Gordon Andrews, a captain in the United States Space Force, lands on Venus and encounters Major Sonya Mikhailovna of the Soviet Space Force. Both are surprised to find each other on Venus, a planet previously thought uninhabited by humans. They soon discover that Venus is home to a bronze-age civilization with strict moral codes. When the Venusians see Gordon and Sonya together without the symbolic metal collars that denote marriage, they are shocked and quickly arrange a wedding ceremony for the two astronauts. The Venusians' collars are made of a unique metal with magnetic properties that bind Gordon and Sonya together, preventing them from leaving Venus separately. As they adapt to their new life, they fall in love, and Sonya becomes pregnant. This unexpected development leads to a diplomatic breakthrough on Earth, as the impending birth of a child with both American and Soviet heritage becomes a symbol of peace. The news of the pregnancy prompts a summit between world leaders, resulting in improved international relations and plans for a joint mission to Venus. The story concludes with the birth of their child, Pëtr Gordonovitch Andrews, who grows up to become a prominent ambassador for peace, successfully preventing a global war.
By Robert F. Young · First published 1947 · Genre: Science Fiction, Space Opera, Romance