Bill Harvey’s THE GREAT BEING—the fourth published volume of Harvey’s Agents of Cosmic Intelligence series, but the first in chronological order—follows the journey of The Great Being, a cosmic entity who creates avatars of Himself to experience and learn through the challenges of the physical universe. At the heart of the story are the avatars of The Great Being, particularly the Agents Melchizedek and Layla, tasked with guiding humanity’s ethical evolution on Earth. Their mission is complicated by the presence of the Rebels, avatars of The Great Being’s wayward son Lucifer, who seek to undermine their efforts and claim control of the universe.
Harvey’s worldbuilding is rich and inventive, blending elements of mythology, spirituality, and science fiction. The story spans vast expanses of time and space, from the dawn of creation to the distant future and across multiple worlds and planes of existence. The author’s vivid descriptions and philosophical musings give the narrative a sense of depth and grandeur: “Melchizedek stayed lucid as he watched the baby’s dreams, a collage of bright colors repeating in various ways as if the color show were a musical score using a small number of notes.” The novel’s exploration of the clash between these opposing forces is thought-provoking and nuanced. The Agents and Rebels are not portrayed as simplistic embodiments of Good and Evil, but rather as complex entities grappling with their own natures and the consequences of their actions. The author delves into the psychological and spiritual implications of their struggles, raising questions about the nature of identity, destiny, and the human condition.
One of the novel’s strengths is its focus on the relationship between Melchizedek and Layla, whose bond is tested by the challenges they face and the influence of the powerful human brains they inhabit. Their interactions are marked by tenderness, humor, and a deep sense of shared purpose, adding an emotional core to the cosmic scope of the narrative. However, the story’s pacing can be uneven at times, with some sections feeling overly expository or philosophical at the expense of narrative momentum. In one section, for instance, Melchizedek and Layla infiltrate a Cro Magnon warrior society ruled by a “Great King.” Harvey depicts their rigorous training, everyday customs, and spiritual ceremonies in great detail; and, while these passages are an engaging read, they ultimately contribute little to advancing the overarching narrative or illuminating the novel’s central themes. The shifts between different time periods and characters’ perspectives may also be disorienting for some readers. And the novel’s ambitious themes and dense worldbuilding occasionally lead to passages that may be challenging for readers to fully grasp on a first reading.
Despite these issues, THE GREAT BEING remains a compelling and thought-provoking work of science fiction. Harvey’s sprawling, hugely ambitious exploration of consciousness, free will, and the eternal dance between light and darkness is intellectually stimulating and emotionally resonant. The novel’s central message—that all beings, no matter how lost or misguided, are ultimately part of a greater cosmic unity—is a hopeful and uplifting one.
Bill Harvey’s THE GREAT BEING is a complex and rewarding novel that offers a unique perspective on the nature of existence and the struggle for enlightenment.
~Edward Sung for IndieReader