"Revision" by Jason Stoddard

In "Revision", Jason Stoddard explores the realm of personality and thought.  Gillam is a retired Editor of minds, a man who has gradually and repeatedly modified personalities until the essence of the original person whittles down to nonexistence.  At the start, Paolo arrives on Gillam's doorstep, begging him to reverse a chain of bad edits and restore him.  Gillam accepts the challenge and in the process befriends Paolo's estranged daughter Ferri.  Through her, we discover the Editor's most personal and tragic mistakes, as Gillam must subdue his own demons before tackling those of his subject.

The story starts off slowly, creeping the reader through the world of designer minds and trademarked personalities.  Though Stoddard developed an interesting world, I think it falls short of the complexities of Gibson's touchstone cybernetic mind augmentations.  As the plot progresses, particularly through part two, the tension builds and the reader learns of the dangers of tinkering with a human mind.  Emotions swam shallow in this tale, leaving opportunities unrealized, in favor of a simplistic and straightforward journey.  Overall, the message is worth deciphering.