The Terminal Experiment
The Terminal Experiment (ISBN 0-06-105310-4) is a science fiction novel by Canadian novelist Robert J. Sawyer. It was published by Eos Books, an imprint of HarperCollins.
In order to test his theories on immortality and life after death, Dr. Peter Hobson with his assistant Sarkar, create three electronic simulations of his Hobson's own personality. All three, two modified, one a "control", escape Hobson's computer, into a worldwide electronic matrix.
At many times in the book, Net News Digest issues are "reprinted", similar to the news alerts that many news organizations now offer. The whole concept of the book could be boiled down to Hobson's choice, as expressed by actual historic figure Thomas Hobson.
The book won the Nebula Award for Best Novel.
The story was serialised in Analog magazine in the mid-December 1994 to March 1995 issues, under the name Hobson's Choice. Its first HarperPaperbacks printing was in May 1995, first Eos printing in April 2002.
Many references are made in the book to Star Trek.