The Golem Experiment

"The Golem Experiment", set in New Orleans and Los Angeles, is a Faustian SF story about an experiment in free will whose outcome brings unexpected and chaotic results. A neurosurgeon, Dr. Fatalis, undertakes a secret experiment to solve that elusive of questions: Is personality determined by heredity or environment? Neuro-scientists define the brain as a biological mass of cell assemblies, which through action and repetition, creates learned behavior and language. Centuries before science, ancient Vedic scriptures described these imprinted patterns as "sanskaras". They believed continuous chanting of prayer increased sanskaras and eliminated more mundane thoughts. Alison enters Dr. Fatalis's life after a drunk driving accident. He transforms her into his unknowing puppet by molding her physically with cosmetic surgery, and mentally influencing by hacking into her brain to create his ideal female half. Combining religious rituals with modern nano-technology, he replaces her existing brain imprints with newly programmed information; she becomes his remote controlled robot; a female golem. With the help of subliminal messages, this mechanical singing goddess turns her fans into automatons by spouting ideology with massive appeal. Fatalis guides her step by step towards his plan of dominion over his perceived kingdom. His plan appears successful until he comes face to face with the one thing he can't control. Meantime, a core of Alison's old self tries to break through; that "still small voice" questions her existence as she battles with her identity. After a virtual reality type sexual encounter, Alison gives birth to a baby of ambiguous gender, and "the 3rd Sex" becomes the wave of the future. Her child will come to play a most ominous role in her life, an ancient tale they are fated to enact. This is the game that moves as the players play. An experiment in free will with many solutions, none of which the participants expects . . . nor the Experimenter.