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The Multiple Man
As the President gives a speech in Boston, Meric Albano, the President's Press Secretary discovers a body in an alley outside: The body of the President.
Meric is suddenly drawn into a deadly mystery: Who is the real President? Who is the body? How did someone create a copy of the President? Who's behind it, and why?
A thriller by the six-time Hugo Award winning master.
Meric is suddenly drawn into a deadly mystery: Who is the real President? Who is the body? How did someone create a copy of the President? Who's behind it, and why?
A thriller by the six-time Hugo Award winning master.
198 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1976
12 people are currently reading
157 people want to read
About the author
Ben Bova
714 books1,034 followersBen Bova was born on November 8, 1932 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. In 1953, while attending Temple University, he married Rosa Cucinotta, they had a son and a daughter. He would later divorce Rosa in 1974. In that same year he married Barbara Berson Rose.
Bova was an avid fencer and organized Avco Everett's fencing club. He was an environmentalist, but rejected Luddism.
Bova was a technical writer for Project Vanguard and later for Avco Everett in the 1960s when they did research in lasers and fluid dynamics. It was there that he met Arthur R. Kantrowitz later of the Foresight Institute.
In 1971 he became editor of Analog Science Fiction after John W. Campbell's death. After leaving Analog, he went on to edit Omni during 1978-1982.
In 1974 he wrote the screenplay for an episode of the children's science fiction television series Land of the Lost entitled "The Search".
Bova was the science advisor for the failed television series The Starlost, leaving in disgust after the airing of the first episode. His novel The Starcrossed was loosely based on his experiences and featured a thinly veiled characterization of his friend and colleague Harlan Ellison. He dedicated the novel to "Cordwainer Bird", the pen name Harlan Ellison uses when he does not want to be associated with a television or film project.
Bova was the President Emeritus of the National Space Society and a past President of Science-fiction and Fantasy Writers of America (SFWA).
Bova went back to school in the 1980s, earning an M.A. in communications in 1987 and a Ph.D. in 1996.
Bova has drawn on these meetings and experiences to create fact and fiction writings rich with references to spaceflight, lasers, artificial hearts, nanotechnology, environmentalism, fencing and martial arts, photography and artists.
Bova was the author of over a hundred and fifteen books, non-fiction as well as science fiction. In 2000, he was the Author Guest of Honor at the 58th World Science Fiction Convention (Chicon 2000).
Hollywood has started to take an interest in Bova's works once again, in addition to his wealth of knowledge about science and what the future may look like. In 2007, he was hired as a consultant by both Stuber/Parent Productions to provide insight into what the world is to look like in the near future for their upcoming film "Repossession Mambo" (released as "Repo Men") starring Jude Law and Forest Whitaker and by Silver Pictures in which he provided consulting services on the feature adaptation of Richard Morgan's "Altered Carbon".
http://us.macmillan.com/author/benbova
Bova was an avid fencer and organized Avco Everett's fencing club. He was an environmentalist, but rejected Luddism.
Bova was a technical writer for Project Vanguard and later for Avco Everett in the 1960s when they did research in lasers and fluid dynamics. It was there that he met Arthur R. Kantrowitz later of the Foresight Institute.
In 1971 he became editor of Analog Science Fiction after John W. Campbell's death. After leaving Analog, he went on to edit Omni during 1978-1982.
In 1974 he wrote the screenplay for an episode of the children's science fiction television series Land of the Lost entitled "The Search".
Bova was the science advisor for the failed television series The Starlost, leaving in disgust after the airing of the first episode. His novel The Starcrossed was loosely based on his experiences and featured a thinly veiled characterization of his friend and colleague Harlan Ellison. He dedicated the novel to "Cordwainer Bird", the pen name Harlan Ellison uses when he does not want to be associated with a television or film project.
Bova was the President Emeritus of the National Space Society and a past President of Science-fiction and Fantasy Writers of America (SFWA).
Bova went back to school in the 1980s, earning an M.A. in communications in 1987 and a Ph.D. in 1996.
Bova has drawn on these meetings and experiences to create fact and fiction writings rich with references to spaceflight, lasers, artificial hearts, nanotechnology, environmentalism, fencing and martial arts, photography and artists.
Bova was the author of over a hundred and fifteen books, non-fiction as well as science fiction. In 2000, he was the Author Guest of Honor at the 58th World Science Fiction Convention (Chicon 2000).
Hollywood has started to take an interest in Bova's works once again, in addition to his wealth of knowledge about science and what the future may look like. In 2007, he was hired as a consultant by both Stuber/Parent Productions to provide insight into what the world is to look like in the near future for their upcoming film "Repossession Mambo" (released as "Repo Men") starring Jude Law and Forest Whitaker and by Silver Pictures in which he provided consulting services on the feature adaptation of Richard Morgan's "Altered Carbon".
http://us.macmillan.com/author/benbova
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
January 14, 2015
reviews.metaphorosis.com
3 stars
Meric Albano, the White House press secretary, is shocked when the spitting image of the President turns up dead outside a speech venue. The more he looks into it, the more mysterious things become, with the links he follows leading higher and higher.
The more of a writer's work you've read, the better able you are to evaluate both idiosyncracies and off-putting comments. Happily, I've read quite a bit of Ben Bova's work. I've not generally found him to be racist, homophobic, or sexist, which means I was able to overlook some comments in this book which would suggest otherwise.
The book was written in the 70s, and is to some extent a product of its time. It's also possible that Bova is intentionally associating some offensive comments with particular characters. However, had I not been familiar with his work, I'd have been even more taken aback with some of the commentary. It's not pervasive, but the relatively few occasions are certainly striking. On the plus side, the narrator's explicitly stated devotion to the Constitution is a pleasant change from some of today's relativistic 'torture for good is good' storylines.
Lack of ... tact aside, this is a fairly standard but well written politics-oriented SF thriller. The plot gimmick is, to a current reader, predictable virtually from the beginning; perhaps in 1976 it would have been more of a surprise. Still, it's handled decently, and the supporting characterization is good. There's one key character who seems to exist purely to manipulate the narrator's emotions, and is neither consistent nor entirely credible, but it works well enough in context.
It's a shame that Bova didn't take advantage of the reissue to tidy a few key phrases away, but if you can suspend your sensitivities on occasion, this is a quick and engaging read.
February 12, 2022
I heard a lot about this book and thought that the concept behind it was really good but the execution was terrible. I didn’t care about the main character at all. He was annoying and not a lot of dimensions to him and kind of a man whore. I just wanted him to die and everybody else in the book ; half the time I kept forgetting what year I was in. It had an odd blend of 70s and modern day. Ben Bova might be a good writer but I think he really really missed the mark on this one.
May 28, 2014
Written in 1976, the novel is set in the then near-future, and of course the incorrect history is now jarring. The Shah of Iran has invaded Kuwait. A powerful computer in the basement of the National Archives is needed to correlate data. Various student and urban insurrections have disrupted the US for decades. OK, so set that aside and try to get into a 1970s mindset.
This a murder mystery and thriller, with the President's Press Secretary cast unexpectedly into the role of investigator. The murder victim is an identical body double for the President himself, and it turns out this is not the first one. Obviously we are talking cloning here, although the main character doesn't really catch on to that for quite a while. Combined with his primitive thinking with regard to women, sometimes nearly an anti-feminist rant, he comes across as a little dimwitted. He runs through several theories as the stakes go up, regarding who is behind the conspiracy, and why. Eventually he arrives at the truth, but the mystery seemed very predictable to me.
This a murder mystery and thriller, with the President's Press Secretary cast unexpectedly into the role of investigator. The murder victim is an identical body double for the President himself, and it turns out this is not the first one. Obviously we are talking cloning here, although the main character doesn't really catch on to that for quite a while. Combined with his primitive thinking with regard to women, sometimes nearly an anti-feminist rant, he comes across as a little dimwitted. He runs through several theories as the stakes go up, regarding who is behind the conspiracy, and why. Eventually he arrives at the truth, but the mystery seemed very predictable to me.
June 28, 2022
My first Ben Bova novel and I wish I could say it was a good read. That's not to say I won't enjoy, nor that I don't look forward to his other works. I understand he is more of a science-fiction writer and won several Hugo awards for that type of writing. I don't doubt his ability.
With that said, "The Multiple Man" comes off as terribly pedestrian. I looked up Bova's bibliography and noticed this book was published about seventeen years after his first work was published. Being established by the time of this book's publication, my theory is he wanted to try a different genre and had difficulties with writing such a book.
The characters are bland and uninteresting. The writing gets very confusing at points with the timeline of when the story takes place, where the characters are, etc. The dialogue is cliched. The story is fairly predictable. It's just a bland story.
I was intrigued during the first part of the book. It started off quickly and had me interest. Much of the middle was bad. The later third got interesting until we built up to the actual climax. The main character did some stupid things that should've gotten him caught/killed, but it's brushed off.
I was really looking forward to this story, but ended up with a very disappointing dud; and I hate to say that, because Bova comes off as a good writer and wonderful personality. I am still looking forward to his science fiction. I do believe that is where I will end up falling in love with his work.
But as a thriller, and a general story, "The Multiple Man" is very forgettable. You're better off seeking a different title.
With that said, "The Multiple Man" comes off as terribly pedestrian. I looked up Bova's bibliography and noticed this book was published about seventeen years after his first work was published. Being established by the time of this book's publication, my theory is he wanted to try a different genre and had difficulties with writing such a book.
The characters are bland and uninteresting. The writing gets very confusing at points with the timeline of when the story takes place, where the characters are, etc. The dialogue is cliched. The story is fairly predictable. It's just a bland story.
I was intrigued during the first part of the book. It started off quickly and had me interest. Much of the middle was bad. The later third got interesting until we built up to the actual climax. The main character did some stupid things that should've gotten him caught/killed, but it's brushed off.
I was really looking forward to this story, but ended up with a very disappointing dud; and I hate to say that, because Bova comes off as a good writer and wonderful personality. I am still looking forward to his science fiction. I do believe that is where I will end up falling in love with his work.
But as a thriller, and a general story, "The Multiple Man" is very forgettable. You're better off seeking a different title.
March 16, 2025
One of Ben Bova's early books, it follows the Press Secretary to the President of The United States in the near future as he is drawn into a murder investigation. What makes this different is that the person killed looks exactly like the president, the Secret Service is sending the body to a mysterious lab and then an unmarked grave and this wasn't the first body that looked like the president to turn up.
This is a decent political sci - fi thriller with two dimensional characters. Although the plot isn't that complicated it was still an enjoyable read despite some of the characterization.
This is a decent political sci - fi thriller with two dimensional characters. Although the plot isn't that complicated it was still an enjoyable read despite some of the characterization.
August 9, 2025
White House Press Secretary Meric Albano has a problem: a dead man has been found outside of a presidential speech in Denver. The dead man looks exactly like the president in every way, and has no obvious cause of death. Worse, he's the second dead body to turn up like this outside of a presidential appearance, but the president is definitely alive and well. Is it an assassination attempt? A coup? Is the president in danger? And what can Albano do to stop it?
This was an interesting read, with an unexpected central plot. Parts of it feel a little dated, but given the mid-1970's publication date parts also feel very prescient, and predicted the future somewhat well in some aspects.
This was an interesting read, with an unexpected central plot. Parts of it feel a little dated, but given the mid-1970's publication date parts also feel very prescient, and predicted the future somewhat well in some aspects.
August 24, 2017
Non è un capolavoro immortale, ma in fondo il giudizio è anche figlio del momento in cui lo si esprime... e credo che questo romanzo risenta abbastanza del trascorrere del tempo. La trama non è certo imprevedibile, ma il quadro generale offre comunque qualche spunto. Ho trovato interessante la riflessione, suggerita indirettamente, sul sistema presidenzialista e su quale possa essere il miglior presidente possibile... ma non volendo spoilerare lascerò questo esercizio ai futuri lettori
December 7, 2023
No, just no. I don’t have a problem with the sexist & racist tropes since this was written in 1976. The premise had promise. But the main protagonist was just boring and bland and kinda stupid. How many dumb mistakes can you have your character make before that character is beyond annoying?? I like Ben Bova but this is not one of his better books.
September 8, 2021
Non il miglior Bova, si tratta di un racconto con alcune intuizioni (ecommerce, search engine) ma che è piuttosto noioso: i dialoghi sono piatti, il linguaggio scialbo, il colpo di scena prevedibile.
April 10, 2022
Perfectly fine entertainment, 70ies style.
Thing is, soon it would be possible to do exactly what the general in the book did. Before you know it, the top politicians will be shaped for the job from their first second after birth.
Thing is, soon it would be possible to do exactly what the general in the book did. Before you know it, the top politicians will be shaped for the job from their first second after birth.
October 27, 2021
Romanzo figlio del Watergate (quindi non freschissimo), lo spunto non è dei più originali ma riesce a essere avvincente fino all'ultimo.
July 4, 2013
I literally stumbled upon this novel while reading a very interesting discussion about mammalian cloning. Therein, the cloned sheep “Dolly”, born in 1996 at the Roslin Institute near Edinburgh, Scotland was portrayed, detailing her cloning from an adult somatic cell. Dolly lived for seven years, giving birth to six lambs.
The article then asked the logical question if human cloning was possible, since like sheep, humans are also mammals, i.e., warm-blooded, vertebrate animals. Having studied biology in high school, I don’t recall a persuasive distinction of the biological makeup of different types of mammals, (e.g., sheep v. humans) ever being introduced. I also recall watching a move in 1978 titled “The Boys of Brazil”, starring Gregory Peck, which explored this very same notion. Is human cloning possible? Until persuasively disproven, I remain open to the science which clearly proves any type of mammalian cloning is possible.
The article also introduced this Ben Bova novel, published in 1976, addressing this very same subject. My curiosity raised, I obtained this book and enjoyed reading it. As it was published thirty-seven years ago, at times it is dated, and it is clear from the dialogue that some cataclysmic event occurred in the United States, prior to the time that the story is written in. Given Bova’s penchant for science fiction writing, his reference of the frequent use of video phones was not at all far-fetched from the actual reality of 2013.
Bova’s central premise is the idea that several identical people simultaneously occupy The Oval Office in The White House, unbeknownst to but a handful of insiders. The author has written a suspenseful story that held my attention. Given the relatively short length of the book, it did not lend itself to character development one would find in a bigger book, but this did not detract from the story. An authoritative, domineering father, with a paramilitary background, is a central figure in this story, à la, the late Senator Prescott Bush on steroids.
If you have an open mind, I recommend you read this well written novel.
The article then asked the logical question if human cloning was possible, since like sheep, humans are also mammals, i.e., warm-blooded, vertebrate animals. Having studied biology in high school, I don’t recall a persuasive distinction of the biological makeup of different types of mammals, (e.g., sheep v. humans) ever being introduced. I also recall watching a move in 1978 titled “The Boys of Brazil”, starring Gregory Peck, which explored this very same notion. Is human cloning possible? Until persuasively disproven, I remain open to the science which clearly proves any type of mammalian cloning is possible.
The article also introduced this Ben Bova novel, published in 1976, addressing this very same subject. My curiosity raised, I obtained this book and enjoyed reading it. As it was published thirty-seven years ago, at times it is dated, and it is clear from the dialogue that some cataclysmic event occurred in the United States, prior to the time that the story is written in. Given Bova’s penchant for science fiction writing, his reference of the frequent use of video phones was not at all far-fetched from the actual reality of 2013.
Bova’s central premise is the idea that several identical people simultaneously occupy The Oval Office in The White House, unbeknownst to but a handful of insiders. The author has written a suspenseful story that held my attention. Given the relatively short length of the book, it did not lend itself to character development one would find in a bigger book, but this did not detract from the story. An authoritative, domineering father, with a paramilitary background, is a central figure in this story, à la, the late Senator Prescott Bush on steroids.
If you have an open mind, I recommend you read this well written novel.
January 5, 2017
This book is intended as a suspenseful political thriller. Meric Albano is the President’s press secretary. He witnesses the secret service finding the dead body of a man who looks identical to the President. The dead man has the same fingerprints, same clothes, even the same DNA as the real president. Was it part of an attempt to assassinate and replace the president with an imposter? Could it be that the dead man is the real president? Are there other presidential duplicates around?
When the Secret Service and the President conspire to cover things up, Albano must solve the mystery on his own before the plotters succeed at whatever it is they’re doing. The story takes place in the recent future as envisioned by Bova in 1976; a future that is now our historical past. So it feels like an alternate history at times, with outdated computer technology and political events that never happened in the real world. Even aside from those anachronisms, I kept experiencing a weird sense of deja vu throughout this book. It wasn’t the plot and I’m certain I never read the story before. About halfway through the book I finally realized why it seemed so familiar. It’s basically a Tom Swift Jr. book.
It’s written on the same “young adult” reading level, and even has the same stock characters. Just as Tom Swift had Chow the chef, Albano has Hank Solomon as his amiable Texan sidekick (on computers – Hank Solomon: “How long d’yew think it’ll take th’ machine to figure things out?” Chow: “A good meal’d calm down ol’ think box but what do you feed that there contraption”). The writing style is so similar, I wouldn’t have been surprise if Tom Swift Jr. himself had shown up and saved the day by building a simple radio with his pocket soldering iron. Overall a reasonably enjoyable, if odd, read.
When the Secret Service and the President conspire to cover things up, Albano must solve the mystery on his own before the plotters succeed at whatever it is they’re doing. The story takes place in the recent future as envisioned by Bova in 1976; a future that is now our historical past. So it feels like an alternate history at times, with outdated computer technology and political events that never happened in the real world. Even aside from those anachronisms, I kept experiencing a weird sense of deja vu throughout this book. It wasn’t the plot and I’m certain I never read the story before. About halfway through the book I finally realized why it seemed so familiar. It’s basically a Tom Swift Jr. book.
It’s written on the same “young adult” reading level, and even has the same stock characters. Just as Tom Swift had Chow the chef, Albano has Hank Solomon as his amiable Texan sidekick (on computers – Hank Solomon: “How long d’yew think it’ll take th’ machine to figure things out?” Chow: “A good meal’d calm down ol’ think box but what do you feed that there contraption”). The writing style is so similar, I wouldn’t have been surprise if Tom Swift Jr. himself had shown up and saved the day by building a simple radio with his pocket soldering iron. Overall a reasonably enjoyable, if odd, read.
November 23, 2024
Ich-Erzähler Meric ist Pressesprecher des neuen Präsidenten der USA. Er ist stolz auf seinen Chef, denn er ist immer ehrlich und stellt sich im politischen Alltagsgeschäft als erstaunlich fähig heraus.
Dann findet man bei einer Veranstaltung einen Toten hinter dem Gebäude, der exakt aussieht wie der Präsident. Meric findet komisch, wie der Todesfall gehandhabt und vertuscht wird und beginnt selbst zu recherchieren. Er findet Erstaunliches heraus.
Die goodreads-Wertung ist ziemlich schlecht, mir hingegen hat es gefallen. Wenn man eine "Unglaubwürdigkeitskröte" schluckt (ich will nicht spoilern, welche), dann hat man doch einen echt spannenden und rasanten SF-Thriller vor sich. Ein weiterer Punkt, der mit gefiel, war der Realismus in kleinen Details. Ich hatte das Buch in Nullkommanichts durch. Ich mochte Bovas Romane schon immer recht gern (mit Ausnahmen).
(diesmal gelesen als Teil des Doppelbandes https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2... )
Dann findet man bei einer Veranstaltung einen Toten hinter dem Gebäude, der exakt aussieht wie der Präsident. Meric findet komisch, wie der Todesfall gehandhabt und vertuscht wird und beginnt selbst zu recherchieren. Er findet Erstaunliches heraus.
Die goodreads-Wertung ist ziemlich schlecht, mir hingegen hat es gefallen. Wenn man eine "Unglaubwürdigkeitskröte" schluckt (ich will nicht spoilern, welche), dann hat man doch einen echt spannenden und rasanten SF-Thriller vor sich. Ein weiterer Punkt, der mit gefiel, war der Realismus in kleinen Details. Ich hatte das Buch in Nullkommanichts durch. Ich mochte Bovas Romane schon immer recht gern (mit Ausnahmen).
(diesmal gelesen als Teil des Doppelbandes https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2... )
September 27, 2012
I enjoyed reading this book. Ben Bova is known as an SF author but this book was more of a mystery / thriller with a small soupçon of science fiction thrown in to enable the plot. This wasn't a deep book featuring lots of character development or or weighty meditations on the meaning of life and humanity. But it was a fun book and the central idea is a bit thought provoking.
I don't have any reservations about recommending this for some light reading.
I don't have any reservations about recommending this for some light reading.
September 3, 2014
Kept me hooked in. I enjoyed the plot. Not an avid reader catching on to plot twists early wasn't exactly me.
Finding out Jackson was the killer as opposed to Jeffery wasn't as alarming. On one hand; Jeffery is expressed to be an abrasive character, kinda snide and I began thinking the killer might be him. However, having caught this attitude early on told me that's what the author wants me to think. At which point a plot twist was inevitable to set him a free man
Finding out Jackson was the killer as opposed to Jeffery wasn't as alarming. On one hand; Jeffery is expressed to be an abrasive character, kinda snide and I began thinking the killer might be him. However, having caught this attitude early on told me that's what the author wants me to think. At which point a plot twist was inevitable to set him a free man
November 6, 2013
I rated it a three out of five star because it really slow and it’s hard to understand some parts of the story and it short. Also gives you very good detail and leaves wanting to read more. This book would be good for readers 12 and up.
May 7, 2008
Okay but not fabulous; Bova's women issues shine through a little too clearly for me to just relax and enjoy. I spotted the twist about fifty pages before it happened, too.
July 7, 2008
I really liked this one. Its a short quick read. But the characters are well developed and has a great storyline.
September 13, 2014
Good SiFi story. What happens when you clone multiple copies of someone but they are based on other peoples perceptions of that person. Recommended
January 19, 2015
The technology in this science-fiction novel is woefully dated, and the plot gears have a few missing teeth, but overall it was a fun read.
September 3, 2022
More like 3 1/2 stars. Quite good.
June 17, 2009
Not SF really. Pretty much a thriller, and kept me reading.
November 2, 2014
the story is decent, but it's clearly early work of bova
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews