The Jewels of Aptor · Chapters
Chapters explained
Chapter companions for The Jewels of Aptor by Samuel R. Delany.
Chapter 1
Epigraph
The epigraph presents the opening lines from 'The Galactica' by the one-armed poet Geo, an epic poem about the conflicts between Leptar and Aptor, setting a poetic and mythic tone for the book.
Chapter 2
The Jewels of Aptor
The chapter introduces the setting and the crew's journey toward the island of Aptor. Key characters are established, including Geo, Urson, Snake, and the captain. Tensions arise as the captain and mate discuss the mysterious Aptor, and the crew begins to experience strange events, including the discovery of Whitey's body and Jordde's violent act against Snake. The party eventually lands on Aptor, where they encounter a bear-man that transforms into a human, discover a ruined temple with disturbing rituals, and cross to the City of New Hope. There, they face jelly creatures, Geo loses his arm to radiation, and revelations about Jordde and the priestesses unfold. The chapter culminates in a meeting with the elder Argo Incarnate and a warning from the Old One, leading to the arrival at Hama's Temple.
Chapter 3
Prologue
A teacher shows a young girl a film of a horrific event involving a boy being tortured. He uses the lesson to discuss the nature of reason, history, and the duality of experience, referencing Cellini, the Mona Lisa, and the Great Fire. The girl struggles with the horror but begins to consider understanding the reasons behind such acts.
Chapter 4
I
The chapter opens with the captain and mate Jordde discussing the loss of ten men at Aptor and the strange survival of a priestess. Meanwhile, Geo, Urson, and a four-armed boy named Snake are recruited by the priestess, who reveals herself as a high priestess of the Goddess Argo. She tests Geo's knowledge of ancient rituals, and Snake steals a jewel identical to one she wears, proving his skill as a thief. The party agrees to sail with her.
Chapter 5
II
Geo meets with the priestess, who reveals herself as Argo Incarnate. She explains the history of Aptor's invasions, the significance of the three jewels, and the kidnapping of her sister. She tasks Geo and his companions with stealing the third jewel from Hama's palace and rescuing her sister, while she retains the two jewels for safety.
Chapter 6
III
Geo and Urson interrupt Argo interrogating Snake, whom she accuses of being a spy for Aptor. Geo defends Snake, suspecting Argo's motives are corrupted by desire for power. Later, Urson shares a traumatic story about killing a dying man for three gold coins, which he still carries. The chapter ends with the ship preparing to sail.
Chapter 7
IV
Geo, Urson, and Iimmi debate the motives of Argo, Jordde, and Snake, and decide to proceed into the jungle to find the Temple of Hama. Iimmi recounts a previous disastrous landing on Aptor. Geo and Urson discuss a shared dream and suspect the mate of killing Whitey and attempting to kill Snake.
Chapter 8
V
Geo, Urson, and Iimmi travel beside a river, encounter a bear-man that transforms into a human after being killed, and camp near a ruined building. They experience unsettling events including a flock of creatures and a vision of the captain and mate aboard the ship, where Argo insists on staying near Aptor for seven more days.
Chapter 9
VI
The party explores a ruined temple, discovering tombs and ancient rituals. They encounter a necrophage creature, which they befriend, and find parallels between the rituals of Argo and Hama. Geo and Iimmi, both former students at the University of Olcse Olwnh, discuss the connections between the old religions.
Chapter 10
VII
The party crosses the river and explores a ruined city, encountering a dangerous amoeba-like creature and suffering physical effects from radiation. Geo loses his jewel and experiences severe arm pain, while Snake's telepathic sensitivity is triggered by a radio tower. The chapter ends with a dream-like sequence from a perspective inside Hama's temple.
Chapter 11
Chapter VIII
Geo, Urson, Iimmi, and Snake are at a temple of Argo. The jewels are lost in the water, and tensions rise as Snake is suspected of being a spy for Hama. The Priestess explains the history of Aptor, the Great Fire, and the fall of Hama's city. Geo and Iimmi explore the monastery, discovering a room with screens that reveal a communication with Jordde.
Chapter 12
IX
Geo, Urson, Iimmi, and Snake continue their journey on Aptor, learning from the elder Argo that she has two daughters and that the younger one must be rescued. Argo reveals Jordde's past as a novice priest and his role in torturing Snake, while the group climbs toward a volcano in search of Hama's temple and the final jewel.
Chapter 13
X
Hama explains the true nature of the jewels and their corrupting influence, revealing that Snake and young Argo have stolen the third jewel from the temple. Hama tasks Geo, Iimmi, and Urson with returning the jewels to Leptar to allow the infection of power to work itself out. The chapter follows Snake and Argo's daring theft and their escape through the temple.
Chapter 14
XI
The group departs from the temple and travels through the jungle and swamp toward the river. Argo reveals she saw a film of Snake's torture before being taken to the beach, and Iimmi presses Snake for answers about the beach's significance. Geo discusses the jewels' mind-control powers and Hama's infection. They encounter green mottled creatures in the swamp, and later receive a warning from an ancient voice about the temptation to use the jewels. The chapter ends with a vision of Priestess Argo ordering the captain to pilot the ship to Aptor's shore.
Chapter 15
XII
Geo explains to Iimmi the psychological and religious trauma that Jordde experienced on Aptor, which led him to attack anyone who shared the same transformative beach experience. Snake reveals that Urson switched the jewels for gold coins out of greed. Geo confronts Snake, who telepathically shares Urson's final thoughts of hate and love, causing Geo to break down. The chapter ends with a tense confrontation on the gangplank as Jordde, wielding an electric whip, attacks Snake and then Geo.
