History Main / SmallSecludedWorld

* While almost all Aborigine tribes in Australia had interacted with White people by the end of the 19th century, there was one tribe that remained uncontacted and completely unaware of the outside world until 1984. Initially they were discovered by Westernized Aborigines and later studied by the first White people they had ever seen. They promptly abandoned their traditional nomadic lifestyle and settled in with assimilated Aboriginal towns.

* ''Film/RapaNui'' uses it for dramatic effect. Since Easter Island is the only land within hundreds of miles, as far as the islanders are aware, there is no other land. And nobody ever returned from attempts to find other places. [[spoiler: In the finale, the main character escapes the island on a sailing canoe with a piece of a flotsam beam from an European-style ship mounted on it, providing him with hope that there ''must'' be some other place to go]].

* In ''VideoGame/{{Stellaris}}'', this is represented by a [[RingWorldPlanet Ring World]] in the Sanctuary system. On each of its four segments, a primitive civilization arose, which, however, are unable to establish contacts with each other due to the lack of connection between their segments. The only thing they can see in their sky (other than the star of their system, of course) is automated defense systems, constructed once by the {{Precursors}}[[note]]who created this ring world, which was originally a preserve of rare non-sapient species from all the galaxy[[/note]] and which are very aggressive towards any spaceship, what will go into the system. That is why all four primitive civilizations remain isolated from the rest of the galaxy for several centuries from the start of the game, or even forever.

* In ''VideoGame/{{Stellaris}}'', this is represented by a [[RingWorldPlanet Ring World]] in the Sanctuary system. On each of its four segments, a primitive civilization arose, which, however, are unable to establish contact with each other due to the lack of connection between their segments. The only thing they can see in their sky (other than the star of their system, of course) is automated defense systems, constructed once by the {{Precursors}}[[note]]who created this ring world, which was originally a preserve of rare non-sapient species from all the galaxy[[/note]] and which are very aggressive towards any spaceship, what will go into the system. That is why all four primitive civilizations remain isolated from the rest of the galaxy for several centuries from the start of the game, or even forever.

* In ''VideoGame/{{Stellaris}}'', this is represented by a [[RingWorldPlanet Ring World]] in the Sanctuary system. On each of its four segments, a primitive civilization arose, which, however, are physically unable to establish contact with each other due to the lack of connection between their segments. The only thing they can see in their sky (other than the star of their system, of course) is automated defense systems, constructed once by the {{Precursors}}[[note]]who created this ring world, which was originally a preserve of rare non-sapient species from all the galaxy[[/note]] and which are very aggressive towards any spaceship, what will go into the system. That is why, all four primitive civilizations remain isolated from the rest of the galaxy for several centuries from the start of the game, or even forever.

* In ''VideoGame/{{Stellaris}}'', this is represented by a [[RingWorldPlanet Ring World]] in the Sanctuary system. On each of its four segments, a primitive civilization arose, which, however, are physically unable to establish contact with each other due to the lack of connection between their segments. The only thing they can see in their sky (other than the star of their system, of course) is automated defense systems, constructed once by the {{Precursors}} [[note]]who created this ring world, which was originally a preserve of rare non-sapient species from all the galaxy[[/note]] and which are very aggressive towards any spaceship, what will go into the system. That is why, all four primitive civilizations remain isolated from the rest of the galaxy for several centuries from the start of the game, or even forever.

* In ''VideoGame/{{Stellaris}}'', this is represented by a [[RingWorldPlanet Ring World]] in the Sanctuary system. On each of its four segments, a primitive civilization arose, which, however, are physically unable to establish contact with each other due to the similar separation of the ring segments. The only thing they can see in their sky (other than the star of their system, of course) is automated defense systems, constructed once by the {{Precursors}} (who created this ring world, which was originally a preserve of rare unreasonable species from all the galaxy) and which are very aggressive towards any spaceship, what will go into the system. That is why, all four primitive civilizations remain isolated from the rest of the galaxy for several centuries from the start of the game, or even forever.

** [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_Sentinel_Island North Sentinel Island]]. Despite being relatively close to mainland India, the natives that live there are among the last groups of people to be completely untouched by modern civilization.

* ''Literature/JoelSuzuki'': Spectraland is an island that no one has ever been able to leave, except through a rift, which can only transport people to Earth and not other regions of the planet, and which is rarely used anyway. When people try to leave the island, they get as far as an area called the Forbidden Tides, where hundred-foot waves suddenly rise up, usually killing them. After the natives used Joel's explanation of aerodynamics to develop a flight spell, Fireflower tried to fly over the waves, but the farther she got from the island, the weaker the Aura got, until she fell into the ocean near the Forbidden Tides and almost drowned.

* The Greene tribe in ''Non-Stop'' are familiar with the idea that they're living in a GenerationShip, but they generally mock it, considering the ship to be all of existence.
* ''Orphans of the Sky'' also includes a generation ship where a mutiny left most of the officers dead. Without a command structure the society gradually devolved into a superstitious CargoCult that believes the ship is the only thing in existence. Narby flat-out states the stars seen from the one window on the ship are nothing more than an elaborate trick by their ancestors.

* In the titular Mallworld by Somtow Sucharitkul the Earth's solar system (except sadly for Pluto and the outer areas) have been sealed away from the rest of the universe by self-appointed guardians of the universe, aliens that seal off alien worlds until they consider them mature enough to have access to the rest of the universe. Having been sealed away in a pocket dimension humanity no longer has the stars and have an instinctive longing for them.

* Most all Franchise/HarryPotter fanfics portray the wizarding world as such. ''Fanfic/HarryPotterAndTheMethodsOfRationality'' is a notable example.

* As noted below under RealLife, forest wildfire watch persons in the US are cut off from the world for months at a time. The protagonist of ''{{VideoGame/Firewatch}}'' tries to use this trope to get away from his problems.

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* Isolated lighthouses, back when they weren't automated and there was no radio communication. If the lighthouse was on an island off the coast, the keepers had to stay on their own for weeks or even much longer.

* Forest wildfire watch persons in the US spend months alone during the summer and early fall months high up in a small post. There's minimal furnishings and the only human contact they get are runners who get them supplies once in a while. See ''{{VideoGame/Firewatch}}'' in VideoGames above.

* Forest wildfire watch persons in the US spend months alone during the summer and early fall months high up in a small post. There's minimal furnishings and the only human contact they get are runners who get them supplies once in a while. See {{Videogame/Firewatch}} in VideoGames above.

* [[https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Sandbox/Druuna ''Morbus Gravis'']] takes place in a barbaric world simply called "The City". [[spoiler: It is really a spaceship, but everyone forgot. Drifting aimlessly through space, its ruling priesthood no longer understands that space and stars even exist.]]
* In Comicbook/{{Supergirl}} story ''Comicbook/DemonSpawn'', the Innerverse is a secluded pocket dimension created by Supergirl's dark side which exists inside her mind and outside of the physical world. Is a kind of hell inhabited by demonic monsters.

* ''FanFic/ADifferentMedius'''s titular world is actually one of these, [[spoiler:residing in a PocketDimension.]]

* In ''Film/MenInBlack 2'' one of K's lockers is an entire world to small aliens, but then in the {{stinger}} we realize that [[spoiler: our entire world is a locker to other aliens. Or something.]] Not to mention the first movie, where [[spoiler: our galaxy is just a marble in an alien game]].

* As noted below under RealLife, forest wildfire watch persons in the US are cut off from the world for months at a time. The protagonist of ''{{Videogame/Firewatch}}'' tries to use this trope to get away from his problems.

* Gensokyo from ''VideoGame/{{Touhou}}'', a magical realm which was specifically sealed off from the outside world to keep [[TheMagicGoesAway the magic from going away]]. The border separating the two realms, however, isn't entirely stable, and things and people from outside are constantly drifting into it by accident.

* Zenozoik from ''Videogame/ZenoClash'' is a roughly square-shaped world surrounded by impassable barriers (at least to the primitive, caveman-like inhabitants). To the north is the Endworld, a world of darkness with guardians attacking people who try to pass; to the south: ice and freezing cold; to the west: a vast ocean; and to the east: steep mountains. In ''Videogame/ZenoClash2'' we find out that [[spoiler:Zenozoik is in fact a tiny part of the actual world. The civilized people who inhabit the rest of the world use advanced technology and live under the rule of law. They believe the inhabitants of Zenozoik are not capable of life under such a system, so they keep them locked in Zenozoik and don't let anyone in or out.]]

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* In [[Webcomic/XkcdTime Time]], Megan and Cueball know next to nothing about the world outside their seaside community.

* In ''VideoGame/WeHappyFew'', Wellington Wells became isolated from the rest of the world once the town started taking Joy. A document found in Arthur's story they used to trade with farmers just outside the border until the farmers got tired of receiving only clothes and junk.

* ''Film/RapaNui'' uses it for dramatic effect. Since Eastern Island is the only land within hundreds of miles, as far as the islanders are aware, there is no other land. And nobody ever returned from attempts to find other places. [[spoiler: In the finale, the main character escapes the island on a sailing canoe with a piece of a flotsam beam from an European-style ship mounted on it, providing him with hope that there ''must'' be some other place to go]].

* In ''VideoGame/{{Stellaris}}'', this is represented by a [[RingWorldPlanet Ring World]] in the Sanctuary system. On each of its four segments, a primitive civilization has arisen, which are physically unable to establish contact with each other due to the similar separation of the ring segments. The only thing they can see in their sky (other than the star of their system, of course) is automated defense systems, constructed once by the {{Precursors}} (who created this ring world, which was originally a preserve of rare unreasonable species from all the galaxy) and which are very aggressive towards any spaceship, what will go into the system. That is why, all four primitive civilizations remain isolated from the rest of the galaxy for several centuries from the start of the game, or even forever.

* In ''VideoGame/{{Stellaris}}'', this is represented by a [[RingWorldPlanet Ring World]] in the Sanctuary system. On each of its four segments, a primitive civilization has arisen, which are physically unable to establish contact with each other due to the similar separation of the ring segments. The only thing they can see in their sky (other than the star of their system, of course) are automated defense systems, constructed once by the {{Precursors}} (who created this ring world, which was originally a preserve of rare unreasonable species from all the galaxy) and which are very aggressive towards any spaceship, what will go into the system. That is why, all four primitive civilizations remain isolated from the rest of the galaxy for several centuries from the start of the game, or even forever.

* In ''Film/{{Beetlejuice}}'', the main characters are stuck in their house, unable to have any contact with the surrounding world. At first, they do not realize that they are dead and haunting the house in which they lived.

* Norzelia in ''VideoGame/TriangleStrategy ''. It's small enough to march across half a kingdom in one day, and near the beginning it's noted that nobody knows what lies beyond the southern waterfall over the mountains or beyond the Hyzantian desert because there simply isn't enough salt to equip such a voyage properly.

* An animal version of some note is the [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Devils_Hole_pupfish Devils Hole Pupfish]], which has the smallest range of any vertebrate on the planet. Their entire breeding, feeding, and main habitat is a whopping 2 by 4 meters of algae-covered shallows in a small hole filled with water in the desert. While the hole itself is significantly larger, the fish cannot live far from it's food and breeding areas, and is critically endangered.

* ''TabletopGame/Chhubo'sMarvelousWishGrantingEngin'' takes place in the aptly named Town, an idyllic locale reminiscent of the setting of a Studio Ghibli film. It has amenities, some varied countryside, and enough water for boats to be a thing, and beyond those boundaries reality rapidly begins to dissolve. The inhabitants are unsure if they're the preserved last bastion of a destroyed world or if everything else still exists but they've been isolated from it for some purpose.