Philip Francis Nowlan (/ˈnoʊlən/; November 13, 1888 – February 1, 1940) was an American science fiction writer, best known as the creator of Buck Rogers.[2]
Philip Francis Nowlan | |
|---|---|
 Philip Francis Nowlan, as pictured in Science Wonder Stories, September 1929 (as "Frank Phillips") | |
| Born | November 13, 1888 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Died | February 3, 1940 (aged 51)[1] Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania,[2] U.S. |
| Occupation | Writer |
| Period | 1928–1940 |
| Genre | Science fiction |
| Subject | Buck Rogers |
| Notable works | Armageddon 2419 A.D. |
Biography
editNowlan was born on November 13, 1888. While attending the University of Pennsylvania, Nowlan was a member of The Mask and Wig Club, holding significant roles in the annual productions between 1907 and 1909. After attending the University of Pennsylvania he worked as a newspaper columnist. Nowlan was married to Theresa Junker, and they had ten children.[2]
He moved to the Philadelphia suburb of Bala Cynwyd and created and wrote the Buck Rogers comic strip, illustrated by Dick Calkins. He remained a writer on the strip until 1939. The comic strip ran from 1929-1967. Spin-offs included a radio-serial series Buck Rogers in the 25th Century (sporadically aired from 1932-1947), a 1939 movie serial Buck Rogers, a brief 1950-51 television series, and a 1979-1981 television series Buck Rogers in the 25th Century.[2]
Nowlan also wrote several other novellas for the science fiction magazines as well as the posthumously published mystery, The Girl from Nowhere. He died from a stroke at his home in Bala in 1940.[1]
Works
edit- Armageddon 2419 A.D. (1928)
- The Girl from Nowhere (1928, ISBN 0-8095-0038-8 (Neuauflage von 2005)
- The Airlords of Han (1929)
- The Airlords of Han by Philip Francis Nowlan at Project Gutenberg on Project Gutenberg
- The Onslaught from Venus (1929)
- The Time Jumpers (1934)
- The Prince of Mars Returns (1940)
- Space Guards (1940)
- Wings Over Tomorrow: The Collected Science Fiction of Philip Francis Nowlan (2005, ISBN 0-8095-1095-2)[3]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b "Philip Nowlan Dies; Drew 'Buck Rogers', New York Times". Amazon. 1940. Retrieved January 7, 2019.
- ^ a b c d "Nowlan, Philip Francis". Gollancz. August 12, 2018. Retrieved January 7, 2019.
- ^ "Summary Bibliography: Philip Francis Nowlan". Internet Speculative Fiction Database. Al von Ruff. Retrieved January 7, 2019.
External links
edit
Works by or about Philip Francis Nowlan at Wikisource- Works by Philip Francis Nowlan in eBook form at Standard Ebooks
- Works by Philip Francis Nowlan at Project Gutenberg
- Works by or about Philip Francis Nowlan at the Internet Archive
- Works by Philip Francis Nowlan at LibriVox (public domain audiobooks)
- Philip Francis Nowlan at the Internet Speculative Fiction Database
