„The Purple Cloud”, „The Lord of the Sea” (both 1901), and „The Last Miracle” (1906) is a trilogy of science fiction; and at least the first two are considered early masterpieces in the genre. „The Purple Cloud” is widely hailed as a masterpiece of science fiction and one of the best „last man” novels ever written. A deadly purple vapor passes over the world and annihilates all living creatures except one man, Adam Jeffson. Adam adventures to the North Pole; on returning he realizes the entire population of the world has been destroyed by a cloud of cyanogen; he tours with world as master of all he sees, reveling and destroying as he will.