Kevin's Watch

Beorn has gotten interested in discussing the possiblity of brain transplants and extending life, et. al. He and Hyperception have had some in depth conversations regarding it. Not my choice of topic at all...

However, the discussions reminded me of a short story I read long ago, but the details are sketchy at best and title/author long forgotten.

The plot basically is that science has come up with a way of superimposing a personality of someone on top of a volunteer's surpressesd one. For the first try, a long dead famous composer is chosen. The story opens with his remembrance of his last breath in his bed chamber with his wife at his side, and then his eyes opening in the future.

It continues with him learning to adjust and live in this new time, and ends with a revelation as his first new major work is debued.

Does this sound familiar to anyone? It's probably famous, and I just have no idea where to find it. But, I think it's a story Beorn may really enjoy at this time...

I don't recall it, if you explain it slightly differently I might. The Dosadi Experiment by Herbert features a very interesting personality switch and Zelazny's The Dream Master is full of cool stuff about popping into other people's heads. Bester's the Demolished Man has detectives and an entire grade of 'Psi' adepts delving into people's minds...

I don't think it's any of those, danlo. But thanks. Beorn may find those interesting as well.

What I wrote is pretty much all I remember about it. That it was done via a surgical procedure on a volunteer. I think the superimposed personality of the composer (damn, I wish I could remember which composer it was; definitely a famous symphonic composer probably from the 19th century) was supposed to fade away when the chief surgeon said a phrase to the volunteer. If I recall correctly, the story ends with the surgeon approaching the composer as he's taking his bows after conducting his new piece, but since the composer had his revelation regarding the whole experience while his piece was being performed, he accepts what's coming with good grace.

That's all I really remember of it.