Jacob Hartmann's The Creation of God is a book that asks a question so big it's almost dizzying: what was God's life like before creation?

The Story

The story starts in the Void. Not darkness, but the complete absence of anything. Here, a nascent consciousness—the Source—simply is. There's no plan, no grand design, just existence. The book follows this entity as it grapples with its own nature. The first half is a quiet, introspective journey. We feel its crushing isolation, its first flickers of thought, and its desperate experiments to create something else, just to break the silence. When creation finally begins, it's not with a bang, but with tentative, often flawed, attempts. Stars fizzle out. Life forms collapse. The Source learns through trial and heartbreaking error. The central tension isn't good vs. evil, but the struggle of infinite power paired with the inexperience of a child, trying to build a home it doesn't yet understand.

Why You Should Read It

What hooked me wasn't the theology, but the raw emotion. Hartmann makes the Source feel incredibly relatable. Its loneliness is palpable. Its first spark of joy at creating a simple, stable light is triumphant. You're not reading about an untouchable deity; you're reading about a being on a confusing, monumental journey of self-discovery. It reframes the universe as a project born from longing and curiosity, not just cold omnipotence. The prose is clear and vivid, making these huge ideas feel intimate. It made me look at the world—the messy, beautiful, complicated world—and wonder if it all started with a feeling we all know: the desire to connect.

Final Verdict

This book is perfect for anyone who loves big-idea science fiction or philosophical fiction that's grounded in real feeling. If you enjoyed the cosmic scope of authors like Ted Chiang or the emotional depth of 'The Book of Form and Emptiness', you'll find a lot to love here. It's also great for readers who are spiritual but not necessarily religious, who are comfortable with questions that don't have easy answers. Fair warning: it's not a fast-paced adventure. It's a slow, thoughtful, and ultimately moving character portrait of the ultimate character. If you're in the mood for a read that will stretch your imagination and touch your heart, this is it.