The doctoral dissertation completed by Harry Turtledove in 1977 focused on the reign of Justin II and the transition of power in the later Roman Empire. This rigorous academic grounding in Byzantine history established the foundation for a career that moved from scholarly research into the construction of complex, speculative narratives detailing historical turning points.
Academic Background
Born in Los Angeles on June 14, 1949, Turtledove grew up in Gardena, California. His early education took place in local public schools before he briefly attended the California Institute of Technology. He subsequently transferred to the University of California, Los Angeles. There, he earned a PhD in 1977. His dissertation, titled The Immediate Successors of Justinian: A Study of the Persian Problem and of Continuity and Change in Internal Secular Affairs in the Later Roman Empire During the Reigns of Justin II and Tiberius II Constantine (AD 565–582), remains the primary indicator of his formal expertise in history.
Literary Beginnings and Pseudonyms
Turtledove began his professional writing career in 1979 with the publication of Wereblood and Werenight. Because his publisher at Belmont Tower doubted the marketability of his surname, he initially wrote under the pen name Eric G. Iverson. He maintained this alias until 1985. Throughout his career, he has utilized several other pseudonyms to manage his bibliography, including H. N. Turteltaub, Dan Chernenko, and Mark Gordian. His writing output spans fantasy, science fiction, mystery, and historical fiction.
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Much of his literary output involved joint efforts with other authors. He co-authored The Two Georges with Richard Dreyfuss and collaborated on Household Gods with Judith Tarr. Additional projects included partnerships with Susan Shwartz, S. M. Stirling, and Kevin R. Sandes. He also worked with his first wife, Betty Turtledove, who wrote under the name Elaine O'Byrne on the piece Death in Vesunna.
Awards and Professional Recognition
Turtledove received consistent recognition for his contributions to speculative fiction. He won the 1994 Hugo Award for Best Novella for Down in the Bottomlands and the 1993 John Esten Cooke Award for Southern Fiction for his novel The Guns of the South. His expertise in alternate history led to four Sidewise Award wins in 1997, 2002, and 2017. He was also named an honorary Kentucky Colonel in 1998 and served as the toastmaster for Chicon 2000, the 58th World Science Fiction Convention.
Fast facts
- Born: June 14, 1949, Los Angeles, California
- Education: PhD in Byzantine History, UCLA, 1977
- Notable Works: The Guns of the South; The Two Georges
- Awards: Hugo Award (1994); Sidewise Award (1997, 2002, 2017)
- Pen Names: Eric Iverson, H. N. Turteltaub, Dan Chernenko, Mark Gordian
- Citizenship: United States
- Religion: Judaism
Questions readers ask
What subjects does Harry Turtledove write about?
His work encompasses alternate history, science fiction, fantasy, historical fiction, and mystery.
Did Harry Turtledove study history professionally?
Yes, he earned a PhD in Byzantine history from the University of California, Los Angeles in 1977.
Why did he use the name Eric Iverson?
He used it as a pseudonym because his editor in 1979 believed that readers would not accept his actual surname as authentic.
Achievements
- Notable work: The Guns of the South
- Notable work: The Two Georges
- Educated at University of California, Los Angeles and California Institute of Technology
- Worked as writer, novelist and historian
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