The double worlds of a disillusioned anthropologist collide in the Hugo–nominated story from the Science Fiction Grand Master. The world of 2083 has become a source of professional and personal frustration for superstar anthropologist Tom Schwartz. On a lecture tour, he flies across the globe in first class seats, but everywhere he travels to looks like the last place he’s been. Argentina, Papua, France, Mexico—there’s too much sameness wherever he goes. Western culture has homogenized the world. Even the people look alike. But in his mind is where the magic happens. There, he’s on a starship gliding through the interstellar depths. His fellow passengers are natives of the worlds of Capella, Arcturus, Antares, and Polaris. There are sinuous humanoids, self-contained reptilians, and even whale-like creatures who dance alongside of the ship and beckon him to join them. As Schwartz finds himself increasingly torn in two, he has a choice to make: accept the world as it is or join in the cosmic harmony of the dance . . . Praise for Robert Silverberg and his short stories “Where Silverberg goes today, the rest of science fiction will follow tomorrow!” —Isaac Asimov “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

An unsuspecting newlywed finds himself the subject of alien scientific study in this humorous tale from the Hugo and Nebula Award–winning author. After an evening out to dinner, one sultry midsummer eve, Charlie finds himself in the right place at the wrong time: lying underneath an oak tree after making love with his new wife. But while Maria drifts off into dreamland, Charlie finds himself being watched by a one-eyed alien in the branches above. No leering voyeur is this alien; it’s here on research purposes only and has been lucky to observe human copulation. Now it has a favor to ask of Charlie: a personal demonstration. To make the situation more palatable, it transforms into one of Charlie’s beautiful ex-girlfriends. To keep the alien’s eye from wandering to his sleeping wife, Charlie will have to make the ultimate sacrifice . . .