As for the text itself, our only edits consist of ironing out various spelling inconsistencies of Nowlan’s invented technologies between the two stories and his sometimes odd and inconsistent use of italics.

Additionally, we’ve added footnotes for insta-reference, and Afterwords to offer better context of the impact these stories had in their infancy by two individuals who experienced it firsthand: Cele Goldsmith, editor of Amazing Stories from 1959 to 1965, provides the Afterword for Armageddon 2419 A.D., and sci-fi author and Amazing Stories contributor Sam Moskowitz provides the Afterword for The Airlords of Han.

To read our full thoughts, check out “Boy, was I wrong. Very wrong.”

“By the time I was ten a paperback reprint of these stories was among my most treasured possessions. It still is. The pages are yellowed and the cat has eaten the best part of the cover—but the magic is still there.” —David J. Ritchie, Ares Magazine

“The re-presentation of these original Buck Rogers stories secures for Philip Francis Nowlan the important place he deserves as a shaper of modern science fiction.” —Sam Moskowitz

“We prophesy that this story will become more valuable as the years go by. It certainly holds a number of interesting prophecies, many of which, no doubt, will come true. For wealth of science it will be hard to beat for some time to come. It is one of those rare stories that will bear reading and rereading many times.” —Hugo Gernsback

“The quality of Nowlan’s written science-fiction was certainly exceptionally high—even ten years ago, when the magazine science-fiction was only starting, the work Phil Nowlan did was of a grade that would have been acceptable and well rated against the much more highly evolved work of today.” —John W. Campbell, Jr.

“Although not as well know as Edgar Rice Burroughs or E. E. Smith, Philip Francis Nowlan was probably their equal both as a writer and as an influence on modern science fiction . . . the Anthony Rogers stories stand up quite well even today. Nowlan was a talented writer, and, despite his small output, he is one of the most influential science fiction writers of the Gernsback era.” —Michael M. Levy, Twentieth-Century Science-Fiction Writers

“. . . surprisingly sober and realistic dramatizations of the impact of advanced technology on guerrilla warfare. Nowlan, going beyond the mere invention of fantastic weapons, reveals a shrewd grasp of how they affect strategy and tactics. Armageddon 2419 A.D. has to be read critically today; its style is purest pulp, and its racism is patently offensive. Nevertheless, it remains one of the most imaginative works of military science fiction.” —John J. Pierce, Great Themes of Science Fiction

Armageddon 2419 A.D.