John Eric Holmes
John Eric Holmes stood on the frozen ground of Korea in 1952. He was a first lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps at that time. His father, Wilfred Holmes, had been a Navy officer who wrote adventure stories under the name Alec Hudson. John followed his father into military service but chose the Marines instead of the Navy. He fought for two years during the conflict known as the Korean War. This experience shaped the man who would later become a neurologist and a writer of fantasy games.
The University of Southern California School of Medicine hired John Eric Holmes as an associate professor of neurology. He held this position while also writing medical textbooks for students. One such textbook appeared in 1984 with co-author David F. Lindsley. It carried the title Basic Human Neurophysiology. Holmes published factual articles about brain function in science fiction magazines like Analog during the early 1960s. These pieces included titles such as Brain Waves and Thought Patterns and The Educated Flatworms. His dual career allowed him to bridge the gap between hard science and speculative fiction.
Holmes wrote two authorized novels set in the inner world of Edgar Rice Burroughs called Pellucidar. Mahars of Pellucidar appeared in print in 1976 with cover art by Boris Vallejo. A second novel titled Red Axe of Pellucidar was blocked from publication for many years. It finally saw private printing in 1993 after being ready since 1980. Both books were officially re-released by Edgar Rice Burroughs Inc. in 2022 across multiple formats including hardcover and audio CD. A planned third book named Swordsmen of Pellucidar remained unfinished at his death. Holmes received the Lifetime Achievement Award for these pastiches at ECOF
ninety-three held in Willows California.
Up Next
Continue Browsing
Common questions
Who was John Eric Holmes and what military branch did he serve in?
John Eric Holmes served as a first lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps during the Korean War. He fought for two years on frozen ground in Korea starting in 1952.
When did John Eric Holmes publish his medical textbook Basic Human Neurophysiology?
John Eric Holmes published the textbook Basic Human Neurophysiology in 1984 with co-author David F. Lindsley. He held an associate professor of neurology position at the University of Southern California School of Medicine while writing this work.
What science fiction magazines featured articles by John Eric Holmes about brain function?
John Eric Holmes published factual articles about brain function in science fiction magazines like Analog during the early 1960s. These pieces included titles such as Brain Waves and Thought Patterns and The Educated Flatworms.
Which novels did John Eric Holmes write set in the world of Pellucidar?
John Eric Holmes wrote Mahars of Pellucidar which appeared in print in 1976 and Red Axe of Pellucidar which saw private printing in 1993. A planned third book named Swordsmen of Pellucidar remained unfinished at his death.
Where was John Eric Holmes honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award for his pastiches?
John Eric Holmes received the Lifetime Achievement Award for these pastiches at ECOF ninety-three held in Willows California. Both books were officially re-released by Edgar Rice Burroughs Inc. in 2022 across multiple formats including hardcover and audio CD.