Robert Silverberg

“ Lola said. "The women grabbed control about three hundred years ago. It started with little things like running for office, and now it mushroomed into this. We're under their heels! And we can't do a thing about it!"
"Why not? Do they outnumber you?"
"Yes and no," Lola said. "In terms of actual arithmetic, we're about even; they've got a slight numerical edge, not much. But in terms of battle strength, they've got us licked. Most of today's men are weaklings." ”

“ You'll be heard all over the city."
"Downtrodden males of the world, unite!" I said, grinning despite myself. "All right, Lola. I'll do what I can in the name of mankind."
"You'd better," he said ominously.
What happened after that is pretty hazy. Lola and Clara led me through a fantastic passageway into the open, and conducted me to the Central Plaza. I remember making a speech of some kind. I remember three of the amazon women racing madly toward me, trying to reach me and shut me up. I remember starting to run in the middle of my speech, turning, slugging it out with the three women. ”

“ And an instant later, everything stopped. Completely. None of us could move a muscle. I was locked in the embrace of a wild-looking but rather lovely blonde, whose face was frozen in an expression of glee. ”

“ I sat alone in the dark and tried to figure things out. Somehow, the women had gotten the upper hand in this society, and most of the men were reduced to mere milksops. Except for a handful of determined musclemen, that is, who were holed up down here ready to make a last stand against feminine supremacy. ”

“ We started up a cold, crawling corridor, but happily turned off before we had gone too far. One of my male escorts opened a door.
"Here he is, boss."
A man sat behind the desk—unshaven, naked to the waist. His face was aggressively male; his bare chest was covered with a thick mat of black hair. "My name is Lola," he said, in a rumbling basso. "Welcome to our happy land."
"Lola?" I asked.
"Isn't it a beaut? The women take men's names now—and we get theirs. Lola," he repeated, bitterly.
"So that explains Phil and Sam, then." ”

“ She clicked the weapon at us a second time and the stasis broke. The horde of women picked themselves up and stood staring sheepishly at the floor. The Queen—for her rank seemed obvious—swept imperiously toward me.
"Are you the Sleeper?" she demanded.
"I believe so, your majesty."
"Excellent. Come to my chamber at once. The rest of you remand yourselves to the guardhouse, for punishment. Follow me, male!"
As I followed her up the long corridor, I was struck by the humor of the situation. I had volunteered for the Somno-casket project after the bustup of my engagement ”