Image of Splendor

"Image of Splendor" by Lu Kella is a science fiction story from the 1950s that examines how men and women interact and the organization of society on Earth and Venus. It follows Burnerman O'Rielly, a young man learning a trade, as he tries to make his way in a female-controlled world. The story compares the roles of men and women in this future, pointing out strange situations created by these social rules. While operating a spacecraft, O'Rielly discovers a Venusian woman, Trillium, who has secretly boarded his ship, complicating matters and creating conflict among the crew. The relationships between O'Rielly, Trilliium, and their leaders provide a commentary on love, power, and relationships between planets, which leads to a revolution by Venusian women who want equality and love from the men in their lives. The story is full of surprises, mixing humor with a critique of gender politics and looking at the problems that happen when normal roles are questioned.