The Mind Cage

The Mind Cage by A. E. van Vogt is a 1957 science fiction novel centered on David Marin, a government official who risks his career to defend Wade Trask, a scientist condemned for sedition. When Trask uses a mind-switching device to swap brains with Marin, Marin finds himself branded an enemy of the state and must navigate the dangerous political and military intrigues of the Great Judge’s empire while trapped in Trask’s body. The novel explores themes of identity, the roles people play in society, and the tension between authenticity and deception under an authoritarian regime. It also introduces a radical paradigm shift involving a supercomputer called the Brain and reflects on the nature of control and rebellion. The story is marked by complex twists and a layered plot typical of van Vogt’s style.