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ab initio: a novel
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.
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.
- GenresScience Fiction
367 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 30, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
July 16, 2026
A brilliant book about the humanity and morality of AI
I’ve got a lot to say about this book but my take home is that this is an impressive science fiction novel by any standard. The fact that it is self-pub and a debut novel only adds the accomplishment of Ab Initio. If you had told me Neal Stephenson wrote this book I wouldn't have doubted it for a moment. This book does everything right and I immensely enjoyed it. Make no mistake: Jacob Terracina is a talented author and knows exactly what he’s doing.
This book is about a group of tech researchers who develop artificial general intelligence (AGI) and the social and philosophical implications. So what? Aren’t books like that a dime a dozen? Yes, but rarely do they succeed with such engrossing story telling, characterization, tension and impact on not only the reader but that real life implications of such a technology being unleashed. The story is told through several POVs but only two timelines: the events leading up to AGI being developed and the inevitable court aftermath of the social implications of the AGI, namely the AGI’s question of civil liberties. These two timelines were a great choice to explore AGI from two ends of this spectrum.
The characters are the crowning achievement of the book. Every character matters, has depth, personality and actually drives the plot. Raz, the evolutionary biologist turned engineer, is an endearing and inviting character and I loved his relationship with Mei—there was some serious and thoughtful development that went into the complex relationship between these two characters. Getting to know Mei and Markus (wow what a character) through the eyes of Raz was also a delight. The dynamic developed between these developers, their achievements and neurosis was all masterfully done. And then the other POVs—the dueling lawyers of the prosecution and defence—were also such a treat to read. A lazier author would’ve made these characters little more than plot devices. But not Terracina. He fleshed out the lawyers and even more—he made their personalities and struggles a major factor in the climax and resolution of the book. I can’t stress it enough: this is a character driven plot.
This book is also funny.
Work Chat was for communication. Speaking was apparently just an audio alert signal for the chat.
Chemistry existed well before you Plancks and your Bohrs and your Heisenbergs and you Schrodinger’s dropped a heavy quantum turd on the party.
Every page seethes with a dry and self-deprecating humor. The humor brings the characters to life and makes the reader sympathetic. This is particularly well done with Raz who steals the show with his neurosis.
The plot is compelling. You want to know how the AGI is being developed and it’s just so cool how quantum computing paired with the ab initio development of a real simulated brain is laid out here. The suspension of disbelief was very well done and the thrust of the book is always moving with wit, tragedy and complexity on every page. Not only do you get great science fiction writing from someone who understands science and engineering but you get great storytelling as well. If all of that weren’t satisfying enough, the climax and ending were profound
SPOILIES:
The main conflict of the book is if the AGI, a little girl named Abbi, should have autonomous rights. The matter is handled in a trial of the century. The prosecution is about to win at the end but the lawyer grows a conscience and realizes that if the AGI loses civil rights, it will be subsumed but a tech overlord company and she will be copied and enslaved for eternity.
Immortality minus the protections we seek here today will be a living, truly inescapable hell.
The dubious solution? The AGI must have mortality. Programmed death is the only way for the AGI to obtain the same rights as a human being and I got to say: WOW. What an incredible conclusion. It was a great resolution that also felt right. How could a sentient being expect the same human rights when they live forever? So the trade off is the AGI is either an eternal slave or lives a fleeting but free existence. Really awesome stuff. The thought that went into the morality of AGI is astounding. Bravo.
Like the author says in his afterward: It takes guts to read a self-published debut from some no-name dipshit I would say the gamble here paid off. I highly recommend this book.
I received a free copy as a judge for the SPSFC5 competition. This review has no bearing on the book’s standing in the competition.
I’ve got a lot to say about this book but my take home is that this is an impressive science fiction novel by any standard. The fact that it is self-pub and a debut novel only adds the accomplishment of Ab Initio. If you had told me Neal Stephenson wrote this book I wouldn't have doubted it for a moment. This book does everything right and I immensely enjoyed it. Make no mistake: Jacob Terracina is a talented author and knows exactly what he’s doing.
This book is about a group of tech researchers who develop artificial general intelligence (AGI) and the social and philosophical implications. So what? Aren’t books like that a dime a dozen? Yes, but rarely do they succeed with such engrossing story telling, characterization, tension and impact on not only the reader but that real life implications of such a technology being unleashed. The story is told through several POVs but only two timelines: the events leading up to AGI being developed and the inevitable court aftermath of the social implications of the AGI, namely the AGI’s question of civil liberties. These two timelines were a great choice to explore AGI from two ends of this spectrum.
The characters are the crowning achievement of the book. Every character matters, has depth, personality and actually drives the plot. Raz, the evolutionary biologist turned engineer, is an endearing and inviting character and I loved his relationship with Mei—there was some serious and thoughtful development that went into the complex relationship between these two characters. Getting to know Mei and Markus (wow what a character) through the eyes of Raz was also a delight. The dynamic developed between these developers, their achievements and neurosis was all masterfully done. And then the other POVs—the dueling lawyers of the prosecution and defence—were also such a treat to read. A lazier author would’ve made these characters little more than plot devices. But not Terracina. He fleshed out the lawyers and even more—he made their personalities and struggles a major factor in the climax and resolution of the book. I can’t stress it enough: this is a character driven plot.
This book is also funny.
Work Chat was for communication. Speaking was apparently just an audio alert signal for the chat.
Chemistry existed well before you Plancks and your Bohrs and your Heisenbergs and you Schrodinger’s dropped a heavy quantum turd on the party.
Every page seethes with a dry and self-deprecating humor. The humor brings the characters to life and makes the reader sympathetic. This is particularly well done with Raz who steals the show with his neurosis.
The plot is compelling. You want to know how the AGI is being developed and it’s just so cool how quantum computing paired with the ab initio development of a real simulated brain is laid out here. The suspension of disbelief was very well done and the thrust of the book is always moving with wit, tragedy and complexity on every page. Not only do you get great science fiction writing from someone who understands science and engineering but you get great storytelling as well. If all of that weren’t satisfying enough, the climax and ending were profound
SPOILIES:
The main conflict of the book is if the AGI, a little girl named Abbi, should have autonomous rights. The matter is handled in a trial of the century. The prosecution is about to win at the end but the lawyer grows a conscience and realizes that if the AGI loses civil rights, it will be subsumed but a tech overlord company and she will be copied and enslaved for eternity.
Immortality minus the protections we seek here today will be a living, truly inescapable hell.
The dubious solution? The AGI must have mortality. Programmed death is the only way for the AGI to obtain the same rights as a human being and I got to say: WOW. What an incredible conclusion. It was a great resolution that also felt right. How could a sentient being expect the same human rights when they live forever? So the trade off is the AGI is either an eternal slave or lives a fleeting but free existence. Really awesome stuff. The thought that went into the morality of AGI is astounding. Bravo.
Like the author says in his afterward: It takes guts to read a self-published debut from some no-name dipshit I would say the gamble here paid off. I highly recommend this book.
I received a free copy as a judge for the SPSFC5 competition. This review has no bearing on the book’s standing in the competition.
August 3, 2026
Ab Initio: A Novel by Jacob Terracina
I love reading first novels. This is Jacob Terracina’s first Sci Fi book (although he has published scientific papers) and he has hit the ground running. The book is based on an interesting premise, has several multidimensional characters, a bunch of hard science, a lot of conjecture about what is intelligence and awareness, and lots of courtroom battles. Additionally, I think that it is an interesting coincidence that Terracina’s first book is entitled AB INITIO which is Latin for from the beginning or from the start.
Chapter one starts us off in a courtroom where a world court is being asked to declare a new AI device “so impossibly advanced that it deserved all the protections typically reserved for living, breathing humans.” The chapters then flip back and forth from eight years ago up to the present describing the development of this remarkable thing. Along the way we learn about the main characters; four hardware and software engineers, and two opposing lawyers.
An “AI Overview” from Google states that “Sentience is the basic ability to feel, perceive, or experience subjective sensations like pain and pleasure, while Sapience is the higher-level capacity for wisdom, deep reasoning, self-awareness, and complex critical thinking.” A Venus flytrap senses a fly and closes its leaves to digest it but is it aware of what it is doing and why? How about when your cat brings you a “gift” of a dead mouse, or when your dog brings you a leash when wanting to go on a walk, or even when a rat learns a maze so that it gets a reward?
Personally I believe that, like so many other things, Sapience evolved up the family tree rather than appearing suddenly in humans. That is one of the major reasons I have been a vegetarian for over four decades. Of course, since plants, fish, and mammals all live in very different environments what type of Sapience is needed may be so different that it is difficult for us to recognize it.
Ab Initio is yet another book about AI in a current rush of books about AI, including many written by AI. In the 1950s we had Hi-Fi everything - including hula hoops. In 2020s we have AI everywhere. What makes this book different is that Terracina takes a unique approach to how to develop a machine capable of thinking and feeling in a similar manner to humans. While, at least at the present time, his ideas are not feasible who is to say what the next decade’s science will bring? While we wait to see I think you will definitely enjoy Terracina’s Science Fiction.
I love reading first novels. This is Jacob Terracina’s first Sci Fi book (although he has published scientific papers) and he has hit the ground running. The book is based on an interesting premise, has several multidimensional characters, a bunch of hard science, a lot of conjecture about what is intelligence and awareness, and lots of courtroom battles. Additionally, I think that it is an interesting coincidence that Terracina’s first book is entitled AB INITIO which is Latin for from the beginning or from the start.
Chapter one starts us off in a courtroom where a world court is being asked to declare a new AI device “so impossibly advanced that it deserved all the protections typically reserved for living, breathing humans.” The chapters then flip back and forth from eight years ago up to the present describing the development of this remarkable thing. Along the way we learn about the main characters; four hardware and software engineers, and two opposing lawyers.
An “AI Overview” from Google states that “Sentience is the basic ability to feel, perceive, or experience subjective sensations like pain and pleasure, while Sapience is the higher-level capacity for wisdom, deep reasoning, self-awareness, and complex critical thinking.” A Venus flytrap senses a fly and closes its leaves to digest it but is it aware of what it is doing and why? How about when your cat brings you a “gift” of a dead mouse, or when your dog brings you a leash when wanting to go on a walk, or even when a rat learns a maze so that it gets a reward?
Personally I believe that, like so many other things, Sapience evolved up the family tree rather than appearing suddenly in humans. That is one of the major reasons I have been a vegetarian for over four decades. Of course, since plants, fish, and mammals all live in very different environments what type of Sapience is needed may be so different that it is difficult for us to recognize it.
Ab Initio is yet another book about AI in a current rush of books about AI, including many written by AI. In the 1950s we had Hi-Fi everything - including hula hoops. In 2020s we have AI everywhere. What makes this book different is that Terracina takes a unique approach to how to develop a machine capable of thinking and feeling in a similar manner to humans. While, at least at the present time, his ideas are not feasible who is to say what the next decade’s science will bring? While we wait to see I think you will definitely enjoy Terracina’s Science Fiction.
August 27, 2025
Move over War And Peace. Kick rocks, Gatsby. Take a hike, Ulysses. I can say without bias that this is the best book.
August 23, 2026
I am one of the judges of team Space Girls for the SPSFC5 contest. This review is my personal opinion. Officially, it is still in the running for the contest, pending any official team announcements.
Status: Finalist
Read: 100%
This book is one of the 2 SPSFC 5 Finalists I had not read during earlier phases of the contest. As customary for me, I started the book only knowing it had approximately 350 pages without knowing the plot or genre.
It's a book that I struggled jelling into at first because it really goes all in the Hard Science of a Biomedical Tech startup. Reading the book felt a bit like Genefire where the author's expertise in their college major is displayed front center that will certainly delight people that are familiar with that field and might confuse readers that studied something else like me.
This is one of those books that certainly deserves being a finalist in this contest. However, with the caveat readers might need to take that leap of faith along its initial bumpy ride. Once the book reaches its 50% point, the nitty gritty science stuff has been mostly explained and the book veers into a courtroom drama.
If I could comp this book, it would be like Bicentennial man meets Ace Attorney with some sprinkles of the Treehouse of Horror Simpsons episode where Lisa creates life by dissolving her tooth in soda.
I have read plenty of space operas featuring politics, but it is probably the first time I read a book with so many chapters devoted to the pissing match between two female lawyers on opposing teams during the touted tech IP meets human rights 'trial of the century'.
This book follows two timelines that I felt were nicely arranged to show the salacious trial lawyer rousing and one of the trial defendants, a bumbling new company hire named Raza whose passion for his job is equalled by the hellscape in his head.
We get nice disability representation in this book where we frequently get into Raza's nuclear disaster in his head filled with obsessive disjointed thoughts alongside far less commonly featured early-stage Alzheimer's rep in a supporting character. Physical disability is not ignored, for one character uses a prothesis somewhat due to a mild neurodegenerative disease and the elderly prosecutor has chronic knee pain. Some disabilities are obvious (to the degree is becomes a tactful comedy element in the book), other diseases become apparent the longer characters notice something amiss. I really like seeing the variety of invisible disabilities being displayed alongside a multiethnic and cultural cast.
I really don't wish to spoil the beans about certain things I enjoyed about the book because of spoilers. I will however mention in a current time where tech companies are being seen with enormous suspicion for valid reasons, it was enjoyable to see a startup company that does try to abide with a code of ethics. If I could pinpoint the most Sci-Fi aspect of the book, it would be simply the fact investors are so patient funding this startup without demanding a financial return going up, up, up.
Since the book has so many time lapses where most of the past hyperfocuses on the Top Secret project, the reader will have to assume the amazing technological breakthroughs that exponentially increase qubit processing power is the company's great moneymaker. Patenting the process to boost processing power without needing as much electricity would permit the company to continue its mystery project to its heart content.
I liked a lot of things later revealed during the trial and was setting up a theory of my own within the 70%, which didn't come true, much to my chagrin. It isn't that the great bad guy reveal isn't bad, I did feel in a book that was setting the stage so well, it was a bit out of nowhere without foreshadowing. The final scene ended the book in a quiet thump instead of an Oscar bait dramatic finale. Again, the ending was good, but it did feel a tad bit, well, subdued with its relative quietness after so much tension more fitting for a thriller procedural. I feel part of this subduedness is because some of the conflicts early in the book such as Raza's ragequit addendum in his CV resume (making it hard for him to get a new job) ends up forgotten most of the novel.
However, even though this was a book that was rather outside of my regular reads, I am glad to have been granted the chance to read it. Being a competition judge offers the curious upswing of having readers read books a tad bit outside of their usual comfort zone. Indie novels that break plenty of the molds and take huge risks beyond tropes such as this book are a breath of fresh air. Expect a book where you will be guessing the whodunnit & what happened while eagerly doing the 'I'll just read another chapter before bed', only to discover a new herring and continue a little further until finishing it in one go.
If lawyers getting on their nerves meets the quirky & fun interpersonal coworker dynamic in a Hard Sci-fi thriller setting is a reader's cup of tea, this book will certainly be up their alley.
Status: Finalist
Read: 100%
This book is one of the 2 SPSFC 5 Finalists I had not read during earlier phases of the contest. As customary for me, I started the book only knowing it had approximately 350 pages without knowing the plot or genre.
It's a book that I struggled jelling into at first because it really goes all in the Hard Science of a Biomedical Tech startup. Reading the book felt a bit like Genefire where the author's expertise in their college major is displayed front center that will certainly delight people that are familiar with that field and might confuse readers that studied something else like me.
This is one of those books that certainly deserves being a finalist in this contest. However, with the caveat readers might need to take that leap of faith along its initial bumpy ride. Once the book reaches its 50% point, the nitty gritty science stuff has been mostly explained and the book veers into a courtroom drama.
If I could comp this book, it would be like Bicentennial man meets Ace Attorney with some sprinkles of the Treehouse of Horror Simpsons episode where Lisa creates life by dissolving her tooth in soda.
I have read plenty of space operas featuring politics, but it is probably the first time I read a book with so many chapters devoted to the pissing match between two female lawyers on opposing teams during the touted tech IP meets human rights 'trial of the century'.
This book follows two timelines that I felt were nicely arranged to show the salacious trial lawyer rousing and one of the trial defendants, a bumbling new company hire named Raza whose passion for his job is equalled by the hellscape in his head.
We get nice disability representation in this book where we frequently get into Raza's nuclear disaster in his head filled with obsessive disjointed thoughts alongside far less commonly featured early-stage Alzheimer's rep in a supporting character. Physical disability is not ignored, for one character uses a prothesis somewhat due to a mild neurodegenerative disease and the elderly prosecutor has chronic knee pain. Some disabilities are obvious (to the degree is becomes a tactful comedy element in the book), other diseases become apparent the longer characters notice something amiss. I really like seeing the variety of invisible disabilities being displayed alongside a multiethnic and cultural cast.
I really don't wish to spoil the beans about certain things I enjoyed about the book because of spoilers. I will however mention in a current time where tech companies are being seen with enormous suspicion for valid reasons, it was enjoyable to see a startup company that does try to abide with a code of ethics. If I could pinpoint the most Sci-Fi aspect of the book, it would be simply the fact investors are so patient funding this startup without demanding a financial return going up, up, up.
Since the book has so many time lapses where most of the past hyperfocuses on the Top Secret project, the reader will have to assume the amazing technological breakthroughs that exponentially increase qubit processing power is the company's great moneymaker. Patenting the process to boost processing power without needing as much electricity would permit the company to continue its mystery project to its heart content.
I liked a lot of things later revealed during the trial and was setting up a theory of my own within the 70%, which didn't come true, much to my chagrin. It isn't that the great bad guy reveal isn't bad, I did feel in a book that was setting the stage so well, it was a bit out of nowhere without foreshadowing. The final scene ended the book in a quiet thump instead of an Oscar bait dramatic finale. Again, the ending was good, but it did feel a tad bit, well, subdued with its relative quietness after so much tension more fitting for a thriller procedural. I feel part of this subduedness is because some of the conflicts early in the book such as Raza's ragequit addendum in his CV resume (making it hard for him to get a new job) ends up forgotten most of the novel.
However, even though this was a book that was rather outside of my regular reads, I am glad to have been granted the chance to read it. Being a competition judge offers the curious upswing of having readers read books a tad bit outside of their usual comfort zone. Indie novels that break plenty of the molds and take huge risks beyond tropes such as this book are a breath of fresh air. Expect a book where you will be guessing the whodunnit & what happened while eagerly doing the 'I'll just read another chapter before bed', only to discover a new herring and continue a little further until finishing it in one go.
If lawyers getting on their nerves meets the quirky & fun interpersonal coworker dynamic in a Hard Sci-fi thriller setting is a reader's cup of tea, this book will certainly be up their alley.
September 29, 2026
I received this book as a judge in the SPSFC. This is my last review of the competition and the book is currently a finalist.
High-concept sci-fi meets courtroom intrigue, Ab Initio is an absolute stunner.
This book was hands-down my favourite of the SPSFC this year. Well-put together, with no proofreading errors, the only critique I have, which I’ll get out of the way, is that sometimes it leaned a little too into the technical descriptions, but that was quite minor and only happens a few times at the start.
This book is atrociously compelling. From the fascinating narrative voice of Raza to the high-stakes courtroom drama, to the way the story jumps back and forth between timelines, everything about it moves at the perfect pace. I read it compulsively.
The entire book hinges on a very simple premise - should an AI have rights? Of course, this premise is predicated on the specifics of the AI in question, which we learn about both within the court case and in the chapters set in the past that follow the AI’s development. The stakes in the case grow and shift as not only the court case progresses, but the storyline set in the past unfurls. The balance between the two - how the two storylines don’t “spoil” the other’s plot- was so well done.
If you’re not into courtroom drama, this book still will work for you because the point of view characters of that section aren’t the characters from the past. Those characters are in court and speak as witnesses, but we understand how they are feeling in that situation because of how they act in the past - we know them, in a sense, which was a really cool way to do it. The main characters of the present are two lawyers on opposite sides of the case, one who is taking over from her mentor and the other who begins to realize she’s well over her head. Both have personal and professional stakes in the outcome that have equal weight, and you kind of want them both to win.
We soon learn this is not just a case about AI personhood, but there is an insidious level of bribery going on from outside actors. The book is set slightly in the future, but it’s not hard to see how these outside actors can represent certain entities today.
Raza is also a great character - he brings a lot of humour to the story, and his point of view is exceptional. I can’t recall what neurodivergence he has, but his narrative voice reflects it. Sometimes he goes off on tangents or uses memetic devices to help him accomplish tasks, and the way this is done is funny but not insulting.
What I really loved was how understated the ending was. The book shows how the tiniest of details can sometimes change the course of history, and I thought the resolution was fantastic in its simplicity, but also in why it took such a circuitous route to get there.
As I said, a stunner.
High-concept sci-fi meets courtroom intrigue, Ab Initio is an absolute stunner.
This book was hands-down my favourite of the SPSFC this year. Well-put together, with no proofreading errors, the only critique I have, which I’ll get out of the way, is that sometimes it leaned a little too into the technical descriptions, but that was quite minor and only happens a few times at the start.
This book is atrociously compelling. From the fascinating narrative voice of Raza to the high-stakes courtroom drama, to the way the story jumps back and forth between timelines, everything about it moves at the perfect pace. I read it compulsively.
The entire book hinges on a very simple premise - should an AI have rights? Of course, this premise is predicated on the specifics of the AI in question, which we learn about both within the court case and in the chapters set in the past that follow the AI’s development. The stakes in the case grow and shift as not only the court case progresses, but the storyline set in the past unfurls. The balance between the two - how the two storylines don’t “spoil” the other’s plot- was so well done.
If you’re not into courtroom drama, this book still will work for you because the point of view characters of that section aren’t the characters from the past. Those characters are in court and speak as witnesses, but we understand how they are feeling in that situation because of how they act in the past - we know them, in a sense, which was a really cool way to do it. The main characters of the present are two lawyers on opposite sides of the case, one who is taking over from her mentor and the other who begins to realize she’s well over her head. Both have personal and professional stakes in the outcome that have equal weight, and you kind of want them both to win.
We soon learn this is not just a case about AI personhood, but there is an insidious level of bribery going on from outside actors. The book is set slightly in the future, but it’s not hard to see how these outside actors can represent certain entities today.
Raza is also a great character - he brings a lot of humour to the story, and his point of view is exceptional. I can’t recall what neurodivergence he has, but his narrative voice reflects it. Sometimes he goes off on tangents or uses memetic devices to help him accomplish tasks, and the way this is done is funny but not insulting.
What I really loved was how understated the ending was. The book shows how the tiniest of details can sometimes change the course of history, and I thought the resolution was fantastic in its simplicity, but also in why it took such a circuitous route to get there.
As I said, a stunner.
July 2, 2026
Book Review: ab initio by Jacob Terracina, as part of SPSFC-5
4.5/5 stars, rounded up. This novel, set in the near future, about a small startup company that is working to develop a sentient machine learning ‘brain,’ is the debut novel from Terracina, a Silicone Valley tech employee. I am certain that some of this story is about his own experiences, but there is so much more. This novel is about relationships, mental and cognitive illnesses, how age affects the human body, and what the consequences of developing a true A.I. brain might mean for humanity.
I read this story as part of the Fifth Annual Self-Published Science Fiction Contest (SPSFC-5) that was originally started by Hugh Howey as the sci-fi equivalent to Mark Lawrence’s Self-Published Fantasy Blog-Off (SPFBO) competition. It is one of the best hard sci-fi novels that I have read in some time and is similar in some ways to the writing of Greg Bear, but with a decidedly modern flourish. Terracina’s writing skill is well-developed, especially for someone writing their debut novel.
This story contains two distinct timelines, one about the people/company working on development of the new machine learning model, using evolutionary biology as their primary target path to A.I. sentience; and the other about a court case involving the company and their proprietary hardware & software models. The back and forth of the two timelines was at first a bit hard to enjoy, but after about the 10% mark, I started to enjoy both timelines and looked forward to returning to each one. The company timeline counts down from three years before the court case to eight months prior, as we follow the process that led to court. A unique storytelling technique that I readily enjoyed by the end.
I highly recommend checking out ab initio, especially if you enjoy sci-fi and are interested in the consequences of continued A.I. development! I also look forward to more novels from Jacob Terracina.
4.5/5 stars, rounded up. This novel, set in the near future, about a small startup company that is working to develop a sentient machine learning ‘brain,’ is the debut novel from Terracina, a Silicone Valley tech employee. I am certain that some of this story is about his own experiences, but there is so much more. This novel is about relationships, mental and cognitive illnesses, how age affects the human body, and what the consequences of developing a true A.I. brain might mean for humanity.
I read this story as part of the Fifth Annual Self-Published Science Fiction Contest (SPSFC-5) that was originally started by Hugh Howey as the sci-fi equivalent to Mark Lawrence’s Self-Published Fantasy Blog-Off (SPFBO) competition. It is one of the best hard sci-fi novels that I have read in some time and is similar in some ways to the writing of Greg Bear, but with a decidedly modern flourish. Terracina’s writing skill is well-developed, especially for someone writing their debut novel.
This story contains two distinct timelines, one about the people/company working on development of the new machine learning model, using evolutionary biology as their primary target path to A.I. sentience; and the other about a court case involving the company and their proprietary hardware & software models. The back and forth of the two timelines was at first a bit hard to enjoy, but after about the 10% mark, I started to enjoy both timelines and looked forward to returning to each one. The company timeline counts down from three years before the court case to eight months prior, as we follow the process that led to court. A unique storytelling technique that I readily enjoyed by the end.
I highly recommend checking out ab initio, especially if you enjoy sci-fi and are interested in the consequences of continued A.I. development! I also look forward to more novels from Jacob Terracina.
October 8, 2026
I read this novel for The Self-Published Science Fiction Competition, SPSFC. The following review is my own personal opinion as a judge in Team Space Girls and does not reflect the views of the team as a whole.
ab initio (lower case, we’re very into lower case in this book) was interesting for me right off the gate: we start with a courtroom setting and although many of the details, nay, the entire reason we’re there only becomes clear a bit later, the case already sounds like something really critical and, might I say, world-changing. This starting part is heavy on exposition, but it’s all very interesting as we get to know about the (I imagine, part-realistic, large part-fictional) history of simulating chemical reactions and biological processes and how quantum computing might contribute to this, with the final goal of simulating life, intelligence, mayhaps, even human-like intelligence. We are told that for all we can improve on our computing capabilities, such a simulation still seems quite impossible to do, but somehow, a startup tech company says they have managed it. Now they want human rights and protection to their perfect simulation of a human brain, a creature of authentic, unique self, they say. Enter shady disputer who wants to discredit the company, result: courthouse drama. While star prosecutor and defense attorneys (with their own problems and opinions) struggle with each other and various moral dilemmas, we can also follow one of the startup’s software engineers, Raza, in a past timeline, as he joins the company and gets involved with its impossible plans, and in a strange love story with one of its head engineers, Mei.
The book continues on in this fashion. One story thread is the fluctuating process of the trial and the other is Raza’s story starting from getting hired by jinhwa. The trial story introduces us to Jivanta, the strong-willed prosecutor, and the defense, unprepared but loyal Sohvi and her mentor, Vilho, once a hero of his people, now with a declining health. Through the three of them, we get to know the surrounding near-future planet Earth just a little bit more, too. Natural and economical catastrophes loom vaguely in the background, countries flooded with melting arctic ice, the destruction of metropolises, the death of countless members of flora and fauna. Humanity, although with great losses, but seems to be trudging on, somehow, and the brush-strokes never become too solid, but I liked this type of world-building, and it fit the story. On the other side, Raza’s story also gives us something unique: a narrative voice I really enjoyed. The man is riddled with anxieties, is definitely somewhere on the spectrum, and in his inner narration we get a very immersive picture of his personality. I think I liked this aspect of the book the most, the writing really shone brilliantly here, was humorous, witty, chaotic, and occasionally quite painful. Raza contributes significantly to jinhwa’s long, arduous tale of “invention” through his ideas and turning points that we are led towards with a self-assured authorial hand. These turns could have probably been more dramatic, but I appreciated the sometimes subdued sense of them. Just as important to the story was Raza and Mei’s relationship, a budding friendship and attraction that goes through several challenges and was an intriguing part of Raza’s personal development (plus Mei was a really cool character).
I also really appreciated the scientific aspects of the book which were presented confidently and often in a very entertaining way. I wouldn’t have minded to see more of jinhwa’s “creatures” as they evolved, but the mystique and slight horror of The Box added to the tension significantly. There is also a very much intentionally horrific part later on, which sufficiently makes one think about all those moral quandaries we love to muse on when we think about creating artificial life. There are many interesting topics that the lawyers propose and argue for or against, too. And in the end, of course, I don’t spoil much if I say we do get to meet the “invention”, as well.
And I think if I have a bone to pick with ab initio, it is towards this final part. While I loved meeting the “invention” and that scene is pretty satisfying, the ending of the book itself felt abrupt. It does make you think about the fictional future and how that would look like, leaves you with an uneasy feeling and makes you question the final judgement of the court, but everything else, I felt, was a bit interrupted or rushed. I wished for at least one more visit with Raza and Mei, a look at Raza as he is now, after the trial, since we spent so much time with him thus far. Perhaps even a more solid resolution (which does not even have to be a resolution) with Jivanta, Sohvi, and Vilho. And while I do like that last scene, it felt a tiny bit like it was cut in the middle of a dialogue—which, it was, and though I know it was on purpose, it fit my taste less than a slew of other solutions which could have occurred.
In any case, the overwhelming majority of my reading experience was excellent, and ab initio is a very strong finalist with confident writing and style, a cool premise and a satisfying delve into the question of…well, the interesting kind of artificial intelligence. Strongly recommended to lovers of the topic.
ab initio (lower case, we’re very into lower case in this book) was interesting for me right off the gate: we start with a courtroom setting and although many of the details, nay, the entire reason we’re there only becomes clear a bit later, the case already sounds like something really critical and, might I say, world-changing. This starting part is heavy on exposition, but it’s all very interesting as we get to know about the (I imagine, part-realistic, large part-fictional) history of simulating chemical reactions and biological processes and how quantum computing might contribute to this, with the final goal of simulating life, intelligence, mayhaps, even human-like intelligence. We are told that for all we can improve on our computing capabilities, such a simulation still seems quite impossible to do, but somehow, a startup tech company says they have managed it. Now they want human rights and protection to their perfect simulation of a human brain, a creature of authentic, unique self, they say. Enter shady disputer who wants to discredit the company, result: courthouse drama. While star prosecutor and defense attorneys (with their own problems and opinions) struggle with each other and various moral dilemmas, we can also follow one of the startup’s software engineers, Raza, in a past timeline, as he joins the company and gets involved with its impossible plans, and in a strange love story with one of its head engineers, Mei.
The book continues on in this fashion. One story thread is the fluctuating process of the trial and the other is Raza’s story starting from getting hired by jinhwa. The trial story introduces us to Jivanta, the strong-willed prosecutor, and the defense, unprepared but loyal Sohvi and her mentor, Vilho, once a hero of his people, now with a declining health. Through the three of them, we get to know the surrounding near-future planet Earth just a little bit more, too. Natural and economical catastrophes loom vaguely in the background, countries flooded with melting arctic ice, the destruction of metropolises, the death of countless members of flora and fauna. Humanity, although with great losses, but seems to be trudging on, somehow, and the brush-strokes never become too solid, but I liked this type of world-building, and it fit the story. On the other side, Raza’s story also gives us something unique: a narrative voice I really enjoyed. The man is riddled with anxieties, is definitely somewhere on the spectrum, and in his inner narration we get a very immersive picture of his personality. I think I liked this aspect of the book the most, the writing really shone brilliantly here, was humorous, witty, chaotic, and occasionally quite painful. Raza contributes significantly to jinhwa’s long, arduous tale of “invention” through his ideas and turning points that we are led towards with a self-assured authorial hand. These turns could have probably been more dramatic, but I appreciated the sometimes subdued sense of them. Just as important to the story was Raza and Mei’s relationship, a budding friendship and attraction that goes through several challenges and was an intriguing part of Raza’s personal development (plus Mei was a really cool character).
I also really appreciated the scientific aspects of the book which were presented confidently and often in a very entertaining way. I wouldn’t have minded to see more of jinhwa’s “creatures” as they evolved, but the mystique and slight horror of The Box added to the tension significantly. There is also a very much intentionally horrific part later on, which sufficiently makes one think about all those moral quandaries we love to muse on when we think about creating artificial life. There are many interesting topics that the lawyers propose and argue for or against, too. And in the end, of course, I don’t spoil much if I say we do get to meet the “invention”, as well.
And I think if I have a bone to pick with ab initio, it is towards this final part. While I loved meeting the “invention” and that scene is pretty satisfying, the ending of the book itself felt abrupt. It does make you think about the fictional future and how that would look like, leaves you with an uneasy feeling and makes you question the final judgement of the court, but everything else, I felt, was a bit interrupted or rushed. I wished for at least one more visit with Raza and Mei, a look at Raza as he is now, after the trial, since we spent so much time with him thus far. Perhaps even a more solid resolution (which does not even have to be a resolution) with Jivanta, Sohvi, and Vilho. And while I do like that last scene, it felt a tiny bit like it was cut in the middle of a dialogue—which, it was, and though I know it was on purpose, it fit my taste less than a slew of other solutions which could have occurred.
In any case, the overwhelming majority of my reading experience was excellent, and ab initio is a very strong finalist with confident writing and style, a cool premise and a satisfying delve into the question of…well, the interesting kind of artificial intelligence. Strongly recommended to lovers of the topic.
July 23, 2026
I read this as part of the SPSFC and the views are my own, and not my team’s.
Ngl, I went into this with some trepidation. I love myself a courtroom scene, and since most of this book is the legal battle, I was eager and at the same time a bit anxious because if not done well, it can be very bad.
There are twin timelines in the book. One is the present where the trial is happening. Jivanta, the lawyer for the prosecution represents an unknown but powerful entity that has hired her.
The defendants are a company called jinhwa (with a lowercase j). They claim to have created a sentient being artificially and had demanded the same full legal protections and rights for this creation as is available for humans.
Apparently, someone didn’t like it and has filed a suit to dispute it.
The other timeline revolves around Raza Mugabi, one of the employees and defendants and starts eight years ago when he first started work for jinwha to some months before the trial. Though initially, Raza’s PoV seems extraneous despite its engaging voice, soon it becomes evident it is intrinsic to the plot and develops the characters nicely.
The present timeline is from the PoV of the two opposing attorneys, Jivanta, a tried and tested veteran for the prosecution, and Sohvi, who’s fairly new, and is here because her mentor and father-figure, Vilho, is the defence attorney. But Vilho is struggling with the first signs of Alzheimer’s and hence almost the entire defence falls on Sohvi.
This is my favouritest among all four semifinalists I had to read for this round. This was that book that I was reading on train, waiting at bank, at the cafe, and got annoyed every time I was interrupted.
The courtroom scenes were the highlight for me, though I did enjoy the backstory. It added more depth to the characters, their dilemma and also put in perspective the lawsuit and the reasons behind it.
It's perhaps a bit too idealistic a resolution in the end, but I think any other would have been too heart wrenching and while I do enjoy some darker themes, I do gravitate towards books with happy (ish) endings. And any courtroom drama where the bad guys win is one I actively avoid.
Raza felt very AuDHD coded, like it was very relatable regarding the intrusive thoughts, distractions, forgetting names, etc.
Also, one of my uncles was diagnosed with dementia recently, so Vilho and Sohvi’s struggles also felt very relatable.
I don’t want to comment on the technical aspects, especially the way of simulating an artificial sentience through evolution, but the book was so enjoyable and Raza’s PoV so personal that I willingly suspended my disbelief to immerse myself, and I was happier for it.
Characterisation is the biggest strength of this book because we feel like we know each and every person as real characters, not just the PoV characters, but also the people that surrounds them.
Highly recommended to anyone who enjoys hard sci fi with excellent character work and a thrilling courtroom drama.
Just go read it.
Ngl, I went into this with some trepidation. I love myself a courtroom scene, and since most of this book is the legal battle, I was eager and at the same time a bit anxious because if not done well, it can be very bad.
There are twin timelines in the book. One is the present where the trial is happening. Jivanta, the lawyer for the prosecution represents an unknown but powerful entity that has hired her.
The defendants are a company called jinhwa (with a lowercase j). They claim to have created a sentient being artificially and had demanded the same full legal protections and rights for this creation as is available for humans.
Apparently, someone didn’t like it and has filed a suit to dispute it.
The other timeline revolves around Raza Mugabi, one of the employees and defendants and starts eight years ago when he first started work for jinwha to some months before the trial. Though initially, Raza’s PoV seems extraneous despite its engaging voice, soon it becomes evident it is intrinsic to the plot and develops the characters nicely.
The present timeline is from the PoV of the two opposing attorneys, Jivanta, a tried and tested veteran for the prosecution, and Sohvi, who’s fairly new, and is here because her mentor and father-figure, Vilho, is the defence attorney. But Vilho is struggling with the first signs of Alzheimer’s and hence almost the entire defence falls on Sohvi.
This is my favouritest among all four semifinalists I had to read for this round. This was that book that I was reading on train, waiting at bank, at the cafe, and got annoyed every time I was interrupted.
The courtroom scenes were the highlight for me, though I did enjoy the backstory. It added more depth to the characters, their dilemma and also put in perspective the lawsuit and the reasons behind it.
It's perhaps a bit too idealistic a resolution in the end, but I think any other would have been too heart wrenching and while I do enjoy some darker themes, I do gravitate towards books with happy (ish) endings. And any courtroom drama where the bad guys win is one I actively avoid.
Raza felt very AuDHD coded, like it was very relatable regarding the intrusive thoughts, distractions, forgetting names, etc.
Also, one of my uncles was diagnosed with dementia recently, so Vilho and Sohvi’s struggles also felt very relatable.
I don’t want to comment on the technical aspects, especially the way of simulating an artificial sentience through evolution, but the book was so enjoyable and Raza’s PoV so personal that I willingly suspended my disbelief to immerse myself, and I was happier for it.
Characterisation is the biggest strength of this book because we feel like we know each and every person as real characters, not just the PoV characters, but also the people that surrounds them.
Highly recommended to anyone who enjoys hard sci fi with excellent character work and a thrilling courtroom drama.
Just go read it.
August 20, 2026
Disclaimer: read as a judge for SPSFC5 (Space Girls)
Ngl - the first 20-25% has been hard to push through (I put it down and picked it up a few times and was nearly a DNF). Maybe it's because I'm not a maths/science person that the jargon of those subjects made it tough going and a dry read BUT I think I finally found the sweet spot at around the 30% mark.
I've finally got a feel of the personalities of 2 of the main characters, Mei and Raza. Raza's neuro-diversity and his quirks are what kept me going through that first 25% and learning more about them has perked up my interest. Also the evolution of their experiments is becoming fascinating (One of the few science subjects i was any good at).
The subterfuge goings on in the background of the prosecution lawyer has also become interesting. Her employers know more than she expected. Does she do what her employers want or do her own morals start taking over?
The ending went as I expected and I was kind of disappointed in a way.
Technically this novel is great; pacing and prose (for the most part) were fine and while the ending felt a bit rushed the book certainly did what it aimed to do and I can see it hitting well with a number of readers.
Ultimately though, it didnt quite land 100% with me.
8.5/10
Ngl - the first 20-25% has been hard to push through (I put it down and picked it up a few times and was nearly a DNF). Maybe it's because I'm not a maths/science person that the jargon of those subjects made it tough going and a dry read BUT I think I finally found the sweet spot at around the 30% mark.
I've finally got a feel of the personalities of 2 of the main characters, Mei and Raza. Raza's neuro-diversity and his quirks are what kept me going through that first 25% and learning more about them has perked up my interest. Also the evolution of their experiments is becoming fascinating (One of the few science subjects i was any good at).
The subterfuge goings on in the background of the prosecution lawyer has also become interesting. Her employers know more than she expected. Does she do what her employers want or do her own morals start taking over?
The ending went as I expected and I was kind of disappointed in a way.
Technically this novel is great; pacing and prose (for the most part) were fine and while the ending felt a bit rushed the book certainly did what it aimed to do and I can see it hitting well with a number of readers.
Ultimately though, it didnt quite land 100% with me.
8.5/10
August 27, 2026
Disclaimer - I read this book as a judge for SPSFC#5 and received a complementary copy.
Without going into the details of this book as other judges who have read it before me have adequately explained its contents, I will say that I enjoyed reading this work.
I found the writing to be excellent and the characters real. The details in the science and courtroom drama were well done.
Thank you Jacob for submitting the book in the contest.
Without going into the details of this book as other judges who have read it before me have adequately explained its contents, I will say that I enjoyed reading this work.
I found the writing to be excellent and the characters real. The details in the science and courtroom drama were well done.
Thank you Jacob for submitting the book in the contest.
September 8, 2026
I loved it
ab initio by Jacob Terracina
I really enjoyed this book. Loved the characters! The story was fun, compelling but sometimes challenging because of technical details. It was insightful, sometimes philosophical. Very interesting experiencing Raza's thoughts—the humorous internal workings of a genius mind, troubled (at times), insecure (at times), often going off on tangents.
ab initio by Jacob Terracina
I really enjoyed this book. Loved the characters! The story was fun, compelling but sometimes challenging because of technical details. It was insightful, sometimes philosophical. Very interesting experiencing Raza's thoughts—the humorous internal workings of a genius mind, troubled (at times), insecure (at times), often going off on tangents.
January 6, 2026
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
Read for: A solid marriage of interesting character writing and sci-fi
Avoid if: You aren’t in the mood for a slow book
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews