The Great Stone of Sardis

"The Great Stone of Sardis" by Frank R. Stockton is a science fiction story that starts with a ship's arrival in New York, introducing Roland Clewe, a scientist with big dreams. He's working on the Artesian ray, which he hopes will let him see deep inside the Earth. We meet other important people, like Margaret Raleigh, who are part of Clewe's plans. He comes back from studying in Germany and finds out his work is moving forward, but not fast enough. A suspicious guy named Rovinski might be going on a submarine trip to the North Pole, which could cause trouble for Clewe's important work. The beginning of the book is full of exploration, new ideas, and a feeling of something bad might happen, hinting at the problems Clewe will face as he tries to achieve his goals while dealing with those who want to stop him.