The Purple Cloud

M.P. Shiel · 1901 · Novel

Explore this on the mapTrace its ancestors and descendants live in the tree.

A pivotal 'last man' narrative that delves into the psychological horror and moral quandaries of absolute solitude, expanding on the themes of humanity's end.

What it is

A lone explorer returns from the North Pole to find a mysterious purple cloud has killed all other life on Earth. He grapples with extreme isolation, madness, and the burden of being the last human alive.

↑Inherited from(1)

The Last Man· 1826↑ open

Directly builds upon the 'last man on Earth' trope, exploring the psychological impact of being the sole survivor of a global catastrophe.

↓Passed on to(1)

I Am Legend· 1954↓ open

Strong influence on the theme of the last human survivor facing extreme isolation and existential dread in a world devoid of others.