs pastiches at ECOF '93 in Willows, California
Willows, California
Willows is the county seat of Glenn County, California. As the county seat, the city is a home to regional government offices, including the California Highway Patrol, California Department of Motor Vehicles and the United States Bureau of Reclamation...
. He was slated to appear as Guest of Honor at 2004's ECOF Convention in Sacramento, California
Sacramento, California
Sacramento is the capital city of the U.S. state of California and the county seat of Sacramento County. It is located at the confluence of the Sacramento River and the American River in the northern portion of California's expansive Central Valley. With a population of 466,488 at the 2010 census,...
, but suffered a stroke and was unable to attend. He was a special guest at the June 2005 ECOF in Portland, Oregon
Portland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
.
Boinger the Halfling and Zereth the Elf
- "The Adventure of the Lost City," in Alarums & Excursions, no. 17 (Dec. 1976) and no. 19 (Feb. 1977)
- "Trollshead," in The DragonDragon (magazine)Dragon is one of the two official magazines for source material for the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game and associated products, the other being Dungeon. TSR, Inc. originally launched the monthly printed magazine in 1976 to succeed the company's earlier publication, The Strategic Review. The...
, no. 31 (Nov. 1979) - "The Sorcerer's Jewel," in The DragonDragon (magazine)Dragon is one of the two official magazines for source material for the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game and associated products, the other being Dungeon. TSR, Inc. originally launched the monthly printed magazine in 1976 to succeed the company's earlier publication, The Strategic Review. The...
, no. 46 (Feb. 1981) - "In the Bag," in The DragonDragon (magazine)Dragon is one of the two official magazines for source material for the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game and associated products, the other being Dungeon. TSR, Inc. originally launched the monthly printed magazine in 1976 to succeed the company's earlier publication, The Strategic Review. The...
, no. 58 (Feb. 1982) - The Maze of Peril (ISBN 0-917053-05-2) (Nov. 1986)
Pellucidar
- Mahars of Pellucidar (ISBN 0-441-51590-8) (1976)
- Red Axe of Pellucidar (1993- privately printed)
- Swordsmen of Pellucidar (unfinished)
Other
- "The Cenote," in Doppelganger, no. 8 (1987)
- Danton Doring (with John Coleman Burroughs) (unfinished)
- Conan on the River of Doom (unfinished)
Nonfiction
- "Brain Waves and Thought Patterns" in Analog Science Fact -> Science Fiction, v. 69, no. 5 (Jul. 1962)
- "The Educated Flatworms" in Analog Science Fact -> Science Fiction, v. 70, no. 3 (Nov. 1962)
- "The Split Brain" in Analog Science Fiction/Science Fact, v. 93, no. 6 (Aug. 1974)
- "Lovecraftian Mythos in D&D," in The DragonDragon (magazine)Dragon is one of the two official magazines for source material for the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game and associated products, the other being Dungeon. TSR, Inc. originally launched the monthly printed magazine in 1976 to succeed the company's earlier publication, The Strategic Review. The...
, no. 12 (Feb. 1978) - "A Rebuttal to 'The Cthulhu Mythos Revisted'," in The DragonDragon (magazine)Dragon is one of the two official magazines for source material for the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game and associated products, the other being Dungeon. TSR, Inc. originally launched the monthly printed magazine in 1976 to succeed the company's earlier publication, The Strategic Review. The...
, no. 16 (May 1978) - "Lost Civilizations: Fantasy Supplement for Source of the Nile," in The DragonDragon (magazine)Dragon is one of the two official magazines for source material for the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game and associated products, the other being Dungeon. TSR, Inc. originally launched the monthly printed magazine in 1976 to succeed the company's earlier publication, The Strategic Review. The...
, no. 24 (Apr. 1979) - "The Psychopathology of Wargamers: Shrinks and Simulations," in Space Gamer, no. 26 (Jan./Feb. 1980)
- "Confessions of a Dungeon Master," in Psychology TodayPsychology TodayPsychology Today is a bi-monthly magazine published in the United States. It is a psychology-based magazine about relationships, health, and related topics written for a mass audience of non-psychologists. Psychology Today was founded in 1967 and features articles on such topics as love,...
, v. 14, no. 6 (Nov. 1980) - Fantasy Role Playing Games - Dungeons, Dragons and Adventures in Fantasy Gaming (ISBN 0-88254-514-0) (1981)
- "Basic D&D Points of View,"in The DragonDragon (magazine)Dragon is one of the two official magazines for source material for the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game and associated products, the other being Dungeon. TSR, Inc. originally launched the monthly printed magazine in 1976 to succeed the company's earlier publication, The Strategic Review. The...
, no. 52 (Aug. 1981) - Basic Human Neurophysiology (ISBN 0-444-00797-0) (with David F. Lindsley) (1984)
- "Mail-Call of Machen Society Cthulhu Meeting," in Crypt of Cthulhu, v. 7, no. 7 (1988)
- "Lovecraft in the Comic Books: an Update," in Crypt of Cthulhu, v. 17, no. 1 (1997)
External links
- John Eric Holmes: Mahars of Pellucidar and Red Axe of Pellucidar - article by John Martin