Intermere

In Short

After a mysterious oceanic storm, American journalist Giles Henry Anderton is rescued by the citizens of Intermere, a hidden, technologically advanced Commonwealth that has flourished for thousands of years. Through the tutelage of its leaders, Anderton learns of their enlightened social structure, scientific mastery, and profound philosophy of equality. Though he eventually returns to his own time and place, the experience leaves him forever changed, haunted by the contrast between his world’s greed and the serene, harmonious existence of the society he was forced to leave behind.

The Story

The narrative begins with the Mistletoe, a ship caught in a terrifying equatorial storm that culminates in a strange, metallic bolt striking the vessel. Giles Henry Anderton, the narrator, finds himself miraculously rescued from the wreckage by the people of Intermere—a hidden society that occupies a refined, advanced sphere within the mundane world. Unlike the "barbarous" nations he left behind, the Intermereans have reached a state of evolutionary perfection, having unlocked the secrets of nature to serve human brotherhood rather than self-interest.

Anderton is introduced to the First Citizen, Xamas, and a seer-like figure named Maros. They explain that his presence is not an accident; he has been brought to witness the possibilities of human life before returning to his own world. Over the following weeks, Anderton travels through their provinces, observing cities of "ineffable magnificence" that possess perfect architecture, clean boulevards, and advanced, noiseless transportation. He discovers a society where labor is not drudgery, where every individual owns land, and where wealth is shared to provide for common public goods.

As he learns more, his hosts—particularly Xamas and the Curator of Mechanical Devices, Remo—expose the shortcomings of his own society. They contrast their peaceful progress with the destructive wars, colonialism, and greed of the nineteenth-century Western powers. They demonstrate that their technological marvels, such as their "accumulators" of universal energy, are far beyond the crude inventions of the West. However, they refuse to share the technical details of their power source, fearing that humanity’s current moral condition would lead only to further exploitation and ruin if granted such control.

The story concludes with an abrupt, unexpected departure. Anderton finds himself back on the open sea, his memories of Intermere intact but fading like a dream. He manages to sell his Intermerean vehicle to a local official in Singapore before returning to New York. He ultimately reunites with his mother, acknowledging the "strange and brief communications" they shared while he was away. In a final note, he laments that his written account is a mere shadow of the reality he experienced, describing his time in Intermere as "as moonlight unto sunlight, as water unto wine."

How It Unfolds

The voyage begins The Mistletoe encounters an impenetrable wall of mist and a mysterious metallic strike, leading to the total disappearance of the vessel and all aboard except for the narrator. Anderton wakes in the presence of the Intermereans, who appear as physical, intellectual, and moral exemplars of the human race.

The introduction to Intermere Xamas welcomes Anderton, clarifying that he is not in heaven but in a hidden, advanced part of the Earth. He explains that his people have spent thousands of years evolving beyond the "animal instincts" that still plague the nations of the West.

A tour of perfection Anderton is guided through the provinces, observing cities that blend nature and architecture with scientific efficiency. He learns that even the most complex mechanical devices have been replaced by simpler, more elegant solutions based on the direct utilization of universal energy.

The moral and scientific lecture Various Curators explain the Commonwealth’s laws regarding education, marriage, and labor. They explicitly critique the Western obsession with materialism, colonial warfare, and the misuse of scientific discovery for selfish ends.

The secret withheld Remo demonstrates the power of the "accumulator," proving its superiority and safety compared to the dangerous electrical methods of the West. He ultimately denies Anderton the specific formulas for these devices, concluding that his people are not yet ethically mature enough to wield such power.

The return to reality Anderton is suddenly returned to the mundane world, where his claims are met with skepticism and suspicion. He quietly integrates back into his life in New York, forever burdened by the knowledge of what humanity could achieve if it pursued peace over profit.

The People

Giles Henry Anderton is the lens through which the reader experiences Intermere. Initially a conventional American journalist driven by typical commercial instincts, he is humbled by the superior intellect and morality of his hosts. He struggles to reconcile his ingrained skepticism with the wonders he witnesses, eventually becoming a witness to a better way of life.

Xamas, the First Citizen, serves as the primary mentor and philosophical guide. He is a man of profound wisdom who views the world's history as a cautionary tale. He wants Anderton to understand that human progress is not measured by the accumulation of gold, but by the refinement of the spirit and the fair distribution of opportunity.

Maros acts as a prophet-like figure who possesses the ability to tap into the human consciousness, bridging the gap between Anderton’s current state and his past. He is responsible for dissipating the narrator’s superstitious fears, grounding him in the scientific reality of the Commonwealth.

Remo, the Curator of Useful Mechanical Devices, represents the pinnacle of Intermerean innovation. While he is proud of his society’s technical achievements, he is also its most staunch protector. He refuses to grant Anderton the secrets of their machines, standing as the gatekeeper against the destructive potential of an unprepared, power-hungry outside world.

In Its Own Voice

"It is a part of your own planet, inhabited by beings sprung from the same parent stock as yourself, but differing from all other nations and peoples; a people who are many steps nearer to the higher and better life."

Xamas addresses Anderton’s confusion regarding his location, asserting that this hidden utopia is a terrestrial reality rather than a spiritual one.

"If your leaders, with the suddenly awakened hunger for conquest and dominion, could literally command the thunderbolts and control the elements as against the rest of the world, they would sack Christendom in the name of Liberty, Humanity and the Babe of Bethlehem, but in the spirit of Mammon, Greed and selfish love of power and riches."

Remo explains to Anderton why the secret of their technology cannot be shared with the outside world, citing the corrupt, violent nature of Western civilization.

What It's Really About

The book acts as a stern indictment of the late nineteenth-century Western world. It posits that civilization’s decline is caused by greed, the obsession with "paltry gold," and the perversion of religious ideals to justify colonial violence. Its argument is that true progress is found not in mechanical invention, but in the evolution of human character. The core question is whether humanity can ever rise above its "animal instincts" to achieve a state of lasting peace. The book suggests that science, when divorced from morality, is a destructive force, but when applied to the principles of Brotherhood and the equality of opportunity, it can solve the problems of poverty, labor, and social suffering.

Why Read It Today

Readers who enjoy early utopian fiction will find this a fascinating, if occasionally preachy, look at the moral anxieties of 1901. It captures the turn-of-the-century tension between the thrill of rapid technological advancement and the fear that such power would only be used for war.

Modern readers should be prepared for the dense, Victorian-era prose and the author’s tendency to lecture through his characters. The narrator’s voice is earnest and sometimes naive, reflecting the period's specific attitudes toward progress and gender roles—where the "sphere of the female" is described as both sacred and separate. However, the book’s critique of the "upward spiral" of human greed and its warning against using science to fuel imperial conquest remains strikingly relevant. It is a slow, meditative read that functions less as a fast-paced novel and more as a philosophical thought experiment. You will likely find the author’s perspective on global conflict to be a somber and provocative reflection on the trajectory of the modern world. It is best read as a historical artifact, offering a glimpse into the hopes and deep-seated fears of a generation standing on the cusp of the twentieth century.