Found nearly dead in a frozen wasteland, Victor Frankenstein is brought aboard an exploration ship. Once revived, he proceeds to tell the ship's captain the story of how he came to be there. When he discovers that the Captain has transcribed his entire tale, Frankenstein asks to see the finished product and proceeds to modify and augment the notes.
Upon discovering the changes, the ship's surgeon does not believe Victor is being fully honest about the deaths involved and secretly copies the original story as it was told before its truth could be tarnished.