The Prison of the Stars

"The Prison of the Stars" by Stanley Mullen is a science fiction novel written during the early 1950s. The story follows Wilding, a former criminal who finds himself abandoned in space near a rogue asteroid that serves as a prison for the most hardened convicts of the Solar System. The book intricately explores themes of desperation, survival, and the quest for freedom in an unforgiving universe. The plot revolves around Wilding's struggle for survival after being left adrift in space. As he waits for potential rescuers from the prison asteroid known as Alcatraz, he reflects on his tumultuous life, encompassing his upbringing on Venus and his gradual descent into crime. Upon being rescued by fellow convicts, he must establish authority and propose an audacious plan to escape Alcatraz and seek a new life among the stars. Along the way, he navigates the treacherous dynamics of prison society, befriends unconventional allies, and confronts his own limitations and ambitions. Ultimately, "The Prison of the Stars" examines the human spirit's resilience and the need for a fresh start amidst chaos and moral ambiguity. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Stanley Mullen was an American artist, short story writer, novelist and publisher. He studied writing at the University of Colorado at Boulder and drawing, painting and lithography at the Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center where he was accepted as a professional member in 1937. A series of his paintings of Indian ceremonial dances is part of the permanent collection of the Denver Art Museum. Mullen worked as assistant curator of the Colorado State Historical Museum during the 1940s.