The Galactic Now

The Assemblies of the Living, Book 2

By: Brent Clay

Narrated by: Samuel Peery

After first contact, humanity learns that the galaxy is a place of ancient and far-reaching authorities. The Earth has not emerged as an autonomous peer into a community of sovereign worlds, but as an involuntary entrant into a galactic society whose demands are not light. John Riley, the physicist who inadvertently touched off first contact with his research into gravitation, now sees that the implications of his discoveries lead to more than technical frontiers. The galaxy, the nature of the Universe itself, is not what humanity has believed it to be.

©2023 Brent Clay (P)2024 Brent Clay

My first review, after 12 yrs on Audible.

This must be the most overlooked science fiction novel ever. Maybe due to Brent Clay publishing it himself. Definitely maybe because of that. However, I count myself very fortunate to have found it.

The Galactic Now, and Prelude to Ascension, is somehow like if Arthur C. Clarke, Kim Stanley Robinson and Liu Cixin had a baby. Two babies. But it's from a guy you've never heard of.

It's hard sci-fi, lots of in-depth on mundane stuff, but it spans the whole spectrum. It's philosophical, techie, emotional, and epic without leaving the solar system.

This is by far one of the best science fiction stories I've ever read (listened to). And with some 250 titles or so through the years here, it baffles me that that can still happen.

I kind if dreaded that the author would slip up and ruin the ending somehow, but oh did he not.

The Galactic Now delivers on every point, a perfect conclusion to The Assemblies of the Living.

Oftentimes thoughtful Sci-Fi, blending the known, the plausible, and just enough of the improbable to keep things interesting

The balance of my thoughts on this book are reflected in the title, but generally speaking, I thought it was not quite as good as the first installment. Also, I could have done without the author’s recurring need to dismiss religion and faith with pockets of pseudo-intellectualism. I also wish this book would have exchanged certain long-winded asides with material that advanced further the interplay between alien powers and alien worlds with humanity and Earth.

Exactly the type of sci-fi I love

A very thought provoking combination of hard-scifi, philosophy, religion and spirituality, is the exact kind of First Contact type of material I crave. What I love is that this book makes it more than just first contact with an alien civilization. It's also a type of "first contact" between humanity and the parts of ourselves that the scientifically minded may find alien. Just like relativity and quantum mechanics dont agree within a limited horizon, so to must we expand our minds to understand the big picture of the universe and our small place in it.

totally unique

a unique take on first contact with a healthy dose of moral philosophy and self reflection on the human condition. this series is a must read.

Great Series

Love this series. This book specifically dives into some philosophical ends of first contact as well, but still extremely interesting. Great. Will listen again… and that says a lot.

The Best Science Fiction Series I’ve Read or Listened To

The Galactic Now is an absolute masterpiece! I was completely captivated by the seamless blend of science fiction with believable characters and a gripping plot.

Also, the narrator's performance was beyond exceptional, breathing life into each character with such depth and authenticity.

The Galactic Now is a must-experience for any science fiction enthusiast! I am anxiously awaiting the next book!

a very unique take on first contact

I thoroughly enjoyed this one. The only flaw might be too many characters that are used more as a backdrop for the developing story and don't stand on their own. Besides that, great concept, interesting ideas, intriguing plot, and some well done characters.

The author sounds like a technical snob.

Overly inflated verbosity. The author SOUNDS like a technical SNOB.



See below's EXAMPLE that attempts to mimic B. Clay's WORDY snobbishness.


The egregious proliferation of superfluous verbosity is indeed an affliction that regrettably plagues many an intriguing subject matter, thereby detracting from its inherent fascination and rendering it burdensome and unwieldy for the hapless audience. Alas, the prodigious proliferation of unnecessarily convoluted language often serves to obfuscate rather than illuminate the subject at hand, thereby thwarting the transmission of knowledge and impeding comprehension.

It is truly lamentable that such a fascinating topic should be encumbered by the gratuitous embellishment of language, as it deprives both speaker and listener alike of the opportunity to engage with it in a manner that is both accessible and enriching. In essence, the imposition of excessive verbosity serves only to obfuscate the inherent beauty and complexity of the subject matter, relegating it to the realm of incomprehensibility and alienating potential enthusiasts.

In light of these observations, it behooves us to eschew the pernicious temptation of verbosity and instead strive for clarity and conciseness in our discourse, thereby ensuring that the inherent allure of the subject matter remains undiminished and accessible to all who seek to partake in its exploration.

SNOB, am I right?

The story quality.will be a Classic novel!! The Best ever!!

This book series goes way beyond sci-fi.. It will become one of the novel classics along with the likes of A.C.Clarcke or Asimov and CS Lewis!
Brent Clay is absolutely one of the finest authors I have ever encountered.. and I have been reading for 70 years!!

Very different first contact series

I really like the first two and hope it does not take 3 years till the next book!