The Second Deluge is a science fiction novel by Garrett P. Serviss first published in 1912.

The earth passes into a nebula that causes massive flooding, only one odd genius knows what's going to happen and does his best to warn people and build an ark to save himself and as many people as he can.

”What is here set down is the fruit of long and careful research among disjointed records left by survivors of the terrible events described.

The writer wishes frankly to say that, in some instances, he has followed the course which all historians are compelled to take by using his imagination to round out the picture.

But he is able conscientiously to declare that in the substance of his narrative, as well as in every detail which is specifically described, he has followed faithfully the accounts of eyewitnesses, or of those who were in a position to know the truth of what they related.”

Garrett Putnam Serviss (1851-1929) was an American astronomer, popularizer of astronomy, and early science fiction writer. Serviss showed a talent for explaining scientific details in a way that made them clear to the ordinary reader. 

Serviss' favorite topic was astronomy, and of the fifteen books he wrote, eight are devoted to it. He unquestionably was more widely read by the public on that topic than anyone prior to his time. He also wrote six works of fiction in his lifetime, all of which would today be classified as science fiction.