Book request: I read this science fiction book in the mid 90s. The protagonist is a human who is able to telepathically inhabit the "bodies" of an alien race. The aliens are ring (or disk maybe) shaped beings. He develops a relationship with a female ring being. In the end he dies and as he is going to the afterlife he has to choose between the human afterlife or the ring creature afterlife. He chooses the ring creature afterlife and joins a gigantic collective ring. In an unrelated epilogue the author recounts a story of when he contracted a fever after being scratched by a cat.

Matching book description: Alternate cover edition can be found  here In the far, far future the bloodthirsty Solarians, in their rage to find the mysterious Ancient Site, are determined to wipe out the Bands, a strange and beautiful species whose society is an anarchy of peace. Only Rondi, the whirling green Band, can save his race, for he has a singular and awesome knowledge. But suddenly Rondi  Alternate cover edition can be found  here In the far, far future the bloodthirsty Solarians, in their rage to find the mysterious Ancient Site, are determined to wipe out the Bands, a strange and beautiful species whose society is an anarchy of peace. Only Rondi, the whirling green Band, can save his race, for he has a singular and awesome knowledge. But suddenly Rondi makes a shocking discovery about his identity - a discovery that may cost him his honor, his beautiful lover Cirl, even his very life...The Galactic annihilation is beginning! ...more