Chapter-by-Chapter Summary of The Amphibian Man by Alexander Belyaev

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Alexander Belyaev’s fantastic novel The Amphibian Man, published in 1927, instantly won the hearts of readers. The captivating plot, full of romance, incredible adventures, and vivid characters battling betrayal and upholding nobility, made this book one of the most popular and read novels of the 20th century.

Before plunging into the depths of this amazing story, we invite you to read the concise, chapter-by-chapter summary of The Amphibian Man, available online on our website.

Setting and Time

Where and when do the events unfold?

The novel’s action takes place in the early 20th century in sunny Argentina, specifically in its capital, Buenos Aires.

Main Characters

Who are the main characters of this story?

Ichthyander – A beautiful youth, twenty years of age, possessing the unusual ability to live underwater. He is a fish-man, kind and naive, like a child.

Doctor Salvator – A genius scientist, surgeon, who became not only Ichthyander’s creator but also a loving father and wise mentor.

Inhabitants of Two Worlds

Guttiere – The heart of the ocean that captivated Ichthyander.

Pedro Zurita – The owner of the schooner “Medusa,” whose thoughts are as dark as the abyss, and whose soul craves only profit.

Baltazar – Pedro Zurita’s loyal shadow, an old Indian who has seen the storms of life.

Kristo – Baltazar’s brother, bound to him by ties of blood and fate.

Olsen – A simple factory worker, Guttiere’s friend, whose life flows in the channel of the ordinary.

Chronicles of the Depths

The Phantom of the Abyss

On a quiet Argentine night, the schooner «Medusa,» belonging to Pedro Zurita, lay at anchor. Pearl divers, weary from work and the scorching sun, slept on the deck. They were awakened by the «magical sound of a horn,» foreshadowing the appearance of a sea marvel. This mysterious creature caused harm to some and unexpectedly helped others. Scientists tried in vain to solve the riddle of the sea marvel, having never managed to see it firsthand.

The Failure of Zurita

Zurita understood that he would become a rich man if he could catch the «sea marvel.» Sharing his plan with his loyal assistant Baltazar, they discovered a cave where the unusual creature was hiding. Strong nets with bells were placed around the cave, but the sea marvel easily cut the ropes and escaped.

Doctor Salvator

The unyielding Zurita did not give up. He purchased two diving suits and, along with Baltazar, descended to the seabed to investigate the mysterious cave. To their surprise, they discovered a «thick iron grate blocking the way.» Inspecting the area on land, Zurita stumbled upon Doctor Salvator’s house, surrounded by a high wall.

The Cured Granddaughter

Zurita learned that Doctor Salvator was famous for his bold surgeries. Once, he saved the life of a girl brought to his house by the old Indian Kristo. On the child’s neck, «an enormous tumor was visible,» but after the doctor’s treatment, no trace of it remained. In gratitude, Kristo decided to «devote the rest of his life» to this kind healer, and Salvator gladly accepted his offer.

The Amazing Garden

Kristo began working in the exotic garden, surrounded by two imposing walls. Amazing creatures lived here: sheep and rats joined at the sides, sparrows with parrot heads, six-legged lizards, and many other unusual beings. They were cared for by silent, dark-skinned people.

The Third Wall

Winning the doctor’s trust, Kristo gained access beyond the third wall, where he discovered Salvator’s young patients—children belonging to various Indian tribes. Completely hairless monkeys, capable of speech, frolicked there too.

Salvator warned the Indian that he intended to go to the mountains to replenish his supply of animals. Kristo asked for permission to visit his granddaughter beforehand.

The Attack

Kristo’s true identity was revealed—he was Baltazar’s brother, sent as a spy to the doctor with the aim of uncovering everything about the mysterious sea devil. When the upcoming trip to the mountains became known, the cunning accomplices devised a plan: Salvator was to fall victim to an attack by disguised robbers, but he was to be saved by the loyal Indian. Thus, according to Baltazar’s plan, «no secrets would remain for Kristo in Salvator’s house.»

Meeting the Amphibian Man

The plan worked flawlessly. Kristo, cleverly gaining the doctor’s confidence, extracted the secret of the fourth wall from him. Hidden behind it was «an extensive, lagoon-like pool, surrounded by thick green trees.» Draining the pool, Salvator invited Kristo to descend into the mysterious hatch. In the underground, deep down, «like a crystal palace on the very bottom of the sea» appeared before the astonished Kristo. From the watery abyss emerged the sea devil, who, removing his gloves, goggles, and strange suit, turned into the beautiful youth named Ichthyander.

Morning in the Underwater Kingdom

From under the skillful hands of the scientist Salvator, Ichthyander came into the world—a youth capable of breathing underwater thanks to transplanted shark gills. Growing up, he turned into the true lord of the sea depths, understanding the language of currents, dancing with the waves, and finding common ground with the inhabitants of the underwater kingdom.

Meeting the Beautiful Stranger

One day, while calming the raging elements, Ichthyander discovered a girl on the surface, chained to the wreckage of a shipwreck. He rushed to help without hesitation, but the fear of being exposed forced him to hide from the beautiful stranger. Soon, a man appeared on the shore—tanned, with a thick mustache and a dashing espadrille beard, topped with a wide-brimmed hat. He was the one who claimed to be the girl’s savior.

The Loyal Assistant

Ichthyander was served by Kristo, whose task was to ensure the youth spent time not only underwater but also on land. From the naive Ichthyander, the Indian learned about a lateral underwater tunnel through which he swam out to sea. Kristo also realized that his new master was completely inexperienced in life and naive, like a child.

In the City

Learning the story of the girl whom Ichthyander could not forget, Kristo persuaded him to go to the city to search for her. «The bustle of the big city, the dust, the stuffiness, the crowds completely overwhelmed» the youth. Kristo brought Ichthyander to Baltazar’s shop. While he consulted with his brother, Baltazar’s adopted daughter, the beautiful Guttiere, entered the shop. Seeing her, Ichthyander ran out into the street, recognizing her as the girl he had saved.

To the Sea Again

The young sea lord, without a second’s delay, dived into the turquoise embrace of the ocean, calling his loyal Liding—a friend and brother in the aquatic element. Together, driven by the wind and waves, they set off for the unknown distance. Only at the dawn of the third day did Ichthyander return to his native caves.

Shadows of Pearls

The image of the beautiful stranger did not leave Ichthyander’s thoughts; the youth’s heart longed for a new meeting. And there, on a wild, boulder-strewn shore, he saw her again. Guttiere—that was the girl’s name—came for a rendezvous with a tall, broad-shouldered man named Olsen. As a token of her feelings, she wanted to give him a pearl necklace, but a fateful accident—and the jewel slipped from her fingers and disappeared into the depths of the waves. Ichthyander could not remain indifferent to Guttiere’s despair. In the blink of an eye, he was in the sea and soon returned, holding the sparkling necklace in his hand. Thus began the friendship of Ichthyander and Guttiere, which grew into nightly meetings on the shore under the whisper of the waves.

Zurita’s Anxiety

On one fateful day, Ichthyander witnessed a cruel raid on dolphins. His loyal friend, the dolphin Liding, was wounded. The youth rushed to help without hesitation, but was also injured—an hunter’s sharp knife slashed Ichthyander’s unprotected, scaled neck. Bandaging the wound, Kristo was surprised to notice a strange, bizarrely shaped birthmark on the youth’s shoulder.

The old Indian hurried to his brother to tell him the important news, but Zurita burst into the hut, obsessed with the idea of getting his hands on Ichthyander.

Zurita’s Shadow

Despite the pain and weakness, Ichthyander went to meet his beloved Guttiere. But their rendezvous was overshadowed by the appearance of Zurita, who, without shame, declared the girl his fiancée. Ichthyander’s heart clenched with grief, and he found solace only in the sea abyss. Baltazar, left alone with his daughter, confessed that marriage to Zurita was their only chance to avoid ruin. But Guttiere decisively refused.

A Skirmish in the Sea Abyss

To dispel his sad thoughts, Ichthyander decided to improve his grotto. First of all, he had to politely but persistently expel the numerous families of octopuses that had taken a liking to the place. Left alone, Ichthyander furnished his underwater dwelling with curiosities found on the seabed, which replaced his usual furniture.

Meeting an Old Acquaintance

A few days later, Ichthyander discovered Olsen’s boat in the sea abyss. From him, he learned the sad news: Guttiere had been married against her will to Zurita and taken to his estate, «Dolores.» Without losing a minute, Ichthyander set off in search of his beloved.

On the Way to the Goal

The youth Ichthyander chose an unusual path to reach his destination. First, he swam along the river, and then continued his journey on land. Unfortunately, his crumpled suit aroused the suspicion of a policeman, and Ichthyander was detained. Despite the absence of any charges, the police decided to check his involvement in a recent crime on a neighboring farm. Finding himself near a pond, Ichthyander decided to resort to cunning and pretend to be drowned while his «body» was searched. Taking advantage of this, he safely reached the hacienda, where Zurita caught him and transferred him to his schooner.

Full Speed Ahead

Kristo, Ichthyander’s brother, shared a family secret. Twenty years ago, when Kristo’s wife died during childbirth in the mountains, the baby survived. Kristo took the boy, his nephew, to Doctor Salvator, but they failed to save him. However, Kristo now recognized his son in Ichthyander by the birthmark.

The brothers set off for Salvator, intending to claim their rights to Ichthyander. Learning that the youth was imprisoned by Zurita, they immediately rushed to his rescue.

The Unusual Prisoner

Zurita locked Guttiere in the captain’s cabin and placed Ichthyander in a barrel formerly used for salted meat. He then chained the youth to a long chain, shackling him in a metal hoop—Zurita was eager to use Ichthyander to harvest pearls as quickly as possible. Promising him freedom in exchange for precious pearls, the villain released the shackled Ichthyander into the sea. Seeing that the youth had caught a rich haul, Zurita decided to keep him using Guttiere, but she refused to be an accomplice in this insidious plan.

Meanwhile, Doctor Salvator’s submarine approached the «Medusa.» The terrified crew abandoned the ship, but Ichthyander was nowhere to be seen.

The Sunken Ship

When the ship’s crew heard about the sea monster, they decided to mutiny and kill Zurita. However, the appearance of the submarine prevented them, and they chose to hide. Meanwhile, on Zurita’s orders, Ichthyander searched a sunken ship for treasure.

The Newfound Father

Learning that Ichthyander managed to return home, Baltazar decided to immediately go to the doctor and take his son. When this attempt failed, the Indian turned to a familiar lawyer, who promised to help him sue Salvator and attract as much attention as possible to the process.

Legal Quandary

Pedro Zurita also filed a lawsuit against the doctor, wishing to become Ichthyander’s guardian. The case gained wide resonance. During a search of Salvator’s house, a «real factory of animal freaks» was discovered.

The Genius Madman

The trial could not break the spirit of Doctor Salvator. He was only concerned about the bitter fate of Ichthyander, languishing in a cramped prison barrel with stale water. The judge, delving into the scientist’s works, passed a verdict on him—genius madman.

The Word Given Before the Court

In the courtroom, the doctor recounted how and for what purpose he decided to transplant shark gills to Ichthyander. His dream, he claimed, was to create a new human race, capable of conquering the boundless expanse of the ocean and utilizing its inexhaustible riches.

Behind Prison Walls

The jailer, bound to Salvator by a promise to save his family—his wife and child—informed the scientist of the terrifying news: «They decided to destroy Ichthyander.» He offered his help in organizing the escape, pointing the doctor’s protégé to the path of salvation: «Hold your course towards the Great Ocean, to one of the Tuamotu islands—there you will be safe.» The doctor himself cherished the hope of an early release and a reunion with Ichthyander in a few years.

The Escape

Guttiere, who had by then left her husband, also learned about Ichthyander’s escape, organized by Olsen. The truth stunned the girl: her friend was doomed to life in the sea abyss, and now an insurmountable expanse of water separated them. Unable to bear a meeting that would cause Ichthyander unbearable pain, Guttiere watched from afar as he submerged into the ocean to leave those places forever.

Salvator, upon his release from prison, returned to his native lands and immersed himself in preparations for some distant journey. Guttiere’s fate was different: she broke off her relationship with Pedro and became the wife of Olsen, with whom she left for America. Pedro Zurita continued to harvest pearls, and the story of the sea devil gradually faded from people’s memory, becoming only the ravings of the old Baltazar, whom everyone considered a madman…

What is the Outcome of this Story?

What is the outcome of this story?

Ichthyander, deprived of the ability to breathe in the air, found his home in the ocean depths, where he was free from persecution and the threat of death.

The Fates of the Heroes of The Amphibian Man in a New Light

Doctor Salvator embarks on a journey to distant horizons.

Guttiere, breaking the bonds of marriage with Pedro, gives her hand and heart to Olsen, with whom she sets off to conquer the expanses of America.

Pedro Zurita remains faithful to the sea element, continuing to extract the ocean’s treasures—pearls.

Olsen, having become Guttiere’s husband, takes her overseas to the country of hope—America.

In his creation, the author explores the multifaceted nature of freedom, for only a person unbound by chains is capable of true love, creativity, and devotion to a beloved cause.

This brief excursion into the world of The Amphibian Man is only the first step. We recommend immersing yourself in Belyaev’s captivating novel in its entirety and experiencing its depth.