The Great Stone of Sardis

In Short

Set in the futuristic year of 1947, Frank R. Stockton’s science-fiction novel follows the brilliant inventor Roland Clewe and his financial partner and lover, Margaret Raleigh. Operating out of Sardis, New Jersey, Clewe spearheads two monumental endeavors: sending a submarine crew beneath the Arctic ice cap to reach the North Pole, and projecting an "Artesian ray" deep into the earth's crust to reveal its secret geology. Through a mixture of eccentric mechanical ingenuity, subterranean exploration, and high-concept physical theory, the story endures as a charming vintage vision of technological optimism and scientific discovery.

The Story

In 1947, high-speed compound electric ocean liners cross the Atlantic in three days, and mechanical innovation has reshaped daily life. Roland Clewe, an ambitious inventor based in Sardis, New Jersey, works alongside Mrs. Margaret Raleigh, a wealthy widow who funds his elaborate laboratories. Together, they launch a daring submarine expedition to the North Pole using the Dipsey, an underwater vessel fitted with electric engines and advanced dive gear. Because Clewe must remain in Sardis to work on his ground-penetrating "Artesian ray," he entrusts the leadership of the polar voyage to his loyal, old-fashioned assistant, Samuel Block, along with electrical experts and a veteran Cape Cod sailor.

As the Dipsey navigates hidden aquatic caverns beneath thick ceiling ice, Sammy stays in cipher communication with Clewe and Margaret. The crew uncovers an ice-bound polar lake, observes the solitary antics of a tame, battered-fluked whale, and ultimately reaches latitude ninety degrees, triumphantly taking possession of the North Pole. Meanwhile, in Sardis, Clewe perfects his Artesian ray—a light beam capable of rendering solid ground temporarily transparent, allowing observers to look miles down into the earth using specialized telescopes. Because the ray also renders human tissue invisible to outside eyes, Clewe installs a Venetian-blind screen around the viewing area to protect his observers' privacy.

Disaster turns into opportunity when Clewe's heavy, cone-shaped "automatic shell"—a self-propelled boring machine—accidental slips from its scaffolding. The machine drives itself fourteen miles down into the earth before coming to a complete stop. Determined to discover what lies at the bottom, Clewe constructs a custom drop-car and descends the narrow fourteen-mile shaft alone. At the bottom, he finds his shell resting upon an impenetrable, luminous surface. Ascending back to the surface, Clewe formulates a revolutionary physical theory: the earth was originally a giant comet whose outer layer of primitive carbon was compressed by intense heat and gravity into a solid, unbroken diamond core. Returning to Margaret, Clewe shares his discovery of the "Great Stone of Sardis." With the polar expedition safely returned and their scientific triumphs secured, the pair look forward to a peaceful future together.

How It Unfolds

The transatlantic arrival Passengers cross the Atlantic aboard the high-speed compound liner Euterpe-Thalia, arriving in New York after a three-day journey that showcases the routine, highly mechanized travel of 1947.

Partners in science Roland Clewe rides his horse to the estate of Margaret Raleigh, his devoted partner and investor, to discuss their joint ventures and their growing personal devotion to one another.

Submarine preparations Clewe outlines his polar expedition, enlisting his trusted foreman Samuel Block to represent his interests aboard the submarine Dipsey, while satisfying Sammy’s nostalgic request to hire an old Cape Cod sailor for surface navigation.

Messages from the deep While the Dipsey travels beneath the Arctic ice, Sammy uses an exclusive telegraphic cipher to send regular progress updates back to Sardis, including a bizarre message declaring that they have "got the devil on board."

Peering into the earth Clewe successfully tests his Artesian ray, discovering that it renders soil and human flesh transparent; to prevent viewers from becoming unwittingly invisible to others, he builds an enclosed Venetian-blind screen around the apparatus.

Conquering the Pole The crew of the Dipsey navigates submerged passageways, names an underground body of water "Lake Shiver," and reaches the absolute North Pole, where Captain Hubbell formally logs their coordinates at latitude ninety degrees.

The runaway shell Back at the Sardis facility, a massive automatic boring shell breaks from its wooden supports and burrows fourteen miles straight down into the earth's crust under its own immense mechanical power.

Journey to the center Clewe lowers himself down the fourteen-mile vertical shaft in a specialized car, reaching the bottom where he discovers that the core of the earth consists of a smooth, immovable globe of solid diamond.

Reaping the rewards Having publicly announced the North Pole discovery and privately confirmed the earth's diamond core, Clewe and Margaret celebrate their mutual happiness while Sammy and Sarah Block retire to a comfortable life surrounded by fine brass housewares.

The People

• Roland Clewe: An intensely focused inventor who longs to peer into the hidden depths of the earth and solve nature's structural mysteries. He starts as an obsessively preoccupied scientist unable to enjoy simple pleasures, but ends up a fulfilled, happily married man who can appreciate the world around him.
• Mrs. Margaret Raleigh: A rich, handsome widow five years Clewe's junior who dedicates her late husband's fortune to financing Clewe's research. She desires to participate directly in Clewe's victories and gain his heart, ultimately becoming his wife and closest confidante.
• Samuel "Sammy" Block: Clewe's quiet, practical, and intensely loyal right-hand man. Though pragmatic and wary of foolish risks, he faithfully commands the submarine expedition to the North Pole, returning home with national fame and substantial financial rewards.
• Sarah Block: Sammy’s sharp-tongued, opinionated wife who insists on strict decorum, warm clothes, and proper ceremony. She fears polar rheumatism and whale collisions, but takes immense pride in her husband's success and enjoys the luxurious home furnishings it affords them.
• Captain James Hubbell: A veteran Cape Cod sailor brought along on the Dipsey to handle surface navigation. He spends his Arctic voyage studying the local marine life, eventually convincing himself that the entire polar sea contains only one very tame whale with a damaged fluke.

In Its Own Voice

"The hull of each of these vessels contained nothing but its electric engines and its propelling machinery... The upper portion rested upon the lower hull, the only point of contact being an enormous ball-and-socket joint."

— Describing the stable, compound ocean liners that cross the Atlantic in 1947.

"Longitude everything; latitude ninety, which is as near as I can make it out."

— Captain Hubbell announcing their arrival at the exact spot of the North Pole.

"If it hadn't been that we discovered the pole, and so got able to afford good furniture, all those handsome things would have been made of common silver, just as if they was pots and kettles!"

— Sarah Block reflecting on the material benefits of their Arctic expedition.

What It's Really About

The novel explores the boundless promise of human ingenuity and the irresistible urge to conquer unexplored frontiers. Written at the tail end of the nineteenth century, it contrasts old-fashioned mechanical instincts with the rapid onset of electrical automation, questioning whether technological efficiency strips away the aesthetic joy of discovery. Beneath its adventurous plot lies a lighthearted meditation on ambition, partnership, and scientific faith: Clewe's urge to peer deep beneath the earth's surface mirrors his desire for absolute, undeniable truth. Ultimately, the narrative asserts that genuine scientific triumph is hollow unless it is shared with those we love, balancing high-minded intellectual pursuits with comfortable, domestic happiness.

Why Read It Today

The Great Stone of Sardis offers a delightful, nostalgic window into late nineteenth-century speculative fiction. Modern readers who enjoy classic proto-science fiction, speculative technology, and gentle Victorian humor will appreciate Stockton's imaginative vision of 1947—replete with electric submarines, ground-penetrating light rays, and high-speed ocean transit. The reading experience is light, warm, and distinctly whimsical, preferring earnest invention and pleasant banter over dark suspense or grim dystopian themes.

The book's minor hurdles lie in its era-specific quirks: the scientific explanations reflect the outdated physical theories of the late 1800s, and the dialogue occasionally leans into heavy regional dialect, particularly through the rustic phrasing of Samuel and Sarah Block. Additionally, modern audiences may find the story's complete lack of existential danger or real antagonists unusual for a polar exploration novel. Yet these very qualities give the book its serene charm. It remains a refreshing, optimistic portrait of an era that viewed the future not with dread, but with cozy, boundless curiosity.