Although Arthur Conan Doyle is best known for his stories about the detective Sherlock Holmes, he also wrote many other books including a science fiction series. The Poison Belt is the sequel to The Lost World. Professor Challanger faces his greatest danger when the earth is about to pass through poisonous ether. Mankind is in jeopardy. As the poison enters the atmosphere, terror and madness sweep the globe. As communication is disrupted society begins to crumble. Challanger and his three friends are in a room waiting for the end of the earth. Arthur Conan Doyle has said that Challanger is his favorite character. This is truly a great adventure story.