A man receives a telegram from his Aunt Matilda, urging him to come home due to "terrible trouble." Despite being preoccupied with his doctoral thesis, he decides to visit her in the small town of Sumac. Upon arrival, he senses something is off; the townspeople behave strangely, recognizing him but showing a lack of warmth. Aunt Matilda appears anxious and insists he return to Chicago immediately, which raises his suspicions. As he explores her home, he discovers changes, including a peculiar photograph of a church that seems to depict moving scenes. He learns that Aunt Matilda has invested in a revolutionary technology that allows for "picture TV," where images on the wall come to life. However, she is terrified of the implications of this technology and wants to protect him from its dangers. Despite her protests, he decides to stay and investigate further. He finds a shop run by a woman named Lana, who explains that she takes portraits using a unique method that captures the essence of individuals, allowing them to exist in multiple realities. The portraits serve as windows to different worlds, and he realizes that he can shift his consciousness between these realities. As he navigates this new existence, he discovers that he can communicate with Lana and experience life through his portraits. Although he is not romantically involved with her, he feels a connection and enjoys the richness of his new life. He grapples with the implications of this technology, the nature of reality, and his place within it. Ultimately, he embraces his dual existence, living in a "show window" that opens to various worlds, while maintaining a semblance of normalcy in his physical life. The story explores themes of identity, reality, and the consequences of technological advancement, leaving the protagonist in a state of wonder and introspection about his unique situation.
By Robert Silverberg · First published 1976 · Genre: Science Fiction, Fantasy, Psychological Fiction