SOLVED. Science Fiction / Young man's conciousness is stored on disks used to take control of other people's bodies. Read in early 1980s. Spoilers ahead. [s]

[Steve]

I read this book in the early 80s. I know I read the paperback version. I do not remember the title or author.

The basic plot is that the protagonist has his consciousness programmed onto wafer disks that can be inserted into a slot on the back of an individual's neck. This slot is installed into people so they can do any job without the need of job training as the disk takes control of the body and preforms the task.

The transfer of a person's consciousness to these disks is not normal. The protagonist is attempting make his way to the main villain so he can place a red disk in the villain's neck slot. He does this by carrying around a box of his disks and placing them into volunteers that will further him towards his goal.

The plot twist at the end when he finally gets the red disk into the villain's neck slot is that the red disk also contains the consciousness of the protagonist's mentor, the man who figured out how to transfer consciousness to disks.

It's essentially a chase story as the protagonist is attempting to evade the forces at the control of the antagonist.

When I read the book in the early 80's it seemed to be a newer paperback book as opposed to an older pulp science fiction novel from the 50s and 60s

Any help would be appreciated.

I do remember a sub plot where the usage of the disks is explained. One husband and wife undergo the neck slot surgery to get better paying jobs. The first day on the job the husband sees the wife but cannot go and talk to her because the wafer disk's program doesn't allow him to deviate from the assigned job. After a week or two, the husband gets his assigned wafer disk and discover his job is now cleaning waste from some piping system and he sleeps while his body works so he doesn't have to experience the unpleasant odors of the waste.

I also remember the antagonist is described as being fat. When the mentor's consciousness takes over the body of the antagonist he makes the decision to put the body on a diet.

There is also a scene where the protagonist puts all his disks into volunteers so he can update every version of himself on the status of the mission. After the meeting he leaves one copy in a male volunteer and one copy in a female volunteer and he in the bodies of the two volunteers makes love to himself.

[Jenna]

Might it be The Integrated Man? You can read part of the beginning by searching for it on Google Books.

[Steve]

Jenna wrote: "Might it be The Integrated Man? You can read part of the beginning by searching for it on Google Books."

YES!!

Thank you! I have been racking my brain for years trying to remember this book title and author.

[Jenna]

Jenna wrote: "Might it be The Integrated Man? You can read part of the beginning by searching for it on Google Books."

I know the feeling well! You're very welcome, glad to help! :)