SOLVED. SciFi - AI - People live a long time with Nanobot Technology. [s]

[TJ]

This SciFi book takes place on the moon, where people live many life-times. Their lives are so long because nanobots take care of their bodies. People don’t get sick, Injuries heal, they don’t brush their teeth because nanobots take care of everything.

The main character is a reporter, who does not have a “normal” computer interface in his arm. It is damaged, but he does not remember what happened to it. He is bored and ends up being changed into a woman for a while. Sex changes are very common, as a way to keep living interesting.

I believe that people can life out fantasy lives, like being in the old west, etc.

SPOILER ALERT
The main character has a strange relationship with the AI that runs everything. He believes that the computer cannot create memories that people will believe. The AI implants a memory to prove the main character wrong. The main character wakes up on an island. He is amazed that he ended up here because he does not remember traveling to the island. He want to make certain that the island is real, and runs sand through his hand. He observed the feel and the color of the sand, with sparkling light and was amazed. He ended up living on the island for months, building a house and planting crops etc.

He “comes to” and the AI explains to him that the island was a memory that it implanted. The main character disputes this because the memory of the sand was so real. The AI says, I knew that you would be skeptical so I made the beginning of the memory very realistic. But what did you do on the island yesterday, or last week? The main character only remembers the summary of what happened in the most recent days, but the first days were the most memorable. The AI says that is how memory works. You really remember the unusual stuff, or the beginning of a change, but the day to day fades into the background.

I read this book in the early to mid eighties, but I do not know when it was published. It was a great book, and I’d love to find it again.

Thanks!

[Bargle]

I think this is Steel Beach by John Varley.

Note to self: correct answer.

[TJ]

Thanks for the book! This definitely is the right one.