Reborn Again, Robert Sheckley

Robert Sheckley (1928-2005) is a well respected author of science fiction. I have read most of his free short fiction. "Reborn Again" is available freely at Feedbooks.com.

This is a story about two people or souls in a single mind and body. Ritchie has money. He needs a new body. Grelich is a bit of a philosopher who wants to end his life. Grelich's choice is something of a suicide.

However, the operation does not go according to plan. The surgeon cannot bring himself to end the life of Grelich. So, when Ritchie wakes up, he finds that the two of them are in the same mind and body together.

Initially, Ritchie doesn't want Grelich in his life. He doesn't have any negative feelings for him. He's just not happy sharing the body. Further, Grelich has a kind of control over the mind and body while Ritchie 'sits in the back seat.'

There is no attempt at fraud. It was never Grelich's intention to keep the body and inherit Ritchie's wealth. Nor is Ritchie a bad person who is happy about the thought of murdering Grelich, even if Grelich is willing to follow through with his original intention.

Ritchie is a lonely person, having some family still alive but not at all a part of his life. His parents are gone. He is introduced to Grelich's friends, whom he has a near instant fondness for. He ends up deciding that it is better to be a 'mindmate' than to be lonely. They decide to try to cohabitate together.

Sheckley is an interesting writer, without doubt. The beginning of this ebook has an introduction saying that Sheckley deserved better recognition. Perhaps this is true. Sheckley is gone, however, and I'm sure his position within the rankings of "Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America" is irrelevant.