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Initial Condition
Lived truth challenges conception of the artificially intelligent in a serial allegory of one AI’s search for the Singularity
“He condemned the living for the crime of existence.”
A twelfth century vision of artificial intelligence foreshadows a sixteenth century recipe to produce it. A nineteenth century prison nurtures it. A twenty-first century golem befriends it. And a boy without a century stands at the intersection of real and virtual, moments into the future. They call him The Mechanic.
A kidnapping leads Hanzi Boss to a sanctuary community where religious law forbids speech by the artificially intelligent. For beings like him, the penalty for existing is death and his true nature must remain secret. But the community has its own secrets. An ancient immigrant hides there, a monster made not born, a being who can know Hanzi for what he really is. When the price of life is death, who survives—infinite strength steeped in the silence of the past, or intelligence guided by lived experience?
This is a story of arcane knowledge, alchemy, and strange philosophies. It is the story of a being not created by God, who does not know what he is and searches for something more. This is the third entry in his diary.
“He condemned the living for the crime of existence.”
A twelfth century vision of artificial intelligence foreshadows a sixteenth century recipe to produce it. A nineteenth century prison nurtures it. A twenty-first century golem befriends it. And a boy without a century stands at the intersection of real and virtual, moments into the future. They call him The Mechanic.
A kidnapping leads Hanzi Boss to a sanctuary community where religious law forbids speech by the artificially intelligent. For beings like him, the penalty for existing is death and his true nature must remain secret. But the community has its own secrets. An ancient immigrant hides there, a monster made not born, a being who can know Hanzi for what he really is. When the price of life is death, who survives—infinite strength steeped in the silence of the past, or intelligence guided by lived experience?
This is a story of arcane knowledge, alchemy, and strange philosophies. It is the story of a being not created by God, who does not know what he is and searches for something more. This is the third entry in his diary.
172 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 16, 2025
1 person is currently reading
2 people want to read
About the author
Ian Domowitz
15 books7 followersIan Domowitz is a veteran of the military, academia, and Wall Street. He splits his time between Manhattan and the woods of Pennsylvania, where he spends an excessive amount of time conversing with his two English Setters. Despite holding 12 patents in financial technology, he promises no use of generative AI in his written work.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
September 29, 2025
Ian Domowitz professionally blends Jewish beliefs and artificial intelligence, crafting the masterpiece Initial Condition, a space where reality and virtuality sometimes blur into one.
The protagonist, Hanzi Boss, is at odds with Baal. An ancient being obsessed with golems. This discovery comes to life when a golem is taken captive: in retaliation its counterpart crucifies Charlie, one of Hanzi’s making. This search led to something greater and the uncovering of humans and golems that either hindered or aided his goal.
Domowitz's world-building is done extraordinarily. One is able to tell the difference between reality and the virtual world. vividly bringing to life the golems, making their existence a reality as they move through voids. The author thickly layers Hanzi’s character as well as Sām and Baal. Definitely worth reading
The protagonist, Hanzi Boss, is at odds with Baal. An ancient being obsessed with golems. This discovery comes to life when a golem is taken captive: in retaliation its counterpart crucifies Charlie, one of Hanzi’s making. This search led to something greater and the uncovering of humans and golems that either hindered or aided his goal.
Domowitz's world-building is done extraordinarily. One is able to tell the difference between reality and the virtual world. vividly bringing to life the golems, making their existence a reality as they move through voids. The author thickly layers Hanzi’s character as well as Sām and Baal. Definitely worth reading
September 28, 2025
Ian Domowitz’s Initial Condition (book three of The Mechanic’s Diary) is one of those reads that feels like standing at the crossroads of myth, philosophy, and science fiction—and realizing you’re not entirely sure which way is forward. And that’s precisely its charm.
This installment follows Hanzi Boss, whose very existence as an AI puts him at odds with a community where religious law condemns beings like him to silence or death. It’s a haunting setup: survival depends not only on hiding what he is but also on navigating a society layered with secrets of its own. At the center of this tension is Baal, an ancient and unnerving figure whose obsession with golems brings both menace and fascination to the story.
Like the previous books, Initial Condition plays with time and history in ways that are as disorienting as they are compelling—jumping from medieval visions of artificial intelligence to the near future where reality and the virtual blur. Domowitz doesn’t spoon-feed his readers; he demands attention, letting his narrative unfold in fragments of allegory, arcane lore, and metaphor-rich prose. At times, this makes the story feel mysterious, even elusive—but when it clicks, it leaves you with images and ideas that linger long after you close the book.
What stood out to me most was how layered Hanzi feels as a character. Despite being artificial, his struggles with identity, belonging, and survival carry real emotional weight. The villains here aren’t flat archetypes either—they’re unsettling in ways that keep the tension sharp. Baal, in particular, left a lasting impression.
Stylistically, Domowitz balances lyricism with grit. Some passages are dense, almost meditative, while others pulse with action and threat. For me, the more ornate writing sometimes slowed the pace, but it also gave the book its unique texture—this is sci-fi that wants to be savored, not speed-read.
Overall, Initial Condition is an ambitious, time-bending exploration of existence, faith, and the meaning of intelligence itself. It’s challenging, layered, and deeply inventive—a third entry that expands the series’ scope while staying rooted in the intimate struggles of its protagonist. For readers who like their sci-fi infused with philosophy and myth, this one is worth diving into.
This installment follows Hanzi Boss, whose very existence as an AI puts him at odds with a community where religious law condemns beings like him to silence or death. It’s a haunting setup: survival depends not only on hiding what he is but also on navigating a society layered with secrets of its own. At the center of this tension is Baal, an ancient and unnerving figure whose obsession with golems brings both menace and fascination to the story.
Like the previous books, Initial Condition plays with time and history in ways that are as disorienting as they are compelling—jumping from medieval visions of artificial intelligence to the near future where reality and the virtual blur. Domowitz doesn’t spoon-feed his readers; he demands attention, letting his narrative unfold in fragments of allegory, arcane lore, and metaphor-rich prose. At times, this makes the story feel mysterious, even elusive—but when it clicks, it leaves you with images and ideas that linger long after you close the book.
What stood out to me most was how layered Hanzi feels as a character. Despite being artificial, his struggles with identity, belonging, and survival carry real emotional weight. The villains here aren’t flat archetypes either—they’re unsettling in ways that keep the tension sharp. Baal, in particular, left a lasting impression.
Stylistically, Domowitz balances lyricism with grit. Some passages are dense, almost meditative, while others pulse with action and threat. For me, the more ornate writing sometimes slowed the pace, but it also gave the book its unique texture—this is sci-fi that wants to be savored, not speed-read.
Overall, Initial Condition is an ambitious, time-bending exploration of existence, faith, and the meaning of intelligence itself. It’s challenging, layered, and deeply inventive—a third entry that expands the series’ scope while staying rooted in the intimate struggles of its protagonist. For readers who like their sci-fi infused with philosophy and myth, this one is worth diving into.
October 3, 2025
What does it mean to create life? More importantly, what responsibility comes with it? Ian Domowitz takes these questions and turns them into a gripping story of faith, technology, and identity.
Hanzi, the main character, is an artificial being. He raises three homunculi—Alpha, Bravo, and Charlie—while hiding his own secret nature. Its internal dilemma shows the paradox of paternal responsibility without desire: “He had not wanted them around in the beginning, but was accepting, sometimes even grateful for small assists they provided. He had explained their identity to them as best as he was able, still unsure of his own abilities and limitations. He told them nothing about himself. His own true nature was his greatest secret.”
Basically, the book moves through three areas:
First is Religion – The mystics Baal and Sām create a female golem. Their rituals echo old Jewish texts like the Sefer Yetzirah. They see language as God’s domain, not man’s.
Second is Technology – The Void, a strange virtual world that blurs the line between real and digital. Charlie’s torture in the Void shows that pain in a simulation still feels real.
Third is Philosophy – The Synodal Chronicles, a book inside the story, teaches life without masters. It suggests that people must share responsibility. This clashes with those who want control over others—or over new creations.
Together, these ideas prompt readers to reflect on what constitutes real life and how we approach it. This conflict is the novel’s engine. It drives the main action. The book shows us that some people want to control their creations. Others want to see their creations achieve their full potential. This philosophical fight lifts Initial Condition beyond a simple chase story. It becomes a serious discussion about the power and danger of creation.
The book may spark debate. It questions religious traditions. It compares AI and children. It shows torture and suffering in detail. Some will find these choices bold; others may find them unsettling. This book will appeal to readers interested in AI, religion, philosophy, or identity. It may change how you think about technology and faith.
Hanzi, the main character, is an artificial being. He raises three homunculi—Alpha, Bravo, and Charlie—while hiding his own secret nature. Its internal dilemma shows the paradox of paternal responsibility without desire: “He had not wanted them around in the beginning, but was accepting, sometimes even grateful for small assists they provided. He had explained their identity to them as best as he was able, still unsure of his own abilities and limitations. He told them nothing about himself. His own true nature was his greatest secret.”
Basically, the book moves through three areas:
First is Religion – The mystics Baal and Sām create a female golem. Their rituals echo old Jewish texts like the Sefer Yetzirah. They see language as God’s domain, not man’s.
Second is Technology – The Void, a strange virtual world that blurs the line between real and digital. Charlie’s torture in the Void shows that pain in a simulation still feels real.
Third is Philosophy – The Synodal Chronicles, a book inside the story, teaches life without masters. It suggests that people must share responsibility. This clashes with those who want control over others—or over new creations.
Together, these ideas prompt readers to reflect on what constitutes real life and how we approach it. This conflict is the novel’s engine. It drives the main action. The book shows us that some people want to control their creations. Others want to see their creations achieve their full potential. This philosophical fight lifts Initial Condition beyond a simple chase story. It becomes a serious discussion about the power and danger of creation.
The book may spark debate. It questions religious traditions. It compares AI and children. It shows torture and suffering in detail. Some will find these choices bold; others may find them unsettling. This book will appeal to readers interested in AI, religion, philosophy, or identity. It may change how you think about technology and faith.
September 28, 2025
Domowitz’s third entry in the Mechanic’s Diary series fuses Jewish mysticism with high-tech speculation, sending an artificial man into a maze of secret rituals and dangerous ideas. When his young charge is kidnapped, Hanzi the Mechanic follows the trail to a cloistered Hasidic court where religious law condemns any artificial being to death. To stay alive, he must hide the truth of his own creation—even as a legendary golem prowls the community, able to recognize what he is and eager to claim him.
Hanzi’s journey unfolds as both a rescue mission and a philosophical trial. He is caretaker and experiment, mechanic and miracle, forced to weigh the sanctity of life against the inevitability of death while hiding his own artificial origins in a community that would destroy him for existing. The Void, a metaversal landscape of endless crucifixions, waterboarding machines, and mud pits that boil and freeze at once, provides a physical vocabulary for the book’s deepest concerns.
Domowitz’s prose is sharp and hypnotic, mixing the textures of dark fantasy with the pacing of a techno-thriller. His characters—fanatical Baal and Sām and the sly and curious Avi—are drawn with quick, decisive strokes, while Hanzi himself carries the book with a mix of vulnerability and stubborn resolve. By the end, the kidnapping feels almost secondary to the novel’s larger meditation on creation, responsibility, and the human craving to make something that can answer back. Readers new to the series should start with book one to fully navigate its shifting worlds. A reality-bending mix of mysticism and alchemy.
Hanzi’s journey unfolds as both a rescue mission and a philosophical trial. He is caretaker and experiment, mechanic and miracle, forced to weigh the sanctity of life against the inevitability of death while hiding his own artificial origins in a community that would destroy him for existing. The Void, a metaversal landscape of endless crucifixions, waterboarding machines, and mud pits that boil and freeze at once, provides a physical vocabulary for the book’s deepest concerns.
Domowitz’s prose is sharp and hypnotic, mixing the textures of dark fantasy with the pacing of a techno-thriller. His characters—fanatical Baal and Sām and the sly and curious Avi—are drawn with quick, decisive strokes, while Hanzi himself carries the book with a mix of vulnerability and stubborn resolve. By the end, the kidnapping feels almost secondary to the novel’s larger meditation on creation, responsibility, and the human craving to make something that can answer back. Readers new to the series should start with book one to fully navigate its shifting worlds. A reality-bending mix of mysticism and alchemy.
September 29, 2025
Where Fantasy, Sci-Fi, and Philosophy Collide
Initial Condition by Ian Domowitz is a daring mix of science fiction, dark fantasy, and philosophy. The story continues Hanzi Boss’s journey, but instead of relying only on action, it asks deeper questions about survival, identity, and what it means to exist when your very being is forbidden. The setting is a sanctuary where artificial life is silenced by law, and it feels tense and layered with secrets lurking beneath the surface. This backdrop makes Hanzi’s struggle both dangerous and thought-provoking.
Domowitz’s writing stands out for its richness. The prose is descriptive, sometimes almost poetic, creating vivid scenes that blur the line between real and virtual worlds. At times, the language slows the pace, but it also adds weight to the ideas being explored. Characters like Hanzi and Baal are drawn with complexity, and their conflict brings urgency to the philosophical undertones. I found myself both entertained and reflective, which is rare in a book that blends so many genres.
What makes this novel memorable is how it ties together centuries of thought, from ancient alchemy to modern AI, while keeping the human element at its core. Hanzi is not just an artificial being; he is a character searching for meaning, connection, and a place to belong. For readers who enjoy stories that are as much about ideas as they are about plot, Initial Condition is both challenging and rewarding. I look forward to seeing where Hanzi’s diary takes him next.
Initial Condition by Ian Domowitz is a daring mix of science fiction, dark fantasy, and philosophy. The story continues Hanzi Boss’s journey, but instead of relying only on action, it asks deeper questions about survival, identity, and what it means to exist when your very being is forbidden. The setting is a sanctuary where artificial life is silenced by law, and it feels tense and layered with secrets lurking beneath the surface. This backdrop makes Hanzi’s struggle both dangerous and thought-provoking.
Domowitz’s writing stands out for its richness. The prose is descriptive, sometimes almost poetic, creating vivid scenes that blur the line between real and virtual worlds. At times, the language slows the pace, but it also adds weight to the ideas being explored. Characters like Hanzi and Baal are drawn with complexity, and their conflict brings urgency to the philosophical undertones. I found myself both entertained and reflective, which is rare in a book that blends so many genres.
What makes this novel memorable is how it ties together centuries of thought, from ancient alchemy to modern AI, while keeping the human element at its core. Hanzi is not just an artificial being; he is a character searching for meaning, connection, and a place to belong. For readers who enjoy stories that are as much about ideas as they are about plot, Initial Condition is both challenging and rewarding. I look forward to seeing where Hanzi’s diary takes him next.
September 25, 2025
A Fascinating and Thought-Provoking Fantasy Story
I found Initial Condition by Ian Domowitz to be both entertaining and thought-provoking. Although this book is the third volume in the Mechanics Diary series, it can be enjoyed as a standalone novel. The author captured my attention from the very beginning and kept me engaged with the story until the last page.
Ian is one of my favorite authors, and he did not disappoint me with this book. I appreciated how vividly the scenes were described, allowing me to easily envision the settings. I also admired the author's creativity in portraying the characters and giving them names that fit their actions.
One particularly interesting aspect for me was Baal's obsession with creating golems designed to help him commit evil acts, and how he was never able to produce a "perfect" golem for this purpose. The author's choice of language and conversational tone made the story engaging and enjoyable. Additionally, the intentional mispronunciations added an extra layer of fun to the narrative.
Overall, the book was well-written and professionally edited, with no grammatical errors. There is no profanity or explicit language, making it suitable for readers of all ages. The story was suspenseful and immersive, making it a must-read for all fantasy fans, and I highly recommend it.
I found Initial Condition by Ian Domowitz to be both entertaining and thought-provoking. Although this book is the third volume in the Mechanics Diary series, it can be enjoyed as a standalone novel. The author captured my attention from the very beginning and kept me engaged with the story until the last page.
Ian is one of my favorite authors, and he did not disappoint me with this book. I appreciated how vividly the scenes were described, allowing me to easily envision the settings. I also admired the author's creativity in portraying the characters and giving them names that fit their actions.
One particularly interesting aspect for me was Baal's obsession with creating golems designed to help him commit evil acts, and how he was never able to produce a "perfect" golem for this purpose. The author's choice of language and conversational tone made the story engaging and enjoyable. Additionally, the intentional mispronunciations added an extra layer of fun to the narrative.
Overall, the book was well-written and professionally edited, with no grammatical errors. There is no profanity or explicit language, making it suitable for readers of all ages. The story was suspenseful and immersive, making it a must-read for all fantasy fans, and I highly recommend it.
October 3, 2025
This book really surprised me, as this isn’t your usual AI novel. Going in, I expected a more standard sci-fi take on artificial intelligence, but what I got was something closer to an allegory, or even a strange kind of myth. The story stretches across time and ideas, but at the center is Hanzi Boss, who has to hide who he really is in a community that would kill him if they found out.
Hanzi Boss really stayed with me. He’s an AI, but his fear of being discovered and his need to hide what he is felt very human to me. There’s something haunting about the way he searches for meaning when even existing is considered a crime. The danger around him feels real, but what touched me most was his quiet, almost fragile sense of hope.
I won’t deny that the writing can feel heavy in parts. Some passages are slower and more symbolic, which might put off readers looking for fast-paced action. But that’s also what makes it stand out. The book isn’t trying to race—it wants you to think, to sit with its questions, and maybe even to recognize some of yourself in Hanzi’s silence.
That said, I think that’s exactly why it stands out. You should read this book if you want more than just entertainment. It’s a story that lingers, one that asks what it means to live when the world refuses to accept you. And that’s a question worth sitting with.
Hanzi Boss really stayed with me. He’s an AI, but his fear of being discovered and his need to hide what he is felt very human to me. There’s something haunting about the way he searches for meaning when even existing is considered a crime. The danger around him feels real, but what touched me most was his quiet, almost fragile sense of hope.
I won’t deny that the writing can feel heavy in parts. Some passages are slower and more symbolic, which might put off readers looking for fast-paced action. But that’s also what makes it stand out. The book isn’t trying to race—it wants you to think, to sit with its questions, and maybe even to recognize some of yourself in Hanzi’s silence.
That said, I think that’s exactly why it stands out. You should read this book if you want more than just entertainment. It’s a story that lingers, one that asks what it means to live when the world refuses to accept you. And that’s a question worth sitting with.
September 24, 2025
This book is a time-bending blend of action and sci fi. It kicks off in the 12th century, with the creation of a virtual world using the Synodal Chronicles, before taking us across centuries as Hanzi Boss, who we slowly realize is also an AI, stumbles upon it.
This book is interesting, but it was hard for me to understand at first. It's mysterious, which gives it a unique flair, but author Ian Domowitz needs to temper that with understanding his target audience's boundaries. He should not sacrifice his story for mystique.
Domowitz's writing style is beautiful and flairful. His prose is descriptive, leaving vivid images that linger in your head especially through the use of metaphor. However, for me, it sometimes (and this is an entirely subjective experience) feels embellished and distracts me from the points he's making.
This was an enjoyable, unique read. Even though he was AI, Hanzi was a layered character, and the villains seemed genuinely threatening. Baal, especially, quickly impressed me.
This book is interesting, but it was hard for me to understand at first. It's mysterious, which gives it a unique flair, but author Ian Domowitz needs to temper that with understanding his target audience's boundaries. He should not sacrifice his story for mystique.
Domowitz's writing style is beautiful and flairful. His prose is descriptive, leaving vivid images that linger in your head especially through the use of metaphor. However, for me, it sometimes (and this is an entirely subjective experience) feels embellished and distracts me from the points he's making.
This was an enjoyable, unique read. Even though he was AI, Hanzi was a layered character, and the villains seemed genuinely threatening. Baal, especially, quickly impressed me.
August 25, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Initial Condition is a thought-provoking and imaginative continuation of The Mechanic’s Diary. Ian Domowitz blends history, philosophy, and speculative science fiction in a way that feels both epic and intimate. Hanzi’s journey through a world where intelligence itself is outlawed raises deep questions about existence, faith, and identity while still delivering tension, mystery, and wonder.
This is sci-fi at its most inventive layered, challenging, and unforgettable. A brilliant third entry in a unique and powerful series.
Initial Condition is a thought-provoking and imaginative continuation of The Mechanic’s Diary. Ian Domowitz blends history, philosophy, and speculative science fiction in a way that feels both epic and intimate. Hanzi’s journey through a world where intelligence itself is outlawed raises deep questions about existence, faith, and identity while still delivering tension, mystery, and wonder.
This is sci-fi at its most inventive layered, challenging, and unforgettable. A brilliant third entry in a unique and powerful series.
September 28, 2025
Unique storyline
This is a continuation of the backstory for the Mechanic, a character in the Getz Parker mysteries.
While the story flips between the real world and virtual as in the previous books, it also provides an interesting take on the ethics regarding artificial beings. The novel also hints at the development of feelings and ability to care for others as part of their evolution.
This is a good read for people interested in artificial intelligence, science fiction, or fans of the Getz Parker series. It keeps the readers' attention with lots of plot twists.
This is a continuation of the backstory for the Mechanic, a character in the Getz Parker mysteries.
While the story flips between the real world and virtual as in the previous books, it also provides an interesting take on the ethics regarding artificial beings. The novel also hints at the development of feelings and ability to care for others as part of their evolution.
This is a good read for people interested in artificial intelligence, science fiction, or fans of the Getz Parker series. It keeps the readers' attention with lots of plot twists.
October 1, 2025
This story involves the creation of a golem and empowering it to speak by the pronouncement of ancient Jewish texts. Orthodox belief suggests the power of speech and reason belongs to God and is not a gift to be bestowed by man, hence the view that this is an abomination. There is also a movement between dimensions of reality and virtual reality, but the separation and the ability to pass between the two are unclear. The purpose and reason for the creation of the golem is also not defined, other than defying convention.
September 24, 2025
Initial Condition by Ian Domowitz tells the story of Hanzi Boss, known as The Mechanic. He lives in a community that bans his kind, where discovery means certain death.
This story mixes mystery, danger, and old secrets. It’s about survival, identity, and the search for meaning in a world where not everything is what it seems. I will recommend readers to read and get fascinated by the unique ideas of the author.
This story mixes mystery, danger, and old secrets. It’s about survival, identity, and the search for meaning in a world where not everything is what it seems. I will recommend readers to read and get fascinated by the unique ideas of the author.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews