The Lost Ego

"The Lost Ego" by Rog Phillips is an early science fiction novel that focuses on what it means to be an individual. The story follows a man grappling with the unsettling experience of living with multiple identities and sets of memories. He struggles to understand the true nature of self, memory, and reality as he suddenly finds himself living as different people, each facing distinct problems from their own pasts. This man, Fred Martin, is shocked to discover he's also someone named Orville Snyder, a person he doesn't know at all. As he tries to sort through his confused state, he gets caught up in the lives of others, like David Thordsen, encountering pieces of memories and senses of self that don't quite add up. He eventually realizes he not only has the memories but also a body that seems to be a mix of these different people. The story reaches its peak when he has to face who he really is, leading him to accept his unique existence and consider the scientific and ethical questions that arise from it, ultimately driving him to create a robot that represents his understanding of consciousness and self-awareness.