The Mouthpiece of Zitu

In Short

First published in The All-Story Weekly in 1919, this classic interplanetary adventure follows Earthman Jason Croft, whose spirit travels across space to the distant planet Palos. Occupying the body of a deceased native named Jasor, Croft navigates delicate court politics, religious upheaval, and high-stakes military conflict while serving as the revered Mouthpiece of Zitu. Alongside his loyal friend Prince Robur and his beloved Naia of Aphur, Croft introduces advanced Earth technologies like electricity and aviation to save Tamarizia from invading forces, weaving science fiction with classic planetary romance.

The Story

The narrative opens in an Earth asylum, where Dr. Murray examines an emaciated new patient who exhibits a fascinating case of lost identity. The man claims to be Jason Croft, a human who learned to project his spirit across billions of miles to the world of Palos. Murray listens spellbound as Croft recounts his extraordinary double life. On Palos, Croft’s spirit took possession of the body of Jasor of Nodhur after the original occupant died. Embraced by high priest Zud, Croft is proclaimed the "Mouthpiece of Zitu," a divine teacher destined to guide Tamarizia into a new era of enlightenment and equality.

Croft's position is fraught with political and personal peril. When Zud reveals to Naia—the golden-haired virgin of Aphur to whom Jasor was betrothed—that Croft's spirit occupies her lover's body, the news causes her immense emotional turmoil. Croft works to earn her trust directly, meeting her both in the flesh and via his astral projection to explain the truth and confirm their deep, spiritual bond. Meanwhile, Croft allies with Prince Robur of Aphur to modernize Palos. Using his Earthly knowledge, Croft harnesses mountain streams with copper penstocks and dynamos to bring electricity to Himyra, builds motorized land transport, and constructs pontooned flying machines to transform Tamarizian society.

Political instability soon threatens the realm. Generalissimo Jadgor, Robur's fiercely patriotic father, initially clashes with Croft over religious and state authority, but external danger forces unity. The hostile nation of Zollaria equips the blue-skinned hordes of Mazzer with advanced weaponry, launching a massive invasion that pushes Tamarizia's forces back to the stronghold of Atla. Jadgor calls upon the Mouthpiece of Zitu for aid.

Croft responds by leading reinforcements armed with new weapons to the front lines. During the conflict, Croft is captured by the enemy and brought before the seductive Kalamita and her brother Bandhor. Refusing to trade his nation's welfare or his devotion to Naia for Kalamita's favors, Croft is condemned to torture and death. He is rescued through the cunning of Maia, a blue-skinned servant loyal to Naia. Disguised with dark skin dye and a shaved head, Croft escapes the enemy camp and reunites with Naia, who has braved the front lines to save him.

Together with Robur's arriving forces, they turn the tide of war and secure peace for Tamarizia. Having established electrical networks, aviation, and modern medicine on Palos, Croft temporarily projects his spirit back to Earth to gather vital medical knowledge at the asylum. After completing his consultation with Dr. Murray, Croft bids his physician farewell and permanently returns to Palos to raise his newborn child with Naia, leaving his physical Earth body to expire peacefully in his hospital cell.

How It Unfolds

The physician's discovery Dr. Murray examines an emaciated patient at the State Hospital for the Insane, only to find the man addressing him with eerie familiarity. The patient begins recounting his spiritual voyages across billions of miles of space to the planet Palos.

Proclaimed by the priesthood Taking residence in the body of Jasor, Croft works alongside High Priest Zud to reshape Tamarizian society. Zud proclaims him the Mouthpiece of Zitu, though Croft insists on being recognized as a mortal teacher of practical wisdom rather than a god.

Confession and astral comfort When Zud reveals Croft's true nature to Naia, the news leaves her distraught and seeking refuge among the sacred Gayana. Croft uses his astral projection to visit her in her private shrine, comforting her and confirming that their bond transcends physical form.

Harnessing the mountain torrents Partnering with Prince Robur, Croft designs massive copper penstocks and turbine generators in the hills above Himyra. They successfully generate the first electrical current on Palos, bringing bright arc lights and motorized power to the ancient city.

The blue horde advances The hostile state of Zollaria armors the blue-skinned warriors of Mazzer, overwhelming Tamarizia's border guards and driving Generalissimo Jadgor back to the fortified city of Atla. Realizing the existential threat, Jadgor formally requests aid from the Mouthpiece of Zitu.

Captivity and salvation Croft marches to Atla with rifle-equipped troops, but is captured by enemy commander Bandhor and his sister Kalamita. After Croft rejects Kalamita's advances, Naia's servant Maia disguises Croft with dark stain and a shaved scalp, allowing him to escape back to Tamarizian lines.

The final journey home After defeating the invaders and establishing aerial defenses, Croft temporarily projects his spirit back to his Earthly body in the State Hospital. He gathers medical knowledge from Dr. Murray before severing his Earthly ties forever to live alongside Naia and their child.

The People

• Jason Croft, an Earthman capable of projecting his soul across space. He seeks to modernize the planet Palos and win the heart of Naia, overcoming political intrigue, religious skepticism, and foreign invasion to establish a democratic, technologically advanced era for his adopted home.
• Naia of Aphur, a golden-haired, purple-eyed maiden dedicated to the sacred fires of Ga. Deeply faithful and resilient, she struggles with the revelation that Croft occupies her betrothed's body, but her love for his true spirit leads her to defy convention, learn flight, and brave war to rescue him.
• Robur of Aphur, the crown prince and Croft's steadfast friend. Enthusiastic and practical, he embraces Croft's technological innovations—from dynamos to aircraft—and serves as the essential military and engineering lieutenant who helps realize Croft's vision for Tamarizia.
• Zud, the high priest of Zitu. Initially a rigid religious authority who meddles by telling Naia the truth about Croft's spirit, he grows into a humbled follower who accepts Croft's teachings on mortal equality and spirit projection.
• Jadgor, the fiercely patriotic generalissimo of Tamarizia and Robur's father. Proud and cautious, he initially resists Croft's influence over the state, but ultimately puts his country above his pride by calling upon Croft to save Tamarizia from the invading armies of Mazzer.
• Dr. Murray, the medical director of the State Hospital for the Insane on Earth. Empathetic and open-minded, he provides medical texts to Croft's physical body and serves as the solitary Earthly confidant who validates Croft's astounding journey.

In Its Own Voice

"Sane or insane, true or untrue, I wanted to hear the rest of the story." Dr. Murray reflects on his growing conviction as he listens to Croft detail his astral journeys to Palos.

"In Tamarizia after fourteen days men walk equal in Zitu's sight. Let thy word go forth to this effect." Croft commands High Priest Zud to abolish religious bending of the knee and establish social equality across the nation.

"Behold, Rob, with this shall we harness the lightnings and bid them do our will." Croft demonstrates the operation of the first hydroelectric dynamo to Prince Robur in their newly built mountain power station.

What It's Really About

Beneath its pulp space-opera exterior, the novel explores the friction between divine authority and scientific progress. Croft repeatedly rejects attempts to deify him, insisting that technological miracles—such as hydroelectricity, internal combustion, and aviation—are simply natural laws available to any human willing to understand them. The text champions secular democracy and spiritual equality, showing Croft dismantled aristocratic privilege and priestly rule in favor of shared knowledge. Additionally, the narrative delves into the nature of identity and love, arguing that true affection binds to the immaterial spirit rather than the physical vessel.

Why Read It Today

Fans of early twentieth-century planetary romance—such as Edgar Rice Burroughs’ Barsoom series—will find much to enjoy in this classic piece of serialized pulp fiction. Giesy presents a rich, unabashedly imaginative adventure filled with ancient temples, flying pontoon craft, hydroelectric power plants, and telepathic soul travel.

The reading experience moves at a brisk, energetic pace, driven by dramatic dialogue and colorful world-building. Readers should be prepared for the prose conventions of 1919 serial fiction, including formal, courtly dialogue, theatrical villains, and dramatic romance. The framing mechanism of an asylum doctor listening to an astral voyager adds a grounded human warmth to the grand scale of the alien conflict, making it a rewarding artifact of early American science fiction.