The Purple Cloud »

M. P. Shiel's (1865–1947) long, distinguished writing career included such works as Prince Zaleski, The Lord of the Sea and The Yellow Peril. John Clute is the author of Science Fiction: The Illustrated Encyclopedia (winner of the Hugo Award) and coeditor of The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction (winner of the Hugo and Locus Awards).

Things which took place before the voyage seem to be getting a little cloudy in the memory now. I have sat here in the loggia of this Cornish villa to write down some sort of account of what has happened-God knows why since no eye can ever read it-and at the very beginning I cannot remember the parson's name.

Times Literary Supplement - David E. James

The publishers should be congratulated in bring The Purple Cloud back to public attention once more...the lush prose complements both the epic theme and the grandiose and insane posturings of the pyromaniac protagonist...Shiel was the most eloquent of the immediate successors to H.G. Wells...