Lock In

A Novel of the Near Future Lock In, #1

by John Scalzi

336 pages

Published Aug. 25, 2014 by Tor Books.

ISBN:: 978-0-7653-7586-5

(158 reviews)

Not too long from today, a new, highly contagious virus makes its way across the globe. Most who get sick experience nothing worse than flu, fever and headaches. But for the unlucky one percent - and nearly five million souls in the United States alone - the disease causes "Lock In": Victims fully awake and aware, but unable to move or respond to stimulus. The disease affects young, old, rich, poor, people of every color and creed. The world changes to meet the challenge.

2 editions

Stephen reviewed Lock In by John Scalzi (Lock In, #1)

Good, with a bit of disbelief

4 stars

I think if I'd read this in 2014 I'd believe a lot more that the world economy would change to support survivors of a pandemic. The one described here is much worse than COVID, and there's also a bit of cynicism about how it affected the wealthy, but still now I think society would prefer to forget.

However it's a great thriller, with some interesting ideas although some of the tech and biology doesn't stand up to much scrutiny. The characters are funny without being "too funny" which I think Scalzi has strayed into before.

Jorge Sanz reviewed Lock In by John Scalzi (Lock In, #1)

Palomitera

3 stars

Scalzi monta una buena historia aquí a partir de la premisa de que hay millones de personas "encerradas" en su cabeza y que viven y trabajan a través de robots. Le da una vuelta de tuerca a mitad del libro (sin entrar en destripes) y se lee como el que ve una película de acción palomitera.

Seguiré leyendo cosas suyas que tengo en la biblioteca más adelante.

(edito que no sé por qué le di cinco estrellas, con tres va bien 😅)

mahdi reviewed Světy podle třipíků by John Scalzi (Světy podle třipíků, #1)

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3 stars

Svizna knizecka. Naka akcicka. Na pozadi nenasytna korporace. Vse v kulisach celosvetove nevylecitelny choroby. Programovaci jazyk "Chomsky" pro interakci s mozkem lidi jako tresnicka na dortu. V poho lepsi oddychovka, klasickej Scalzi.

PS - Kdo vymyslel slovo "třipík" at si liskne ... aspon dvakrat ;-P

Frank Burns reviewed Lock In by John Scalzi (Lock In, #1)

An enaging Sci-Fi Police Procedural

4 stars

This is the only Scalziverse I have not dipped a toe into so I felt it was time to wrap that up. This was an engaging police procedural with a sci-fi premise. It had all the Scalzi quirks and a was a fast enjoyable read. I am not maybe going to rave about it as much as I have other Scalzi works because I felt the premise was a little divorced from the plot but this was still a fine read. Recommend.

Michael P reviewed Lock In by John Scalzi (Lock In, #1)

Review of 'Lock In: A Novel of the Near Future' on 'Goodreads'

4 stars

Great Sci-Fi Near Future setting. Great Detective Story.

felienne reviewed Lock In by John Scalzi (Lock In, #1)

Review of 'Lock In' on 'Goodreads'

4 stars

Weird to read this after Covid with so many parallels, but lovely and engaging story with lots of great twists and characters.

SI CLARKE reviewed Lock In by John Scalzi (Lock In, #1)

Review of 'Lock In: A Novel of the Near Future' on 'Goodreads'

5 stars

In a post-pandemic world, Chris Shane is the poster child for the survivors. Their body is at home in their parents' house. But thanks to new technology, Chris's mind can inhabit a threep and take up an active role in society. In their first week as an FBI agent, Chris becomes embroiled in a murder mystery.

I love that we never learn Chris's gender.

Lou Plummer reviewed Lock In by John Scalzi (Lock In, #1)

Review of 'Lock In' on 'Goodreads'

4 stars

Great world building

settingshadow reviewed Lock In by John Scalzi (Lock In, #1)

Review of 'Lock In' on 'Goodreads'

5 stars

This is honestly my platonic ideal of comfort reading. The mystery is tricky enough to not be predictable, but also not so obscure that the plot twists were frustrating. The main characters were fun and witty with snappy dialogue. I liked the exploration of Haden syndrome and the meaning of disability and virtual communities. I should read more Scalzi

govmarley reviewed Lock In by John Scalzi (Lock In, #1)

Review of 'Lock In: A Novel of the Near Future' on 'Goodreads'

3 stars

This was a POFM in January, and I am pleasantly surprised by how much I liked it once I got used to the setting.

A terrible disease has swept the globe, causing people to be "locked in" to their bodies, essentially unable to do anything. However, technology finds a way, and now these people can transfer their consciousness to a robot-type device to interact with the world. Or they can join a virtual world and be what they want. Or they can hire someone to let them take over the bodies. Scary? Yes. And now you have the premise of the book. One of the most famous victims of Haden's Syndrome is now an FBI agent, and day one on the job he is assigned a case involving a Haden.

Once you get into the weird future/not future setting and the Haden technology, you have yourself a pretty good mystery …

alexcurtin reviewed Lock In by John Scalzi (Lock In, #1)

Review of 'Lock In: A Novel of the Near Future' on 'Goodreads'

5 stars

Gotta love sci-fi crime thrillers.

tivasyk reviewed Lock In by John Scalzi (Lock In, #1)

Review of 'Lock In: A Novel of the Near Future' on 'Goodreads'

4 stars

скалзі... мабуть, він мій новий кінг! вміє закрутити сюжет, вміє вигадати вірогідно-фантастичне тло для нього, вміє оживити персонажів, — і, що найважливіше, розповісти історію так, що не хочеться відкладати книжку!

Cheri reviewed Lock In by John Scalzi (Lock In, #1)

Review of 'Lock In: A Novel of the Near Future' on 'Storygraph'

4 stars

It took me two tries to get into the book - the first was several months ago - but this time around, it held my attention tightly. The story and sci-fi aspects were very interesting. Glad I tried it the second time.

Now I'm going to listen to the version narrated by Amber Benson.