Bratton's Idea

"Bratton's Idea" by Manly Wade Wellman is a blend of science fiction and dark humor about an elderly caretaker, Old Bratton, who is determined to create life using electricity; This determination leads him to experiment on a ventriloquist dummy named Tom-Tom. Bratton succeeds in bringing Tom-Tom to life–with unanticipated results–as the doll develops a sinister sentience after its creator's death. Tom-Tom's newfound intellect drives him to a life of crime, controlling a gang and masterminding kidnappings, including a woman named Shannon Cole. Ben Gascon, a ventriloquist who once worked with Bratton, investigates the link between his former partner and the puppet's sudden evil behavior. The story follows Gascon's pursuit of the terrifying Tom-Tom and touches on issues such as the nature of life, the pursuit of ambition, and the murky aspects of awareness, building to a final clash that challenges the very definitions of morality.