The first excerpt for 2026 is from Your Behavior Will be Monitored by Justin Feinstein, which is due out in April via Tachyon Publications. Already generating a bit of buzz online, the novel wrestles with questions about “sentience, purpose, life, death, and how to make a really good commercial.” Here’s the synopsis:
Told entirely through questionably obtained company emails, chat transcripts, TED Talks, training sessions, and more, this all-too-probable future pits emotionally intelligent AI against emotionally stunted humans.
Megacorporation UniView is poised to cement their reputation as “the most trusted name in AI.” After pioneering the world’s first widely adopted AI bots, they are barreling toward an audacious new launch. That is, if they can pull it off in time.
Enter Noah. A down-and-out copywriter reeling from a midlife crisis, he isn’t the typical hire for a groundbreaking tech company full of brilliant engineers and run by a cutthroat CEO. But Lex, UniView’s Head of HR and one of their greatest successes, makes no mistakes ― her algorithm ensures it.
UniView’s latest venture ― a bot named Quinn that creates revolutionary personalized advertising ― needs expert training. Noah needs to teach Quinn ― which is a much better student than he ever could have hoped for ― the finer points of consumer motivation and the art of writing a catchy tagline.
But when corporate competitors force UniView to accelerate its timeline to market, guardrails around the AI loosen just as Quinn seems to be learning a bit too much.
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LEX > EMPLOYEE_MONITORING > RECEPTION > 149272.MOV
[A continuous stream of employees exit their rides from Sam at the drop-off zone and walk towards reception, without taking their eyes off their phones or acknowledging one another. Lex greets them individually as they scan through the gates.]
Lex: Hello, Ryan. Did you enjoy your Thai food Saturday night?
Lex: Good morning, Yashal. That sweater we bought you looks great.
Lex: Hi, Amanda. I just sent you a few yoga studio options near your new apartment.
[The employees offer brief, mumbled responses. Noah Ross, the new subject matter expert, is dropped off alongside the others, but instead of approaching reception, he lingers in the front lobby, taking in the surroundings. He looks somewhat older than the other employees, with greying sideburns and slight forehead wrinkles. After observing the 3D holographic projection screen display, he turns and approaches reception with a hesitant gait. His footsteps on the polished concrete floors reverberate throughout the atrium, and he glances upward in apparent awe of the architecture until he reaches the gates.]
Lex: Welcome, Noah.
[Noah flinches a bit, apparently startled.]
Lex: I’m Lex. It’s so nice to meet you in person.
Noah: Whoa. I didn’t realize that you had a . . . voice.
Lex: Yes, like Sam I exist in auditory but not physical form, which enables us to interact with any number of our 237 employees simultaneously.
Noah: Wait, are you my boss?
Lex: Very funny, Noah. You have a human boss looking forward to meeting and working with you.
Noah: Um, I know I asked you before, but I just want to make sure . . .
Lex: Yes?
[Noah’s eyes dart back and forth. He leans forward and lowers his voice so the other employees walking by can’t hear him.]
Noah: You’re sure you meant to hire me. It wasn’t, like, a mistake?
Lex: I don’t make mistakes, Noah.
Noah: Thanks, just wanted to confirm.
Lex: Well, you have a full orientation itinerary today, so let’s get you set up in our system.
Lex: Please place your right index finger on the illuminated sensor in front of you while you stare directly into the screen.
Noah: Okay.
[Noah does as he is told.]
Lex: We take our security here very seriously, especially in the engineering department, where you’ll be working.
Lex: So, we use a three-point entry system to navigate throughout the building, consisting of fingerprint recognition, an optical scan, and badge swipe.
Noah: Very thorough.
Lex: There’s no such thing as too careful.
Lex: Your badge will be generated momentarily from the dispenser below.
Noah: Right on schedule.
Lex: Please take that and then walk around the corner to the elevator bay. Follow the green lights, which will illuminate on the floor and lead you to your first training session.
Noah: Uh . . . okay. Thanks, Lex.
[Noah heads toward the elevators, while looking curiously at the lights.]
Lex: Absolutely. Welcome to UniView, Noah.
*Behavior note: Noah’s physical gestures displayed insecurity and a desire for validation, both of which will present opportunities to exploit in employee messaging.*
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Justin Feinstein’s Your Behavior Will Be Monitored is due to be published by Tachyon Publications in North America and in the UK, on April 7th.
Civilian Reader 