M. P. Shiel

Matthew Phipps Shiel (1865-1947) was a British novelist, poet, and master of imaginative fiction whose work ranged from decadent horror to speculative adventure and early science fiction. Born on the Caribbean island of Montserrat, Shiel later moved to England, where he became known for his richly atmospheric prose and his fascination with catastrophe, empire, and the limits of human civilization. His novels-especially The Purple Cloud-anticipate many themes that would dominate twentieth-century science fiction and apocalyptic literature: global extinction, the psychology of the last survivor, and the fragile foundations of modern society. Although often overlooked in his lifetime, Shiel's work has since been rediscovered as a visionary precursor to the modern dystopian and post-apocalyptic novel.