Identity theft

Just been re-watching Dopplegängland, surely one of the greatest Buffy episodes.

Giles: She was truly the finest of all of us.
Xander: Way better than me.
Giles: (nods decisively) Much, much better.

Buffy: Giles, planning on jumping in with an explanation any time soon?
Giles: Well, uh… something… something, um, very strange is happening.
Xander: Can you believe the Watcher’s Council let this guy go?

Anya: Vampires. Always thinking with your teeth.

Willow: (appalled) It’s horrible! That’s me as a vampire? (Angel closes the door) I’m so evil and… skanky. (aside to Buffy, worried) And I think I’m kinda gay.
Buffy: (reassuringly) Willow, just remember, a vampire’s personality has nothing to do with the person it was.
Angel: (without thinking) Well, actually… (gets a look from Buffy) That’s a good point.

Percy: Okay, so I did the outline for the paper on Roosevelt. (hands it to her) It turns out there were two President Roosevelts, so I didn’t know exactly which one to do, so I did both.

Anyway, it occurred to me that I really enjoy these stories of playing with people’s identity, including also of course Buffy 4:16, Who Are You. (Perhaps this is some kind of counter balance for my animus agains anthropomorphic robots.) For that reason, among others, I enjoyed the last Doctor Who novel I read; also Zelazny’s little-known Today We Choose Faces has always been among my favourites of his novels, though it seems to be a minority taste. Any more recommendations along the same lines?

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