Jeffrey E. Barlough
Encyclopedia
Jeffrey E. Barlough is a trained biologist
and veterinarian
with a Ph.D. in Virology
from Cornell University
who has published over 60 research and review articles in scientific journals since 1979. He is also an armchair historian and has edited small press publications of minor and archaic English works.
He is also the author of several dark fantasy
novels that comprise his Western Lights series, set in an alternate world
in which the last Ice Age
never ended. Then, in the year 1839, a catastrophic event known as "the sundering" (its cause unknown at the time) wiped out most of the Earth's population and plunged the world into an even deeper Ice Age
. By an accident of geography, only a narrow North America
n coastline (from what is now lower British Columbia
to approximately San Diego) of civilization survives, where Victorian
society exists alongside prehistoric
beasts. The books are written in a style reminiscent of 19th century authors that has often been referred to Charles Dickens
mixed with H. P. Lovecraft
. His stories portray eccentric and (mostly) likable characters set within detailed locations that, on the surface, seem mundane and sometimes even cheery, but sinister plots and presences are slowly and carefully revealed.
Biologist
A biologist is a scientist devoted to and producing results in biology through the study of life. Typically biologists study organisms and their relationship to their environment. Biologists involved in basic research attempt to discover underlying mechanisms that govern how organisms work...
and veterinarian
Veterinarian
A veterinary physician, colloquially called a vet, shortened from veterinarian or veterinary surgeon , is a professional who treats disease, disorder and injury in animals....
with a Ph.D. in Virology
Virology
Virology is the study of viruses and virus-like agents: their structure, classification and evolution, their ways to infect and exploit cells for virus reproduction, the diseases they cause, the techniques to isolate and culture them, and their use in research and therapy...
from Cornell University
Cornell University
Cornell University is an Ivy League university located in Ithaca, New York, United States. It is a private land-grant university, receiving annual funding from the State of New York for certain educational missions...
who has published over 60 research and review articles in scientific journals since 1979. He is also an armchair historian and has edited small press publications of minor and archaic English works.
He is also the author of several dark fantasy
Dark fantasy
Dark fantasy is a term used to describe a fantasy story with a pronounced horror element.-Overview:A strict definition for dark fantasy is difficult to pin down. Gertrude Barrows Bennett has been called "the woman who invented dark fantasy". Both Charles L...
novels that comprise his Western Lights series, set in an alternate world
Parallel universe (fiction)
A parallel universe or alternative reality is a hypothetical self-contained separate reality coexisting with one's own. A specific group of parallel universes is called a "multiverse", although this term can also be used to describe the possible parallel universes that constitute reality...
in which the last Ice Age
Ice age
An ice age or, more precisely, glacial age, is a generic geological period of long-term reduction in the temperature of the Earth's surface and atmosphere, resulting in the presence or expansion of continental ice sheets, polar ice sheets and alpine glaciers...
never ended. Then, in the year 1839, a catastrophic event known as "the sundering" (its cause unknown at the time) wiped out most of the Earth's population and plunged the world into an even deeper Ice Age
Ice age
An ice age or, more precisely, glacial age, is a generic geological period of long-term reduction in the temperature of the Earth's surface and atmosphere, resulting in the presence or expansion of continental ice sheets, polar ice sheets and alpine glaciers...
. By an accident of geography, only a narrow North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
n coastline (from what is now lower British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
to approximately San Diego) of civilization survives, where Victorian
Victorian era
The Victorian era of British history was the period of Queen Victoria's reign from 20 June 1837 until her death on 22 January 1901. It was a long period of peace, prosperity, refined sensibilities and national self-confidence...
society exists alongside prehistoric
Prehistory
Prehistory is the span of time before recorded history. Prehistory can refer to the period of human existence before the availability of those written records with which recorded history begins. More broadly, it refers to all the time preceding human existence and the invention of writing...
beasts. The books are written in a style reminiscent of 19th century authors that has often been referred to Charles Dickens
Charles Dickens
Charles John Huffam Dickens was an English novelist, generally considered the greatest of the Victorian period. Dickens enjoyed a wider popularity and fame than had any previous author during his lifetime, and he remains popular, having been responsible for some of English literature's most iconic...
mixed with H. P. Lovecraft
H. P. Lovecraft
Howard Phillips Lovecraft --often credited as H.P. Lovecraft — was an American author of horror, fantasy and science fiction, especially the subgenre known as weird fiction....
. His stories portray eccentric and (mostly) likable characters set within detailed locations that, on the surface, seem mundane and sometimes even cheery, but sinister plots and presences are slowly and carefully revealed.
Western Lights novels
- Dark Sleeper (1998, first trade edition 2000)
- The House in the High Wood: A Story of Old Talbotshire (2001)
- Strange Cargo (2004)
- Bertram of Butter Cross (2007)
- Anchorwick (2008)
- A Tangle in Slops (2011)
- What I Found at Hoole (forthcoming, publication is set for sometime in 2012)
Medical books
- Manual of Small Animal Infectious Diseases (Editor) (1988)
- UC Davis Book of Dogs: The Complete Medical Reference Guide for Dogs and Puppies (Editor, with Mordecai Siegal) (1995)
- UC Davis Book of Horses: A Complete Medical Reference Guide for Horses and Foals (Editor, with Mordecai Siegal and Victoria Blankenship Siegal) (1996)
External links
- Official Website of the Western Lights Series
- Academic article listings on the UC Davis School of Veterinary MedicineUC Davis School of Veterinary MedicineThe University of California, Davis, School of Veterinary Medicine, is the largest veterinary school in the United States. Established in 1948, the school is the primary health resource for California's various animal populations. The school is ranked 2nd for veterinary schools in the country...
website - Academic article listings on Google ScholarGoogle ScholarGoogle Scholar is a freely accessible web search engine that indexes the full text of scholarly literature across an array of publishing formats and disciplines. Released in beta in November 2004, the Google Scholar index includes most peer-reviewed online journals of Europe and America's largest...
- Pictures of Jeffrey E. Barlough from the UC Davis School of Veterinary MedicineUC Davis School of Veterinary MedicineThe University of California, Davis, School of Veterinary Medicine, is the largest veterinary school in the United States. Established in 1948, the school is the primary health resource for California's various animal populations. The school is ranked 2nd for veterinary schools in the country...
website