A wealthy steamship magnate and his daughter find themselves aboard their yacht, which unexpectedly slows down in calm waters. As they investigate, they discover a mysterious force is preventing the vessel from moving. The crew suspects they may have encountered a sea monster, but the true cause is a strange jelly-like substance in the water, which emits a foul odor and seems to be a mass of microscopic creatures. Meanwhile, a flight commander receives a distress signal from the yacht and prepares to investigate the situation in a seaplane. He and his friend, a scientist, discuss the potential dangers of the jelly-like substance, which is later identified as a mass of tiny animalcules that have formed a "silver sea." This phenomenon begins to spread, affecting navigation and threatening marine life. As the silver sea expands, it becomes a significant threat to coastal cities, leading to widespread panic and disruption. The government struggles to find a solution, while the protagonist, who has developed a romantic interest in the magnate's daughter, becomes increasingly involved in the efforts to combat the menace. The scientist discovers that the animalcules can be destroyed by sound waves at a specific frequency. They devise a plan to use a submarine siren tuned to this frequency to clear the jelly-like mass. As they prepare to implement their plan, the magnate becomes trapped in his home as the silver sea encroaches upon him. In a race against time, the protagonist and his allies manage to reach the magnate and use the siren to clear a path through the silver sea. They successfully rescue him, and the method proves effective in combating the menace, leading to the eventual restoration of normalcy. The story concludes with the protagonist and the magnate's daughter planning their future together, having overcome both the external threat of the silver sea and the internal challenges of their relationship. The narrative explores themes of love, courage, and the struggle against seemingly insurmountable odds.
By Murray Leinster · First published 1962 · Genre: Science Fiction, Adventure, Thriller · 9 chapters