ab initio: a novel

by Jacob Terracina

Raza Mugabi, a biologist turned software engineer, is not sure why this particular tech startup hired him. His track record is far from stellar. In fact, he’s not certain what the company ultimately even does. Sometimes it’s better to keep your head down and your mouth shut, he figures. At least, until his curiosity gets the better of him.

Eight years later, Raza finds himself as a defendant and key technical witness in a high-profile court case. A world-class prosecutor and a woefully inexperienced defense attorney go head-to-head against each other, their clients, and their consciences in an effort to answer the question on everyone’s
Is the startup’s invention, legally speaking, human?

The arguments leap between the technical, political, ethical, and philosophical consequences of the decision, and as the trial progresses, the many, many secrets of the startup are laid bare in this hilarious cross-genre thrill-ride.

367 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 30, 2025

Reviews

[Jake · Rating 5 out of 5]

Move over War And Peace. Kick rocks, Gatsby. Take a hike, Ulysses. I can say without bias that this is the best book.

[Erin Ampersand · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really cool story about the creation of humanlike intelligence, told through the lenses of courtroom drama and the hearts of the humans working on it.

Read for: A solid marriage of interesting character writing and sci-fi

Avoid if: You aren’t in the mood for a slow book