Hugh Horner, a middle-aged man feeling the weight of age, encounters a mysterious masseur who introduces him to the concept of "Bodies, Inc.," a company offering new, youthful bodies for a price. Intrigued yet skeptical, Horner is drawn into the idea of regaining his youth. After a strange encounter and a hypnotic experience, he finds himself in the body of a young convict named Lonnie Overman, serving a life sentence for murder. Horner, now in Overman's body, escapes from prison and returns to his wife, Jane, to prove his identity. He discovers that Overman, in Horner's body, has taken over his life. Desperate to reclaim his identity, Horner confronts Overman and the mysterious organization behind the body swaps. The story explores themes of identity, the desire for youth, and the consequences of tampering with one's life. Horner's journey is a struggle to regain his life and love, ultimately leading to a confrontation with the organization and a chance to prove his true identity through an electroencephalogram (E.E.G.), a unique brainwave pattern. The narrative concludes with Horner and Jane, both in youthful bodies, planning to live their lives fully, having learned the value of truly living rather than merely existing.
By Randall Garrett · First published 1971 · Genre: Science Fiction, Mystery, Thriller