Virgin Ground

: "Virgin Ground" by Rosel George Brown is a science fiction story set on Mars, where a group women travel to become wives for the established male colonists. It captures Annie's dramatic transformation from a hopeful bride to a self-reliant individual. When Annie arrives on Mars, she discovers she's unwanted, setting her off on a journey to find Bradman, her intended spouse. In the face of a dangerous sandstorm and Bradman's rejection, Annie is pushed to her limits and ultimately defends herself by killing him and claiming his farm as her own. Five years later, her hard-won independence is challenged by the arrival of Hamstrong, who asserts his marital claim over her, prompting Annie to confront her newfound strength and question the idea of assigned roles and fates.