Bulwer-Lytton's pioneering science fiction novel 'Vril' was taken very seriously by 19th Century Atlantis fans. Vril is a mysterious energy that is used by Lytton's subterranean race (refugees from the Deluge) to power their advanced civilization; it was later treated as a reality by occultists. The plot of this book was recycled for numerous 'B' pulp SciFi movies.