Robert Silverberg 
Multiples 
A Short Story

For some people, one personality is just never enough. A story of duplicity from the Hugo and Nebula Award–winning author of Lord Valentine’s Castle.   Slowly, a climate of acceptance has been growing for people with divided personalities, especially in big cities like San Francisco. There are clubs with mirrors and lights that help people to switch and double, maybe even triple. When, like Cleo, you feel your world has become stale and cramped, they’re the perfect place to meet someone.   But first Cleo has to pretend that she’s a multiple, because they’re notoriously indifferent to singletons and their bland, overly simple selves. When she meets Van, she’s able to pull off her masquerade for a week of bliss with him (and Paul, and Hal, and . . .). Or so she thinks. When Cleo is caught in her lie, she attempts to bow out gracefully. But Van doesn’t want to lose her. In fact, he wants more of her. There could be a whole horde of selves inside of her—and he knows just how to get them out . . .  “In the thoughtful and emotionally evocative title story, ‘Multiples, ’ multiple personality ‘disorder’ is normal, and indeed a desired state, creating an effective metaphor for the loneliness experienced by socially isolated individuals.” —SF Site  Praise for Robert Silverberg and his short stories   “When Silverberg is at the top of his form, no one is better.” —George R. R. Martin, #1 New York Times–bestselling author   “Decades after being originally published, most of these stories are still just as entertaining and powerful as they were when first released. A singularly unique collection.” —Kirkus Reviews