Customer Reviews

The Amphibian

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"The Amphibian" is such a beautiful book. It is enchanting and absorbing concerning the fascinating, yet sad, life story of Ichthyander the Amphibian. Ichthyander is such a winsome character. He's loveably sweet and cute (and, of course, very handsome!). Plus, he's kind, and very sensitive. You'd want to give him a big hug and say 'Everything will be just fine. We love you just as you are -- gills and all!" It's a pity in the story that he is disliked and misunderstood by the main creep, the villain Don Pedro Zurita, and practically everybody else. One cannot help feel sorry for Ichthyander.

In the section "A Day of Ichthyander's", the reader gets to see how happy he is being in the water, and among the sea creatures. One can easily imagine hearing his laughter of delight when the dolphins arrive to play with him under the warm sun. Ichthyander is really a human merman: the 'Prince of the Sea' --- if there ever was one. The only thing he's missing is a fishtail where his legs are. Not to sound sexist, "The Amphibian" can be considered the male version to "The Little Mermaid". By the way, the book actually gives us the real meaning for Ichthyander's unusual name. They are Greek stem words for "fish" (ichthy-) and "man" (ander or andr). Thus combined, Ichthyander's name is actually 'Fish Man'. He is a 'manfish'; or merman. A human merman, that is.

"The Amphibian" was written about 1928, before the age of snorkeling and scuba diving. Belayev, in describing Ichthyander's undersea ventures, gives some interesting descriptions of undersea life. Had Belayev lived a bit longer, he would have seen his prevision of mankind mastering the ocean be realized. No, people wouldn't be literal amphibians. But people would be using aqualungs to explore underwater. The early aqualungs came about in the mid-1940's during World War II. By then, Belayev was already dead, having passed away in 1942. Also had Belayev lived, he would have seen this famous book of his get turned into a magnificent Russian science fiction film classic, "The Amphibian Man" (1961). There are some changes to the story. But, nevertheless, it's an amazing film. Belayev, himself, would have been pleased.

And if Ichthyander really existed, he would have enough friends, as there are so many scuba diving enthusiasts the world over. Including, perhaps, the late great Jacques Yves Cousteau. At least Ichthyander's new friends wouldn't be scared of him as most divers pretty much have similar underwater gear. -- Oh! And I would have been his friend, too! I've never scuba dived; but I love swimming!

I purchased both an original out-of-print copy of "The Amphibian" (from Amazon[.com] Z-shops in October), with a drawing of Ichthyander riding his beloved dolphin, Leading, on the jacket cover; and, this month, the reissued edition of the book, with Ichthyander on the cover brandishing a dagger. It was the reissued one I took back-and-forth in my travels. I didn't want to lose my out-of-print copy. That edition stays in my library at home.

I recommend as an excellent companion piece to this book the movie "The Amphibian Man", which "The Amphibian" is based. Both the movie and book are excellent. But get the DVD version of "The Amphibian Man", for the picture quality is visually stunning and better.

I found this review right here on Amazon and liked it so much that I want to include it. "When I was 10 year old, my brother gave it to me as a gift on my birthday. I fell in love with Ichthyandar, and his world.

Years later, and halfway around the world, I am still smitten. I scoured local and online bookstores trying to find an English version of the book a few years ago. I finally found it in a little 2nd hand online bookstore in MN. I highly recommend this tale to anyone with an open mind."

When I was 10 year old, my brother gave it to me as a gift  on my birthday. I fell in love with Ichthyandar, and his world.
Years later, and halfway around the world, I am still smitten. I scoured local and online bookstores trying to find an English version of the book a few years ago. The one I read as a young girl was translated in Bengali. I finally found it in a little 2nd hand online bookstore in MN.
I highly recommend this SciFi/ fairy tale to anyone with an open mind.

This review is for the Kindle formatting, not for the novel itself. Unfortunately the publisher has decided that the author should be alphabetized on the Kindle by his first name instead of his last name. Most of the Western world prefers to list authors by last name, but this publisher must be trying out something new.