Blending spiritual philosophy, alternate history, pre-historic adventure, and brisk life-after-life storytelling, The Great Being is above all a beginning. First comes creation itself, which gets started with the knockout opening line (“The Nothingness felt surprise upon realizing itself.”), and then, in just a few pages, of the known universe, of what we might call gods, angels, and souls, and soon of homo sapiens, evolving past Neanderthals with the guidance of two Agents of Cosmic Intelligence, Melchizedek and Layla. Harvey (Mind Magic) follows that duo’s births and rebirths from the era when fire was new up to the dawn of the Abrahamic religions. The Great Being also begins Harvey’s Agents of Cosmic Intelligence series, which imagines the history of the universe itself and the agents’ efforts to connect humanity to higher consciousness.

This is the fourth entry published but the first chronological chapter. It shares the swift pacing, spiritual seeking, twisty plotting, and sharply human dialogue of the earlier books, though its focus feels tighter. This time, Harvey surveys the act of creation, narrated by a well-meaning creator variously called The Great Being, The One Self, and—slightly apologetically—He. (“He had He and She inside of Him,” Harvey notes.) Despite surprises like Him creating Venus the Lovebringer and warning against the power of the ego, the cosmology of Harvey’s series draws heavily on Milton, with Lucifer endowed with free will as an experiment and leading a rebellion against the Great Being.

Here, that rebellion is fought on Earth, as Melchizedek and Layla are born time and again among the people, attempting to guide them forward. As the heroes nudge humanity forward (with cave paintings and other surprises) they face Earthly wars, Barbary Macaques, and Lucifer’s minions. They also must not become too human and forget their connection to the One Self. That’s dramatic and resonant, rich with spiritual implication. Seekers and lovers of mind-bending pre-histories will relish this.

Takeaway: Vital novel of creation, ancient people, and Agents nudging humanity forward.

Comparable Titles: William Bramley’s The Gods of Eden, Michael Flynn’s Eifelheim.

Production grades
Cover: A-
Design and typography: N/A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A-