Books reading recommendations Five Stories Set in Terrifying Sci-Fi Prisons From AI-run cells to mysterious bunkers to interplanetary prison camps By Lorna Wallace | Published on November 12, 2025 Cage of Souls cover art by Leo Nickolls Comment 0 Share New Share Cage of Souls cover art by Leo Nickolls Real-world prisons tend to be overcrowded, violent places, plagued by a host of systemic problems which often go ignored and unaddressed, but in the world of science fiction, some authors have reimagined the experience of being locked up in new and terrifying ways. From being trapped in a tiny high-tech cell controlled by AI to being caged in an underground bunker with no hope of ever seeing of sunlight, there’s a seemingly endless variety of ways to punish and isolate whole populations of people—if you want to consider the horrors of incarceration with a sci-fi twist, here are five stories to delve into… Borders of Infinity (1987) by Lois McMaster Bujold Borders of Infinity opens with Miles Vorkosigan entering Dagoola IV Top Security Prison Camp #3. The prison is essentially a massive impenetrable dome over a barren landscape. Prisoners are provided with a few necessities—basic clothing, a sleeping mat, and a cup—and then set loose. There are no guards and no rules, which means that things often get messy and violent. Almost immediately, Miles is beaten up and his few possessions are stolen. It’s not a promising start, but our protagonist is whip-smart and quickly begins putting a plan into action—one which he doesn’t fully reveal to the reader. We might be a step or two behind, but there’s method in Miles’ madness and it’s satisfying to watch his progress. Miles also features in other stories by Lois McMaster Bujold, but this novella can easily be read as a standalone without wider knowledge of the world of the Vorkosigan Saga or Miles himself. I Who Have Never Known Men (1995) by Jacqueline Harpman (translated by Ros Schwartz) The unnamed narrator of I Who Have Never Known Men has lived in an underground prison for as long as she can remember. She’s the youngest of 40 caged women, but she doesn’t know her actual age, partly because her physical development stalled at the start of puberty. While the rest of the women all have memories of life before their incarceration, they’re reluctant to share. They also have no idea of what the world outside is currently like, with the male guards never letting them out of the bunker. The narrator’s life is routine, sparse, and monotonous—that is, until a never-before-heard alarm sounds and all of the guards rush out, setting the lives of the captive women on a new course. Although this French novel isn’t very long, it manages to dive deep into themes of anger and isolation, but also of hope and resilience. A word of warning though: don’t go into this bleak book expecting answers. While some people might find that frustrating, I personally think that the not knowing—and the resulting search for meaning, by both the narrator and the reader—is where the story’s power lies. Cage of Souls (2019) by Adrian Tchaikovsky Cage of Souls is set in the far future, with civilization in the last stages of decline while the Earth circles the dying sun. The landscape has changed profoundly over the years, with life mutating in an attempt to fit the new environment. Our protagonist is Stefan Advani, who was born and raised in Shadrapar—the last city standing. Advani is an academic-turned-activist who, after getting into trouble with the law, is sent to the Island—a partially-submerged floating prison in a lake in the depths of the jungle. There’s a lot going on in Cage of Souls—we also traverse the city and the desert in the telling of Advani’s story—but the current timeline is set in the prison. Adrian Tchaikovsky shines when it comes to worldbuilding and he crafts a rich vision of the jungle, which is alive with strange life, and the prison, which is a brutal micro-society. Advani may be a fish out of water in this dangerous environment—both the animals outside the walls and the inmates inside pose a threat—but he’s smart enough to adapt. “Sacrid’s Pod” (2019) by Adam-Troy Castro (Originally published in Lightspeed and collected in The Best American Science Fiction And Fantasy 2020) Sacrid Henn wakes up paralyzed, without sight or hearing, and with an AI voice in her head. Via a brain implant, the AI explains that she’s been imprisoned in what is essentially a high-tech coffin, where she’ll live out the rest of her days in comfort, but without freedom. As soon as Sacrid calms down, the AI (which she names Shithead) will give her back her senses and she can begin her new restricted, although relatively pampered, life. But Sacrid has a rebellious personality (which partly led to her imprisonment in the first place), and she isn’t about to accept a constrained pod life without a fight. This short story is largely written in the second person—aside from a few diary entries from Sacrid—which makes it feel immersive. While this prison may seem cushy in comparison to the other prisons on this list—which come with the ever-present risk of bodily harm and even death—being trapped in a box with an AI is most definitely its own kind of hell. Chain-Gang All-Stars (2023) by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah Set in a dystopian future, Chain-Gang All-Stars is the name of an incredibly popular show that pits prisoners against each other in brutal gladiator-style fights. Joining a chain-gang is voluntary, with the incentive being that if an inmate wins enough matches, they’ll eventually gain their freedom. Although joining in this unconventional prison entertainment might be tempting for prisoners with few other options, there’s a very high mortality rate. We’re mostly led through the story via the perspectives of Loretta “Blood Mama” Thurwar, the leader of a Chain, and Hamara “Hurricane Staxxx” Stacker, Thurwar’s next-in-line and lover. Thurwar is just a few fights away from finally walking free, but—to tweak a line from a different death games story—the odds aren’t exactly in her favor. The fights themselves are bloody and exhilarating, but Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah never lets the reader forget the point of the book: highlighting the dehumanization of the incarceration system. While this theme is woven through the story via the inclusion of protesters against the program and conversations between the fighters themselves, the point is really driven home by footnotes, which provide real-world information and statistics detailing the injustices of the American prison system. If you want to explore even more SFF prisons, check out this list—and please feel free to leave your own suggestions of creatively terrifying prisons in the comments below…[end-mark] The post Five Stories Set in Terrifying Sci-Fi Prisons appeared first on Reactor.

News Super Mario Galaxy Super Mario Galaxy Trailer: Brie Larson and Benny Safdie Arrive to Save —or Ruin— the Day It’s-a teeny tiny Bowser! Aww he’s kind of cute. By Molly Templeton | Published on November 12, 2025 Screenshot: Nintendo Comment 0 Share New Share Screenshot: Nintendo Does it feel like The Super Mario Bros. Movie just happened, or is that a me problem? Technically, the Chris Pratt-starring animated hit came out two years ago, but it has a long shadow—by which I mean it feels too soon (or maybe it’s just too early in the day) to already be heading to space for Super Mario Galaxy. But here we are, and with new voice cast members along for the ride. First, a reminder: At the end of the previous movie, Bowser (Jack Black) got real small. He’s apparently been spending his time in a teeny castle, working out his demons through art. How well this is working is debatable. (Pratt’s Mario clearly isn’t helping.) No one seems to have thought about Bowser Jr. (Benny Safdie), who shows up to rescue his pops. No real synopsis has been provided, so one can only assume that there is some narrative continuity with the plot of the game. But are we here for plot? No. We are here for upside-down pyramids and recognizable bits of the Super Mario theme and funny little enemies that are no less deadly for being cute. The star of this trailer, though, is Brie Larson’s Rosalina, who takes out a massive enemy all by herself—well, with her little twinkly wand. Rosalina is the mother figure for the star-like Lumas. She is central to the story of Super Mario Galaxy, the game, though not playable; she sends Mario off on his quest to collect Power Stars. Along with Pratt and Black, the returning cast includes Anya Taylor-Joy as Princess Peach, Keegan-Michael Key as Toad, and Charlie Day as Luigi. The primary creative team remains the same as well: Aaron Horvath and Michael Jelenic direct from a script by Matthew Fogel. The galaxy belongs to the plumbers in April 2026.[end-mark] The post <i>Super Mario Galaxy</i> Trailer: Brie Larson and Benny Safdie Arrive to Save —or Ruin— the Day appeared first on Reactor.

If you're tired of censorship and dystopian threats against civil liberties, subscribe to Reclaim The Net. Two of China’s most widely used gay dating apps, Blued and Finka, have been taken down from Apple’s App Store and several Android platforms following an order from the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC), the country’s main internet regulator. Apple confirmed it had acted under official instruction. “We follow the laws in the countries where we operate. Based on an order from the Cyberspace Administration of China, we have removed these two apps from the China storefront only,” a spokesperson said. Though the apps can no longer be downloaded, users who already have them installed still appear able to use them. The removals triggered widespread discussion on Chinese social media, where many expressed concern that online spaces for gay men are being quietly erased. Blued was founded in 2012 by Ma Baoli, a former police officer. The app quickly became one of the largest social platforms in the world, boasting tens of millions of users and an active online community. By 2020, Blued’s parent company, BlueCity Group, reported 49 million registered users and about 6 million monthly actives. That same year, BlueCity went public on the Nasdaq and acquired its main rival, Finka, in a deal worth around RMB 240 million, or roughly 33 million US dollars. Two years later, BlueCity delisted and was absorbed by Newborn Town, a Hong Kong-listed social media firm. Many of Blued’s early staff, including Ma himself, left the company after the acquisition. Outside China, BlueCity rebranded its international version of the app to HeeSay in 2024. That version remains live in markets such as India, Pakistan, and the Philippines, where it has found steady growth. The disappearance of Blued and Finka reflects a broader tightening of online space in China. Although the country decriminalized homosexuality in 1997, public discussion of sexual identity and same-sex relationships remains sensitive. Authorities have closed advocacy groups, censored online conversations, and instructed tech companies to remove or limit “undesirable” content. Apple relies heavily on China for manufacturing and a large portion of its revenue, and it has repeatedly chosen to meet government demands over defending access to apps that facilitate communication and information sharing. Apple has previously removed news platforms, VPN services, and other apps related to privacy or free speech at Beijing’s request. Each compliance step reinforces a pattern where the world’s most valuable tech company becomes an enforcer of local restrictions rather than a protector of open digital spaces. Neither BlueCity nor Newborn Town has commented on the takedown, and it is unclear whether the removals are temporary or permanent. In some cases, apps in China have been restored after undergoing content or compliance changes demanded by regulators, though that process is unpredictable and opaque. If you're tired of censorship and dystopian threats against civil liberties, subscribe to Reclaim The Net. The post Apple Removes Gay Dating Apps in China Following Government Order appeared first on Reclaim The Net.

Psaki Circle-Back(Stabs) Schumer: 'That Guy Was Fiery ... What Happened?'

The show may even be visible in California.

CBS’s Stephen Colbert continued his attacks on Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer on Tuesday’s edition of The Late Show, calling his recent actions around the impending end to the government shutdown “obviously a failure of leadership.” Citing an article from CBS, Colbert lamented, “Things are getting chilly up on Capitol Hill. After a small group of Democrats voted with Republicans to end the shutdown. To end the shutdown without restoring health care subsidies, Democratic leadership is taking heat from the rank-and-file. Chuck Schumer, who is supposed to be the leader of the Senate Democrats, reportedly gave the deal quote ‘neither a blessing nor a curse, and it did not direct senators on how they should vote.’” Colbert then introduced an edited clip from Bravehart by sarcastically praising Schumer for his “Bold leadership! Reminds me of the stirring words of William Wallace.”     In the clip Fake Wallace rallied his men by exclaiming, “They may take our lives or our freedom. Their choice. Whatevs.” Colbert continued, “Now, here's the thing. It is so obviously a failure of leadership. Schumer is facing fury from every part of the party. Moderate House members, progressive senators, self-described insurgents, establishment candidates. Not to mention low-rise governors, zaddy comptrollers, gluten-free city managers and deputy mayors on tandem bikes. It's a very, very big tent.” Later, Colbert welcomed Rep. Jim Clyburn to the show and asked him, “But last night the Senate passed a deal, and Speaker Johnson is finally calling the House back to vote on the end of the longest government shutdown. After 41 days, did anyone get anything they wanted? Who benefited here?” Clyburn tried to avoid being a total pessimist but also shared Colbert’s frustrations, “Well, I think everybody had some of what they wanted. The other side got more of what they wanted than what we wanted. We got some protections for SNAP, WIC. These are not unimportant programs. However, when it comes to the Affordable Care Act, making health care not only accessible for everybody, but affordable by everybody, that we did not get unless—” After Colbert interrupted to say, “That was a stated goal,” Clyburn rolled on, “Absolutely and it’s still the goal. If at first you don't succeed, you keep trying. And I think that we are going to stay in this fight. Hakeem Jeffries has made it very clear that this is not the end of this fight. And who knows? What was the vote? Are they promising to put the bill on the floor? Or are they promising to let us bring the bill to a vote? I don't know that. I've been listening for that.” Clyburn also tried to suggest, with no evidence, that filibustering whatever bill Democrats eventually come up with on Obamacare subsidies would violate the agreement, “You see, the Senate has promised a vote. But we give them, our side, eight votes to bring a bill to the floor. That's how they got to 60 to cut off the filibuster. Now, are they going to give us the votes that we need to cut off the filibuster so that we can have a direct vote on the bill?” Colbert scoffed at the idea, “What is your—you want to lay some money on that? Because I can make some quick cash right now, I think.” Clyburn agreed, “Not from me because I will not bet on the Senate by any means.” This is what passes for late night comedy in the Trump era: either the repeating of Democratic talking points or lamenting that the party is not left enough. Here is a transcript for the November 11 show: CBS The Late Show with Stephen Colbert 11/11/2025 11:38 PM ET STEPHEN COLBERT: Things are getting chilly up on Capitol Hill. After a small group of Democrats voted with Republicans to end the shutdown. To end the shutdown without restoring health care subsidies, Democratic leadership is taking heat from the rank-and-file. Chuck Schumer, who is supposed to be the leader of the Senate Democrats, reportedly gave the deal quote “neither a blessing nor a curse, and it did not direct senators on how they should vote.” Bold leadership! Reminds me of the stirring words of William Wallace. FAKE MEL GIBSON/WILLIAM WALLACE: They may take our lives or our freedom. Their choice. Whatevs. COLBERT: Whatever. Now, here's the thing. It is so obviously a failure of leadership. Schumer is facing fury from every part of the party. Moderate House members, progressive senators, self-described insurgents, establishment candidates. Not to mention low-rise governors, zaddy comptrollers, gluten-free city managers and deputy mayors on tandem bikes. It's a very, very big tent. … COLBERT: But last night the Senate passed a deal, and Speaker Johnson is finally calling the House back to vote— JIMY CLYBURN: Yes. COLBERT: —on the end of the longest government shutdown. After 41 days, did anyone get anything they wanted? Who benefited here? CLYBURN: Well, I think everybody had some of what they wanted. The other side got more of what they wanted than what we wanted. We got some protections for SNAP, WIC. These are not unimportant programs. However, when it comes to the Affordable Care Act, making health care not only accessible for everybody, but affordable by everybody, that we did not get unless— COLBERT: That was a stated goal. CLYBURN: Absolutely and it’s still the goal. If at first you don't succeed, you keep trying. And I think that we are going to stay in this fight. Hakeem Jeffries has made it very clear that this is not the end of this fight. And who knows? What was the vote? Are they promising to put the bill on the floor? Or are they promising to let us bring the bill to a vote? I don't know that. I've been listening for that. COLBERT: In the House you mean? CLYBURN: Yes. And the Senate. You see, the Senate has promised a vote. But we give them, our side, eight votes to bring a bill to the floor. That's how they got to 60 to cut off the filibuster. Now, are they going to give us the votes that we need to cut off the filibuster so that we can have a direct vote on the bill? COLBERT: What is your—you want to lay some money on that? Because I can make some quick cash right now, I think. CLYBURN: Not from me because I will not bet on the Senate by any means.

While Mark Levin is one of President Trump’s most vocal supporters, he is concerned about America’s fraternizing with Qatar — a country pitched as “one of the great leaders of the Middle East and the world.”“I say no, Qatar is a very dangerous country,” says Levin. He reminds us that in 2002, Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearl was brutally beheaded by Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, al-Qaeda's chief of operations and the architect of 9/11. It was Qatar who sheltered KSM from the FBI — specifically the father of the country’s current ruler, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani.Further, these same Qatari family members, Levin says, “are the sugar daddies for Hamas” — funding the terrorist organization for years, hosting its leaders, and acting as its political lifeline.That hasn’t changed. Even though Qatar has been a key broker alongside the U.S. and Egypt in the tiered ceasefire deal between Hamas and Israel, it’s still on Team Hamas, Levin says.Just last month, Sheikh Tamim delivered an address at the opening session of the 54th annual Shura Council.He was clear about where Qatar’s loyalty lies: “Israel has violated all laws and norms governing relations between nations through its aggressive actions against the mediator and its attempt to assassinate members of a negotiating delegation. We consider this aggression to be state terrorism. And the global response was so powerful that it shocked those responsible. What's happened in the Gaza Strip in the past two years amounts to genocide — a term that encapsulates all atrocities. It is regrettable that they remain incapable of enforcing its respect when it comes to the tragedy of our brotherly Palestinian people.”This is a load of lies, says Levin. “The Israelis weren't trying to take out the negotiators. They were trying to take out the Hamas leaders that [Sheikh Tamim] was protecting.”“[Qatar] is [America’s] new best friend,” he laments.“They've gotten into the West,” into “all parties, every aspect of our culture, our educational system. … They are behind the Muslim Brotherhood, Islamic Jihad, Hamas. They supported the Taliban, and they support the destruction of our universities and colleges.”For Levin, Qatar’s billions and diplomatic handshakes can’t erase its track record. America’s "new best friend" remains a Trojan horse for terrorism and anti-Western ideology.Want more from Mark Levin?To enjoy more of "the Great One" — Mark Levin as you've never seen him before — subscribe to BlazeTV — the largest multi-platform network of voices who love America, defend the Constitution, and live the American dream.

Politico Warns That Obamacare Could Soon Collapse (and Just GUESS Whose Fault It Will Be)

Morning Minute: Republicans Need to Flip the Script on Lucy

Attorney General Pam Bondi announced Tuesday that violent protests at the University of California, Berkeley, are now part of a federal terrorism investigation into antifa-linked groups.