# The Hans — The Airlords of Han character guide > The Hans in The Airlords of Han by Philip Francis Nowlan. **Role:** major **Also known as:** the Hans, Hans, These Hans, their, themselves, Their **First appearance:** 0000-i-the-airlords-besieged ## Who they are The airborne ruling race of Lo-Tan, whose rigid discipline and hollow courtesies mask a cynical, morally degraded civilization that has hunted Americans for centuries. ## Relationships ### [Unknown Narrator](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_airlords_of_han_se/characters/unknown_narrator) _rivalry_ The Hans are the primary antagonists, constantly pursuing and battling the narrator. ### [The Tibetans](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_airlords_of_han_se/characters/the_tibetans) _rivalry_ The Hans are in active conflict with the Tibetans, who resist their rule. ### [The Americans](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_airlords_of_han_se/characters/the_americans) _rivalry_ The Americans are enemies of the Hans, engaged in a larger war. ### [Wilma](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_airlords_of_han_se/characters/wilma) _rivalry_ The Hans view Wilma as an enemy and likely threaten her. ### [San-Lan](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_airlords_of_han_se/characters/san_lan) _professional_ San-Lan is a leader or high-ranking member of the Hans. ### [Handan](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_airlords_of_han_se/characters/handan) _professional_ Handan is a member or officer of the Han forces. ### [Han](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_airlords_of_han_se/characters/han) _professional_ Han is a specific individual within the larger Han collective, likely a soldier or leader. ### [Delawares](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_airlords_of_han_se/characters/delawares) _rivalry_ The Delawares are enemies of the Hans, likely allied with the narrator. ### [San-Lan](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_airlords_of_han_se/characters/san_lan) _professional_ San-Lan is a leader or high-ranking member of the Hans. ### [San-Lan](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_airlords_of_han_se/characters/san_lan) _professional_ San-Lan is a leader or high-ranking member of the Hans. ### [Unknown Narrator](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_airlords_of_han_se/characters/unknown_narrator) _rivalry_ The Hans are the primary antagonists, constantly pursuing and battling the narrator. ### [Wilma](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_airlords_of_han_se/characters/wilma) _rivalry_ The Hans view Wilma as an enemy and likely threaten her. ## In the story ### [The Airlords Besieged](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_airlords_of_han_se/chapters/i-the-airlords-besieged) The Mongol rulers of America, besieged in their cities, using disintegrator rays and convoys to maintain supply lines. ### [II: The "Ground Ships" Threaten](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_airlords_of_han_se/chapters/ii-the-ground-ships-threaten) Enemy forces developing ground ships with disintegrator ray canopies; their tactics and equipment are the central threat discussed in the chapter. ### [III: We "Sink" the "Ground Ships"](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_airlords_of_han_se/chapters/iii-we-sink-the-ground-ships) The Hans launch two ground ship sorties; their second attempt is destroyed by the American tactic of churning the ground. ### [IV: Han Electrono-Ray Science](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_airlords_of_han_se/chapters/iv-han-electrono-ray-science) The Hans operate the advanced airship with repeller ray and superbeam, and are the subject of the narrator's scientific explanation. ### [VI: An Unequal Duel](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_airlords_of_han_se/chapters/vi-an-unequal-duel) Crew of the Han airship; described as physically soft but mentally ruthless and efficient. ### [Captured!](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_airlords_of_han_se/chapters/vii-captured) Han soldiers are described as undersized, soft-looking, with pale orange-tinted skin and brightly colored uniforms; their culture is marked by hollow courtesies and cynical mockery. ### [Hypnotic Torture](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_airlords_of_han_se/chapters/viii-hypnotic-torture) The Han captors who employ mental torture, hypnotism, and psychological warfare against Rogers. ### [IX: The Fall of Nu-Yok](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_airlords_of_han_se/chapters/ix-the-fall-of-nu-yok) The Hans are defeated at Nu-Yok, with their fleet destroyed and ground forces reduced to 10,000 survivors who are hunted in the Adirondacks. ### [X: Life in Lo-Tan, the Magnificent](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_airlords_of_han_se/chapters/x-life-in-lo-tan-the-magnificent) The Han society is described in detail, highlighting their laziness, class divisions, and moral chaos. ### [XI: The Forest Men Attack](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_airlords_of_han_se/chapters/xi-the-forest-men-attack) The Han population and military, preparing for underground relocation and defending against the Forest Men. ### [XII: The Mysterious 'Air Balls'](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_airlords_of_han_se/chapters/xii-the-mysterious-air-balls) Struggle to counter the American air balls; their quarantines cause mass death and revolt among the city's population. ### [Escape!](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_airlords_of_han_se/chapters/xiii-escape) Han police and soldiers are killed by the air ball; Han women are noted for flirtatious behavior even during crisis. ### [XIV: The Destruction of Lo-Tan](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_airlords_of_han_se/chapters/xiv-the-destruction-of-lo-tan) The enemy; their city Lo-Tan is destroyed and their escape tunnels are attacked. ### [XV: The Counter-Attack](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_airlords_of_han_se/chapters/xv-the-counter-attack) Deploy new atomic projectile weapons and a large, dispersed force; their communications are jammed by the Americans. ### [Victory](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_airlords_of_han_se/chapters/xvi-victory) The Hans are nearly annihilated; their officers execute their own troops before committing suicide. Their emperor San-Lan perishes. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_airlords_of_han_se/characters/the_hans - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_airlords_of_han_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_airlords_of_han_se/characters