Spacemen Never Die!

"Spacemen Never Die!" by Morris Hershman is a science fiction short story published in the early 1950s. The narrative focuses on themes of jealousy, identity, and the complexities of relationships, set against a futuristic backdrop where space exploration is a reality. The story explores how the past can linger and affect current relationships, particularly through the lens of a man's struggle to deal with his wife's previous marriage to a famous astronaut. The plot revolves around Henry Weller, who grapples with the persistent presence of a three-dimensional picture of his wife's late husband, Don Manton, a celebrated space explorer. While Henry feels overshadowed by his predecessor, his interaction with friends leads him to a revelation about Manton's true nature and the turbulent relationship he had with Phoebe. After a brief separation fueled by his frustrations, Henry returns home to resolve their conflict, resulting in a deeper understanding of both his wife's emotional attachments and his own notions of identity. The story concludes on a humorous note, hinting at a secret that complicates Phoebe's feelings about her current and past relationships.