The Prison Dome II: Bitter Pills by Warren Wagner 

Very satisfying return to the South Dakota Penitentiary Dome and its permanent residents. 

Thirty years ago, the state of South Dakota developed the “Prison of the Future’ known as “The Dome,” where the prisoners are thrown into an inescapable wilderness area with no onsite warden or guards. “The Dome” is where society sends the worst of the worst, and in all the years of its existence no one has ever fulfilled their sentence and returned home. 

The Prison Dome II: Bitter Pills is the sequel to author Warren Wagner’s outstanding debut novel, The Prison Dome: Survive or Die Trying, published in 2021. While most characters are familiar faces, a couple of new, strong personalities step into the spotlight and the resulting plot is riveting. 

The Entry Camp has settled into a workable routine with Grant reluctantly agreeing to helm the community and ably assisted by Chuck and Jim. Communication and trade opportunities with the other two established camps, River and Christian, have slowly developed and improved despite the high level of mistrust and suspicion. Still, all the groups exist on the thin edge of failure as food sources, especially larger game, grow scarce, and their agricultural endeavors meet with limited success and are not extensive enough to truly provide what is needed. The author does a great job conveying their fragile existence, always one poor season of crops away from disaster. The tension is heightened by the presence of small, roving bands of prisoners who don’t belong to any of the organized camps and exist by preying on their weaknesses and any perceived opportunities they find. 

While Grant has accepted his role as leader of the Entry Camp, Chuck still has an important voice in decision-making. He has stepped back somewhat, consciously trying to avoid any resemblance to Belinda, the former despot of the camp, who enslaved new prisoners as they came through the portal. New to “The Dome” is Melita Albright, separated from her three young children when she was imprisoned for armed robbery. She is a strong female protagonist and, at least initially, a sympathetic character as she did what she did to provide food for those kids. However, I was a little confused by her sudden plan to prostitute herself and other like-minded female prisoners to get out of daily chores. She never resorted to this before coming to “The Dome,” and I thought it was out of character. She is quickly disabused of the notion by everyone she mentions it to, thankfully, because there is a delicious slow-burn romance with Chuck brewing. 

The plot starts off with a twist when one of the portal guards is shoved into “The Dome” by a malicious prisoner and can’t be released immediately. This puts the entire prisoner population at risk because the prison forces are going to rescue their man no matter the cost, which includes shooting any prisoner on sight. The action sequences of Tony Russo ending up inside were heart-pounding as he frantically worked to escape the gas bomb, machine gun, and the perceived danger from the inhabitants. Even though he’s observed the Entry Camp prisoners save numerous new inmates’ lives when they are first dumped inside “The Dome,” he’s bought into the media-manufactured hype regarding what goes on inside and is absolutely terrified. 

With the threat of the prison forces entering “The Dome,” the unsustainable food resources, and an evil opportunist ready to do anything to bargain his way back outside, THE PRISON DOME II: BITTER PILLS is a fantastic dystopian story and follow-up to the previous novel. 

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advanced Review Copy from Reedsy Discovery.

The Estate of Ernie Kovacs and Fantagraphics books announced a Dallas in-person event in support of a new career retrospective "Ernie in Kovacsland: Writings, Drawings and Photographs from Television’s Original Genius" at The Wild Detectives bookstore-bar-venue (314 W Eighth St. Dallas, 75208, Oak Cliff) on Monday, Sept. 30, at 7 p.m. Full details on this book event can be found here.

A pioneer in early television whose inventive use of the medium inspired countless performers, directors, and video artists, Ernie Kovacs created  indelible characters such as Percy Dovetonsils, Matzoh Hepplewhite, and Uncle Gruesome, Kovacs invented a distinctly modern form of comedy that playfully subverted the television medium. Edie Adams was his on-screen partner as well as his wife. After his death in 1962 Adams was instrumental in not only saving but also preserving Kovacs’ body of work during the 1960s when she bought all existing Kovacs materials - including the masters that the television networks were planning to destroy them due to cost and storage issues. It is through her efforts that this book exists.

Kenny’s Wood Fired Grill 

www.kennyswoodfiredgrill.com
5000 Beltline Rd. #775
Dallas, TX 75254
(972) 392-9663

Kenny’s Italian Kitchen

www.kennysitalian.com

5100 Beltline, Suite 764 (at Montfort)

Dallas, TX 75254

972-661-9380

Kenny’s East Coast Pizza

kennyseastcoastpizza.com

4701 W Park Blvd #101,

Plano, TX 75093

972-519-9669

Kenny’s Burger Joint

Kennysburgerjoint.com

1377 Legacy Dr.

Frisco, TX 75034

214-618-8001

5809 Preston Road

Suite 588

Plano, TX 75093

972-378-0999

EMPOWER is pleased to announce Ariel Jones as the newest Director of Permanency Support. Jones will office at EMPOWER’s Dallas office at 1820 Regal Row.

EMPOWER, a non-profit child welfare collaborative, serves as theCommunity-Based Care (CBC) contractor in Metroplex East. This nine-county region includes Dallas and surrounding communities.EMPOWER oversees foster care, case management, kinship, and reunification services. 

Jones is a proud graduate of Jackson State University, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology. She also holds a master’s degree in Mental Health Counseling from Mississippi College. Jones brings a wealth of professional experience, having worked as a Counseling/Behavior Specialist with the Mississippi Department of Human Services, the Texas Department of Family Protective Services, and as a Supervisor at Our Community Our Kids.

Outside of her professional life, Jones enjoys spending time with her family and traveling. She has been married for eight years and is a devoted mom to two children who bring joy and excitement to her life. 

“We are thrilled to have Ariel join the EMPOWER family and we are eager to see her succeed in this role as she continues her service to families and children,” said Brittany Pearson, Vice President of Permanency at EMPOWER.

Many local children in foster care need a safe, loving place to call home. To learn more about how you can help these children in need, please visit https://3empower.org/fosterfutures/.

                                    COPPELL LIONS CLUB VISION SCREENING FOR BACK TO SCHOOL

Coppell Lions Club were at the Back to School Fair at Irving Bible Church conducting Spot Vision Screening with the club’s  Vision Screening Team led by Lions Tim Decker, Alice Decker, Ron Harrison, Kim Taylor, Kris Pollard, Margaret Meek, Scott Murdock and Debbie Goodwin. Great service project for the Lions. Students received uniforms, backpacks, school supplies, haircuts, Vision Screening, medical assessments and snacks.