Body Swap
A body swap (also named mind swap, soul swap or brain swap) is a storytelling device seen in a variety of science fiction and supernatural fiction, in which two people (or beings) exchange minds and end up in each other's bodies. The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction calls the trope identity exchange, a version of "identity transfer". (Wikipedia)
Suggestions and corrections are, as always, encouraged!
created by breaklikeafish
last updated September, 2026
Comments
Suggestions and corrections encouraged!
I’m going for a relatively loose interpretation of the trope. The most important thing is that one or several protagonists live someone else’s life in someone else’s body for a meaningful part of the story, and that this happens early enough in the book for it not to be a story.
If you read any of these and feel like they don’t fit, feel free to point it out.
Would Paolinis To Sleep In A Sea Of Stars qualify as well? I haven't finished yet (loan times, etc.), but the human and non-human MCs share a body of sorts. And its just a really well written SciFi book in general, but I feel it could fit with the theme of this list
