A Dweller on Two Planets

A Dweller on Two Planets is a book by Frederick S. Oliver, first published in 1905, though the manuscript was typewritten and copyrighted earlier (1894 and again 1899), and finally issued posthumously by his mother. Set partly in ancient Atlantis, this metaphysical work presents itself as a channeled narrative from “Phylos the Thibetan” (also Walter Pierson), who recounts a previous lifetime amid the advanced Poseid civilization.

It vividly describes Atlantean society — complete with antigravity crafts, wireless telephony, aerial water generators, voice-controlled machines, and other precursors to 20th-century technology — tied to his modern-day incarnation in 19th-century America and spiritual lessons on karma, reincarnation, and ethical development.

The book has had an enduring influence in the New Age and occult communities. It served as source material for movements like “I AM,” the Lemurian Fellowship, and Elizabeth Claire Prophet, and helped shape myths around Mount Shasta and esoteric Atlantis lore. While its literary style draws mixed opinions, its speculative technology and metaphysical vision remain fascinating and thought-provoking.