It's been 20 years or more, but I have read Bulwer-Lytton's "Vril, the Power of the Coming Race" It's an early science fiction novel, and yes it was a bit heavy going in places, but certainly wasn't the worst book I've ever read. Vril was his name for a mysterious energy source used by an advanced civilisation in the book. The book was very popular, and the word vril was taken over by occultists for various occult energies, and finally adopted for a new energy-giving beef drink, that many of us know and love under the name Bovril.

Bingley

Bingley