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The Prince of Mars Returns
Buck Rogers Creator's Greatest Novel! Move over Edgar Rice Burroughs. Give it up John Carter! In this classic pulp novel from the 1930s Amazing Stories, by Philip Francs Nowlan, you'll meet Daniel Hanley, the astronaut whose crash landing on Mars places him in more trouble than John Carter ever dreamed of. Because his name is similar to that of a legendary Martian prince, whose return from the dead has long been prophesized, Hanley finds himself elected to wed a beautiful warrior maid and then lead a revolution against the Red Planet's tyrannical ruler. If you loved Armageddon--2419 A.D., you won't want to miss Nowlan's The Prince of Mars Returns. Here are all the author's predictive and imaginative powers at their height, and an unforgettable classic adventure,
68 pages, Nook
First published February 1, 1940
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37 people want to read
About the author
Philip Francis Nowlan
92 books19 followersUsed These Alternate Names: Frank Phillips , Phil Nowlan , Philip F. Nowlan
Philip Francis Nowlan was an American science fiction author, best known as the creator of Buck Rogers
Philip Francis Nowlan was an American science fiction author, best known as the creator of Buck Rogers
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
November 11, 2015
Decent 'earthman goes to Mars, finds barbarian princess and falls in love' story. However, unlike Burroughs' John Carter or Edwin Arnold's Gullivar, Nowlan's David Hanley is packing heat which makes his task a bit easier.
The story is a bit too short and rushes to an abrupt ending, but Nowlan sets the stage for a number of possible sequels that (as far as I know) were never written.
The story is a bit too short and rushes to an abrupt ending, but Nowlan sets the stage for a number of possible sequels that (as far as I know) were never written.
May 2, 2019
Here's another Burroughs style Mars adventure that's worth a read. One of the interesting variations on the usual theme is that he's carrying a pair of "automatic" pistols with him, which is kind of a cool twist. It also has some thinly veiled commentary on the world politics of the day (I have to assume it was written in 1939, probably pre-September 1939).
One thing I have to ask is why do all these early 20th century sci-fi writers imagine these class based societies complete with ruling aristocracies and slavery? Is that not really odd? Do they all have some not-so-secret affinity for these sort of societies? Because those sort of societies really suck. Honestly, could you not think of something better? And of course the main character rises right to the top becoming emperor of the entire planet in no time. And do they outlaw slavery as soon as they come into power and transition to a democratic government? No, they keep the ancien regime moving along how it always has. what the hell.
Yeah but other than that usual sort of stuff this is a fun read. It is all written in a light amusing tone that I really enjoyed. I should mention that Nowlan does at one point unfortunately make a comment indicating again that he has some troubling racial ideas (what was this guy's deal) which is sort of like *sigh* and it was going so well. But it turns out it's just one bizarre idea he inserts in there and then never mentions it again.
It does end with something of an invitation for a sequel. It would be cool if someone wrote one. Maybe you could rewrite and fill this one out a bit and then write another follow-up.
One thing I have to ask is why do all these early 20th century sci-fi writers imagine these class based societies complete with ruling aristocracies and slavery? Is that not really odd? Do they all have some not-so-secret affinity for these sort of societies? Because those sort of societies really suck. Honestly, could you not think of something better? And of course the main character rises right to the top becoming emperor of the entire planet in no time. And do they outlaw slavery as soon as they come into power and transition to a democratic government? No, they keep the ancien regime moving along how it always has. what the hell.
Yeah but other than that usual sort of stuff this is a fun read. It is all written in a light amusing tone that I really enjoyed. I should mention that Nowlan does at one point unfortunately make a comment indicating again that he has some troubling racial ideas (what was this guy's deal) which is sort of like *sigh* and it was going so well. But it turns out it's just one bizarre idea he inserts in there and then never mentions it again.
It does end with something of an invitation for a sequel. It would be cool if someone wrote one. Maybe you could rewrite and fill this one out a bit and then write another follow-up.
November 14, 2016
It is amazing how ruthlessly the author bulldozes the path forward. The protagonist needs to be on Mars, so how does he get there? Make him run from romantic entanglements and head into space on a prototype rocket, the first interplanetary traveler! How does he get involved with the local politics? Get him married as part of a debt of honor, then kidnap the bride! How do you make him a leadership figure? He is the fulfillment of prophecy! Why are humans even on Mars to begin with? A lost Atlantean colony, of course, duh!
This was, indeed, a lot of fun, with just enough neat ideas tucked away in odd places to keep me interested. Mars itself is post-apocalyptic, the current ecosphere a result of some ancient war or disaster, and the current civilization nestles in the remnant architecture. Even Nowlan's creepy racial views--more visible in The Airlords of Han and carried here by some ideas about the Atlantean people--are put to use in the disturbing and convenient slave labor of the subhuman dulyals. Its sort of a pity that the hooks for more stories were not capitalized on, but it is also not clear if Nowlan had the ability to keep a series going.
This was, indeed, a lot of fun, with just enough neat ideas tucked away in odd places to keep me interested. Mars itself is post-apocalyptic, the current ecosphere a result of some ancient war or disaster, and the current civilization nestles in the remnant architecture. Even Nowlan's creepy racial views--more visible in The Airlords of Han and carried here by some ideas about the Atlantean people--are put to use in the disturbing and convenient slave labor of the subhuman dulyals. Its sort of a pity that the hooks for more stories were not capitalized on, but it is also not clear if Nowlan had the ability to keep a series going.
October 13, 2014
Good for a ERB fix
Very good action adventure of a Earthman on Mars, in the Edgar Rice Burroughs tradition. Although not quite up to ERB or Otis Albert Kline, this is still a fun read and I would like to see more by this author. It needed to be longer with more character filled in. It was too bare bones, but the bones are good.
Very good action adventure of a Earthman on Mars, in the Edgar Rice Burroughs tradition. Although not quite up to ERB or Otis Albert Kline, this is still a fun read and I would like to see more by this author. It needed to be longer with more character filled in. It was too bare bones, but the bones are good.
July 22, 2020
I enjoyed it, but definitely second tier sword-and-planet. It just lacked the depth for descriptions of action and development of characters. They's still not much more than just names to me.
June 13, 2013
Loved this story it had everything from fantasy to an epic love story
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews