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"Fifteen years from now, a new virus sweeps the globe. 95% of those afflicted experience nothing worse than fever and headaches. Four percent suffer acute meningitis, creating the largest medical crisis in history. And one percent find themselves "locked in"--fully awake and aware, but unable to move or respond to stimulus. One per cent doesn't seem like a lot. But in the United States, that's 1.7 million people "locked in"...including the President's wife and daughter. Spurred by grief and show more the sheer magnitude of the suffering, America undertakes a massive scientific initiative. Nothing can restore the ability to control their own bodies to the locked in. But then two new technologies emerge. One is a virtual-reality environment, "The Agora," in which the locked-in can interact with other humans, both locked-in and not. The other is the discovery that a few rare individuals have brains that are receptive to being controlled by others, meaning that from time to time, those who are locked in can "ride" these people and use their bodies as if they were their own. This skill is quickly regulated, licensed, bonded, and controlled. Nothing can go wrong. Certainly nobody would be tempted to misuse it, for murder, for political power, or worse....John Scalzi's Lock In is a novel of our near future, from one of the most popular authors in modern science fiction"-- show lessTags
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g33kgrrl Lock In deals with humans using adaptive technology and what that means; A Closed and Common Orbit deals with humans and AIs and AIs using adaptive technology and what that means.
Member Reviews
Reading Lock In was a comfortable experience as it had many of the hallmarks of a John Scalzi novel and it was the fourth of his novels I have read - hopefully not my last. Lock In relates the consequences of an incurable disease; however the cause of the virus or as it is known in Lock In “Haden Syndrome” is irrelevant. Lock In is a futuristic conspiracy thriller. The pandemic that led to the spread of this virus killed many millions, but also left many with "locked in" bodies that could be maintained even while immobilized.
The main character in Lock In is Agent Chris Shane, who is starting his first week as a full agent for the FBI. Agent Shane is one of the Locked In, he gets around by using a Threep, an artificial body that show more connects to his mind so he can interact with people that are still able-bodied. Agent Shane’s first week also coincides with a strike being held by the Haden community, as a bill has recently been passed by the government that will cut funding significantly from subsidies and programs that support Haden sufferers.
Through Agent Shane and his partner Agent Vann - whose work specifically deals with those who have Haden Syndrome - different perspectives are demonstrated between the people affected with Haden’s and the people who do not understand them. In their daily routine, as they're called to the scene of a murder, we instantly see that there is misunderstanding and discrimination between Haden’s and normal humans which is escalates throughout the story. Scalzi develops his characters well - though Agent’s Shane and Vann at the beginning of the book have only just met there is a good camaraderie between them, it feels like an odd couple pairing, but you can see the trust building between a veteran agent and the rookie.
This book also focuses on the differences between the rich and poor in society. John Scalzi poses the question - what makes us human? When a virus has rewired 5 million people’s brains in the US alone, allowing them to do things that the un-afflicted are unable to do, does this make you more or less human? With access to Threeps, for some travel is now instantaneous, while for others race and gender are no longer an issue. This has a concomitant affect by also causing tensions where previously there were none. I felt that this sociological aspect really grounded the characters in their reality. They also became real as Agent Shane demonstrates emotions that one would not expect from a machine.
This is an inventive sci-fi story, with so many ideas floating around (another Scalzi specialty) that you should feel disorientated and yet it is so well written that you never feel frustrated or lost by what has not yet been revealed. This reader felt the technology levels were not beyond my comprehension; they appeared to be reasonable given the current direction of technical progress. The political and business aspects that are based on power struggles work really well in this context. If you have never read anything by John Scalzi, this is a good place to start; and if you have read some Scalzi I can reassure you that he is on top of his game in this novel. show less
The main character in Lock In is Agent Chris Shane, who is starting his first week as a full agent for the FBI. Agent Shane is one of the Locked In, he gets around by using a Threep, an artificial body that show more connects to his mind so he can interact with people that are still able-bodied. Agent Shane’s first week also coincides with a strike being held by the Haden community, as a bill has recently been passed by the government that will cut funding significantly from subsidies and programs that support Haden sufferers.
Through Agent Shane and his partner Agent Vann - whose work specifically deals with those who have Haden Syndrome - different perspectives are demonstrated between the people affected with Haden’s and the people who do not understand them. In their daily routine, as they're called to the scene of a murder, we instantly see that there is misunderstanding and discrimination between Haden’s and normal humans which is escalates throughout the story. Scalzi develops his characters well - though Agent’s Shane and Vann at the beginning of the book have only just met there is a good camaraderie between them, it feels like an odd couple pairing, but you can see the trust building between a veteran agent and the rookie.
This book also focuses on the differences between the rich and poor in society. John Scalzi poses the question - what makes us human? When a virus has rewired 5 million people’s brains in the US alone, allowing them to do things that the un-afflicted are unable to do, does this make you more or less human? With access to Threeps, for some travel is now instantaneous, while for others race and gender are no longer an issue. This has a concomitant affect by also causing tensions where previously there were none. I felt that this sociological aspect really grounded the characters in their reality. They also became real as Agent Shane demonstrates emotions that one would not expect from a machine.
This is an inventive sci-fi story, with so many ideas floating around (another Scalzi specialty) that you should feel disorientated and yet it is so well written that you never feel frustrated or lost by what has not yet been revealed. This reader felt the technology levels were not beyond my comprehension; they appeared to be reasonable given the current direction of technical progress. The political and business aspects that are based on power struggles work really well in this context. If you have never read anything by John Scalzi, this is a good place to start; and if you have read some Scalzi I can reassure you that he is on top of his game in this novel. show less
Integrator, who are rare individuals that survived the flu and the meningitis stage and didn’t get locked in, only to develop a brain structure which would allow Hadens to link up their minds to use their bodies as if they were their own or a Threeps’.
As you can see, the concepts in this novel are quite intricate and complex, and I’m actually really impressed Scalzi was able to get all the relevant information across without having to commit the cardinal sin of shameless, wholesale info-dumping all over these pages. After having a peek at several early reviews of Lock In from readers who found themselves slightly lost and confused especially at the beginning of this novel, I was a bit concerned that I would feel the same way, but show more surprisingly I did not. It’s true that not all the details and answers about the world are available right away, but I still found the story easy to follow and I ultimately liked the way knowledge about Haden’s Syndrome and its history were gradually presented to us. All the information came to light eventually, and it happened very naturally and in a way that didn’t distract from the storytelling.
And while this book is a tale of mystery at its heart, what I liked best about its was its subtle societal themes and messages about topics like disability, ethics in medicine, and other tough questions for a country in which millions suffer from a very expensive and life-altering condition. Scalzi explores the implications of this and the effects that Threeps might have on the population. I’ve always thought of his books as more “popcorn reads”, like with novels such as Redshirts or Agent to the Stars, but Lock In also surprised me with its depth and moments of thoughtfulness.
That being said, this book is still pure Scalzi in terms of his light, easy prose and plenty of humorous and snappy dialogue. Lock In was fun and entertaining, and I had a fantastic time reading this, but I also feel this is a next step for the author. It’s a huge part of what made this book such a great read, because to be honest, as mystery or suspense novels go, it’s not as mysterious or suspenseful as it could be (after all, it was pretty obvious who the bad guy was, and there’s really no having to guess whatsoever). But the writing, the premise of the story along with the background of Haden’s Syndrome and what it means for the world all came together in one perfect package for me. As a result I devoured this book in a bit more than a day and I loved every minute of it. show less
As you can see, the concepts in this novel are quite intricate and complex, and I’m actually really impressed Scalzi was able to get all the relevant information across without having to commit the cardinal sin of shameless, wholesale info-dumping all over these pages. After having a peek at several early reviews of Lock In from readers who found themselves slightly lost and confused especially at the beginning of this novel, I was a bit concerned that I would feel the same way, but show more surprisingly I did not. It’s true that not all the details and answers about the world are available right away, but I still found the story easy to follow and I ultimately liked the way knowledge about Haden’s Syndrome and its history were gradually presented to us. All the information came to light eventually, and it happened very naturally and in a way that didn’t distract from the storytelling.
And while this book is a tale of mystery at its heart, what I liked best about its was its subtle societal themes and messages about topics like disability, ethics in medicine, and other tough questions for a country in which millions suffer from a very expensive and life-altering condition. Scalzi explores the implications of this and the effects that Threeps might have on the population. I’ve always thought of his books as more “popcorn reads”, like with novels such as Redshirts or Agent to the Stars, but Lock In also surprised me with its depth and moments of thoughtfulness.
That being said, this book is still pure Scalzi in terms of his light, easy prose and plenty of humorous and snappy dialogue. Lock In was fun and entertaining, and I had a fantastic time reading this, but I also feel this is a next step for the author. It’s a huge part of what made this book such a great read, because to be honest, as mystery or suspense novels go, it’s not as mysterious or suspenseful as it could be (after all, it was pretty obvious who the bad guy was, and there’s really no having to guess whatsoever). But the writing, the premise of the story along with the background of Haden’s Syndrome and what it means for the world all came together in one perfect package for me. As a result I devoured this book in a bit more than a day and I loved every minute of it. show less
Una de mis mayores pesadillas, el síndrome de lock-in, y sin embargo he podido leer un libro que empieza con ello. Un virus causa una epidemia que como efecto secundario deja a sus pacientes (a un pequeño porcentaje de ellos) encerrados en sus cuerpos, perfectamente capaces de sentir y pensar pero sin la habilidad de mover un solo músculo voluntariamente. Con el tiempo (y mucho dinero invertido) se logran inventar redes neuronales que permiten a los pacientes afectados tripular robots y moverse e interactuar con el mundo, a veces de manera más rica que con un cuerpo biológico. Estos pacientes son las Hadens, así bautizados en honor (ejem) a la mujer del presidente de los EEUU, que fue la paciente más notable en los inicios de la show more epidemia. A veces lo pienso y la claustrofobia me abruma, pero el autor no hace descripciones angustiosas. La novela empieza años después de la aparición de este síndrome, y va sobre dos agentes del FBI que investigan un extraño caso de asesinato en el que hay implicados muchos Hadens y muchos no Hadens. La historia es estupenda, muy divertida y muy emocionante. Me ha parecido muy entretenida y no he dejado el libro en dos días. No le puedo pedir más a una novela. show less
Wow. There was so much in this book. It's suspense--people are being murdered and the FBI is investigating. It's speculative fiction--one of the FBI agents is a "Haden," a person with Haden's syndrome whose body is in a medical cradle at his home while his mind inhabits a robotic body (threepio--so perfect). It's about disability and disability rights and it is very, very good at that, in my opinion. The book gets five stars because it combines speculative fiction with suspense/thriller and because it made me think.
What would I do, were I a Haden? Would I use a threepio and interact with the physical world? Would I never use one and interact only in the Agora (a virtual world that is utterly real to the Hadens)? Would I mix both? There show more was a minor incident mentioned about threepios not being allowed to use chairs in coffee shops if those chairs were needed by those without Haden's. The particular threepio relating it doesn't mind, but I'd mind. Oh, would I mind. There are great things like that which call into question the humanity of a Haden while in their threepio. Then there's the housing which tends to be small and cramped for Haden's because they are, after all, bedridden and don't actually need space. But do they deserve it? Does it benefit them?
Oh, and the whodunnit? A wonderful mix of plots and schemes with the technology available to them. Very clever.
I could go on. I'm going to be revisiting this book many times. show less
What would I do, were I a Haden? Would I use a threepio and interact with the physical world? Would I never use one and interact only in the Agora (a virtual world that is utterly real to the Hadens)? Would I mix both? There show more was a minor incident mentioned about threepios not being allowed to use chairs in coffee shops if those chairs were needed by those without Haden's. The particular threepio relating it doesn't mind, but I'd mind. Oh, would I mind. There are great things like that which call into question the humanity of a Haden while in their threepio. Then there's the housing which tends to be small and cramped for Haden's because they are, after all, bedridden and don't actually need space. But do they deserve it? Does it benefit them?
Oh, and the whodunnit? A wonderful mix of plots and schemes with the technology available to them. Very clever.
I could go on. I'm going to be revisiting this book many times. show less
Imagine living your life at one remove, as through a veil; more of a passenger than a protagonist. Would you feel secure, claustrophobic, wanting release - and if so, at what cost? Would it be easier if it was the only existence you'd ever known, or if you had memories of a normal life? What is it that makes us human, anyway - surely not the efficacy of our physical bodies?
I was hooked by the situation, but infuriated by the constant and very crass exposition (for which I downgrade the book), and not very interested in the investigation at its heart (which is perhaps more due to my general lack of interest in detective fiction, rather than an objective weakness of the book itself).
If you want a sci-fi cum detective drama, I suggest show more these instead:
Century Rain by Alistair Reynolds: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/498532574
The City & The City by China Mieville: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/396185571
Locked-In, Unlocked: What Price the Keys?
Haden's was virus that swept the world, leaving millions "locked in". If Hadens' bodies are given basic care, they can "live" in a virtual space called the Agora, and can also operate in the real world via a threep (a robotic body, reminiscent of C-3PO) or, if they can afford it, by occasionally using the body of a licensed Integrator (a patient who recovered, but whose brain was changed by the disease, and then further modified by neural nets).
Some choose to live mostly in the virtual world, some in the physical one. That alone is a fascinating choice: being equal in a virtual world, or in some senses disabled in the physical world.
Using - or being - and Integrator is another tricky choice. The Integrator is conscious throughout, but not fully in control; aware of what the other person is feeling, but not actually able to read their thoughts. Some find it a good approximation of what they remember before they caught Hadens, either for themselves or to remind others that they are still human. Some find it painful or unpleasant, and of course, a few use it for nefarious purposes.
Then there are the socio-cultural aspects: prejudice against Hadens, and to what extent they can, practically and psychologically, be treated like other people. One thing that was really odd was that most of the threeps - even the really high end ones - didn't show facial expressions. No wonder some people feel uncomfortable around threeps and don't think of them as fully human.
Some Hadens don't want cures; they fear their unique and "emerging culture that interacts with but is independent of the physical world" will be expunged. A major figure in this group is the prophetic (of course) Cassandra. There are similarities with those in the Deaf community who are against cochlea implants.
I couldn't envisage the future of this world, though: Hadens' bodies age, and one male patient fathers children by semen extraction and IVF, but as the number of patients declines through deaths of longstanding patients, coupled with fewer new infections, what then?
Murder, Big Business, Cop Clichés, Dodgy Lawyers, Computer Hacking
Yeah. Plenty of that. I can't be bothered to go into it as it didn't really captivate me; I'm sure other reviews cover it. At one point, a police officer mentions how another is a stereotypical messed up cop, but that doesn't redeem it, imo.
Clunky Exposition - Throughout
The book opens with three pages of a Wikipedia-type article about the incidence of and "treatments" for Haden's Syndrome. It also covers the politics: the huge investment in (and therefore profit from) treatments, followed by the recent Abrams-Kettering bill, meaning there would be huge cuts in US government funding.
Despite that (which is fine), and a few occasions where the narrator gives background as part of the narration to the reader (also fine), there are innumerable occasions throughout the book where one character goes into implausible detail to another character about something they would know. Why not make the original article a bit longer and if necessary, have the narrator explain other things as they arise?
What's Missing
Sex. I don't really want to read a book about human/cyborg sex, but I couldn't quite figure out its role in this society. There is vague mention of knowing people sexually in the Agora, though I'm not sure how that would work for those who'd been locked in since infancy, so not experienced puberty in the normal sense. There is also the suggestion (once) that some people might have sex with threeps, but although the threeps have adjustable pain sensors, there's no mention of any kind of physical pleasure from the threeps, so why would anyone using one engage in sex, or would it always be coercive, or perhaps commercial?
There are one or two things that are mentioned for no apparent reason, but never explained. In particular, twins who share a threep and who can blow up a balloon. Chris wonders how on both counts, is told not to ask, and they never appear again!
There's also the oddity of a threep opening the car window because someone is smoking. Huh?
In this futuristic world, there were two fights, within 40 pages, using knives - and skillets! Bizarre.
Diversity
I like the way that race, gender and sexuality are - mostly - treated as varied and unexceptional. I was quite a long way through before it occurred to me that although I'd assumed Agent Chris Shane was male, I'm pretty sure Chris' gender is never stated, or even implied. Similarly, the fact that Chris is mixed-race/bi-racial is only indirectly suggested (there are two mentions of the mother being of one of Virginia oldest political families, and when the fatherkills an intruder, the image of a black man with a gun is assumed to scupper his chances of political office ). And why should it be. There's reference to a male character's husband, too. That was fine, until "his husband" was used several times in places where it felt rather too deliberate.
The Navajo Nation has a central role in the story, and there is passing mention of the historical importance of Navajo Code Talkers in WW2: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Code_talker#Navajo_code_talkers
Quotes
Nothing worth noting. :( show less
I was hooked by the situation, but infuriated by the constant and very crass exposition (for which I downgrade the book), and not very interested in the investigation at its heart (which is perhaps more due to my general lack of interest in detective fiction, rather than an objective weakness of the book itself).
If you want a sci-fi cum detective drama, I suggest show more these instead:
Century Rain by Alistair Reynolds: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/498532574
The City & The City by China Mieville: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/396185571
Locked-In, Unlocked: What Price the Keys?
Haden's was virus that swept the world, leaving millions "locked in". If Hadens' bodies are given basic care, they can "live" in a virtual space called the Agora, and can also operate in the real world via a threep (a robotic body, reminiscent of C-3PO) or, if they can afford it, by occasionally using the body of a licensed Integrator (a patient who recovered, but whose brain was changed by the disease, and then further modified by neural nets).
Some choose to live mostly in the virtual world, some in the physical one. That alone is a fascinating choice: being equal in a virtual world, or in some senses disabled in the physical world.
Using - or being - and Integrator is another tricky choice. The Integrator is conscious throughout, but not fully in control; aware of what the other person is feeling, but not actually able to read their thoughts. Some find it a good approximation of what they remember before they caught Hadens, either for themselves or to remind others that they are still human. Some find it painful or unpleasant, and of course, a few use it for nefarious purposes.
Then there are the socio-cultural aspects: prejudice against Hadens, and to what extent they can, practically and psychologically, be treated like other people. One thing that was really odd was that most of the threeps - even the really high end ones - didn't show facial expressions. No wonder some people feel uncomfortable around threeps and don't think of them as fully human.
Some Hadens don't want cures; they fear their unique and "emerging culture that interacts with but is independent of the physical world" will be expunged. A major figure in this group is the prophetic (of course) Cassandra. There are similarities with those in the Deaf community who are against cochlea implants.
I couldn't envisage the future of this world, though: Hadens' bodies age, and one male patient fathers children by semen extraction and IVF, but as the number of patients declines through deaths of longstanding patients, coupled with fewer new infections, what then?
Murder, Big Business, Cop Clichés, Dodgy Lawyers, Computer Hacking
Yeah. Plenty of that. I can't be bothered to go into it as it didn't really captivate me; I'm sure other reviews cover it. At one point, a police officer mentions how another is a stereotypical messed up cop, but that doesn't redeem it, imo.
Clunky Exposition - Throughout
The book opens with three pages of a Wikipedia-type article about the incidence of and "treatments" for Haden's Syndrome. It also covers the politics: the huge investment in (and therefore profit from) treatments, followed by the recent Abrams-Kettering bill, meaning there would be huge cuts in US government funding.
Despite that (which is fine), and a few occasions where the narrator gives background as part of the narration to the reader (also fine), there are innumerable occasions throughout the book where one character goes into implausible detail to another character about something they would know. Why not make the original article a bit longer and if necessary, have the narrator explain other things as they arise?
What's Missing
Sex. I don't really want to read a book about human/cyborg sex, but I couldn't quite figure out its role in this society. There is vague mention of knowing people sexually in the Agora, though I'm not sure how that would work for those who'd been locked in since infancy, so not experienced puberty in the normal sense. There is also the suggestion (once) that some people might have sex with threeps, but although the threeps have adjustable pain sensors, there's no mention of any kind of physical pleasure from the threeps, so why would anyone using one engage in sex, or would it always be coercive, or perhaps commercial?
There are one or two things that are mentioned for no apparent reason, but never explained. In particular, twins who share a threep and who can blow up a balloon. Chris wonders how on both counts, is told not to ask, and they never appear again!
There's also the oddity of a threep opening the car window because someone is smoking. Huh?
In this futuristic world, there were two fights, within 40 pages, using knives - and skillets! Bizarre.
Diversity
I like the way that race, gender and sexuality are - mostly - treated as varied and unexceptional. I was quite a long way through before it occurred to me that although I'd assumed Agent Chris Shane was male, I'm pretty sure Chris' gender is never stated, or even implied. Similarly, the fact that Chris is mixed-race/bi-racial is only indirectly suggested (there are two mentions of the mother being of one of Virginia oldest political families, and when the father
The Navajo Nation has a central role in the story, and there is passing mention of the historical importance of Navajo Code Talkers in WW2: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Code_talker#Navajo_code_talkers
Quotes
Nothing worth noting. :( show less
The Short of It:
Interesting concept.
The Rest of It:
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. ~ the publisher
I went into this book club pick completely blind, with no idea what to expect, and it ended up being exactly the kind of read I needed. It’s a little strange, a little unsettling, and perfectly show more suited to a mood-driven reading experience, which honestly feels essential these days.
What really hooked me was the central concept: a virus that leaves people fully conscious but unable to move, forcing them to live their lives through “threeps,” robotic, humanoid bodies that act as their physical stand-ins while their real bodies remain safely tucked away. It’s a fascinating idea, but the story quickly makes it clear that “safe” is relative. Those affected by the syndrome are being targeted, and what once seemed like a solution to a global crisis becomes a new kind of vulnerability. These people are still here, still aware, and still at risk.
The narrative follows police detectives, including one who has Haden’s, which adds a compelling layer to how the world and its biases are portrayed. Society has already started deciding what’s acceptable and what isn’t, and the lines get murkier as the story unfolds. The fact that “threeps” can be damaged or destroyed, often at great personal cost to their users, raises the stakes in a way that feels both practical and deeply human.
What starts as a straightforward murder investigation expands into something much bigger, blending speculative sci-fi with a grounded, procedural feel.
I’m always drawn to stories that explore where we might be headed when things start to fall apart, and this one hits that note without feeling too far removed from reality. Maybe a little too close, at times.
Overall, it’s an engaging, thought-provoking read, and I’m looking forward to seeing what everyone else in book club takes away from it.
For more reviews, visit my blog: Book Chatter. show less
Interesting concept.
The Rest of It:
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. ~ the publisher
I went into this book club pick completely blind, with no idea what to expect, and it ended up being exactly the kind of read I needed. It’s a little strange, a little unsettling, and perfectly show more suited to a mood-driven reading experience, which honestly feels essential these days.
What really hooked me was the central concept: a virus that leaves people fully conscious but unable to move, forcing them to live their lives through “threeps,” robotic, humanoid bodies that act as their physical stand-ins while their real bodies remain safely tucked away. It’s a fascinating idea, but the story quickly makes it clear that “safe” is relative. Those affected by the syndrome are being targeted, and what once seemed like a solution to a global crisis becomes a new kind of vulnerability. These people are still here, still aware, and still at risk.
The narrative follows police detectives, including one who has Haden’s, which adds a compelling layer to how the world and its biases are portrayed. Society has already started deciding what’s acceptable and what isn’t, and the lines get murkier as the story unfolds. The fact that “threeps” can be damaged or destroyed, often at great personal cost to their users, raises the stakes in a way that feels both practical and deeply human.
What starts as a straightforward murder investigation expands into something much bigger, blending speculative sci-fi with a grounded, procedural feel.
I’m always drawn to stories that explore where we might be headed when things start to fall apart, and this one hits that note without feeling too far removed from reality. Maybe a little too close, at times.
Overall, it’s an engaging, thought-provoking read, and I’m looking forward to seeing what everyone else in book club takes away from it.
For more reviews, visit my blog: Book Chatter. show less
"No. Making people change because you can't deal with who they are isn't how it's supposed to be done. What needs to be done is for people to pull their heads out of their asses. You say 'cure.' I hear 'you're not human enough.'"
Content warnings:
Suicide mention cw
In the near future, a virus spreads throughout the world. Called Haden's, it can cause fever, meningitis, or a "locked in" state, where the person cannot move, but is fully conscious. These people are called Hadens, or clanks, when their minds use an android-like body to experience the world outside their bedridden bodies. The MC, Shane, the poster child for Haden's, is now grown up and an FBI agent for cases involving Hadens, and he gets involved in one heck of a mess.
This show more book is basically a discussion on capitalism and how it affects people with disabilities (and how, if a virus affected people worldwide, making a significant amount of the world's population disabled, big businesses in America would find more ways to capitalize on them). It also mentions classicism and disability, which pleasantly surprised me, especially since the MC comes from a very privileged background. All in all, this book has the most sensitive treatment of disabled characters that I've ever read.
It took me a little while to get used to the style, but once I did, the book hooked me in, and it became very difficult to stop reading. Of course, this book is written in about 90% dialogue (which is probably his greatest strength, since when he does manage to slip some prose in, it's not all that great), which accounts for the speedy pacing. There's also some mighty cliche dialogue ("Cut the suspense, Diaz. Get to it."), but I found it was easily overlooked for reasons described above.
All in all, I didn't expect to like this book as much as I did. show less
Content warnings:
Suicide mention cw
In the near future, a virus spreads throughout the world. Called Haden's, it can cause fever, meningitis, or a "locked in" state, where the person cannot move, but is fully conscious. These people are called Hadens, or clanks, when their minds use an android-like body to experience the world outside their bedridden bodies. The MC, Shane, the poster child for Haden's, is now grown up and an FBI agent for cases involving Hadens, and he gets involved in one heck of a mess.
This show more book is basically a discussion on capitalism and how it affects people with disabilities (and how, if a virus affected people worldwide, making a significant amount of the world's population disabled, big businesses in America would find more ways to capitalize on them). It also mentions classicism and disability, which pleasantly surprised me, especially since the MC comes from a very privileged background. All in all, this book has the most sensitive treatment of disabled characters that I've ever read.
It took me a little while to get used to the style, but once I did, the book hooked me in, and it became very difficult to stop reading. Of course, this book is written in about 90% dialogue (which is probably his greatest strength, since when he does manage to slip some prose in, it's not all that great), which accounts for the speedy pacing. There's also some mighty cliche dialogue ("Cut the suspense, Diaz. Get to it."), but I found it was easily overlooked for reasons described above.
All in all, I didn't expect to like this book as much as I did. show less
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Author Information
135+ Works 67,310 Members
John Michael Scalzi was born May 10, 1969 in California. He attended the University of Chicago. During his 1989 -1990 school year he was the editor-in-chief of The Chicago Maroon. After graduating in 1991, Scalzi took a job as the film critic for the Fresno Bee newspaper, eventually also becoming a humor columnist. In 1996 he was hired as the show more in-house writer and editor at America Online. When he was laid off in 1998, he decided to become a full-time freelance writer and author. His first published novel was Old Man's War. His other works include Agent to the Stars, The Ghosts Brigades, The Androids Team, The Sagan Diary, The Last Colony, and Redshirts: A Novel with Three Codas. In 2014 his title, Locked In, made The New York Times Best Seller List. (Bowker Author Biography) show less
Some Editions
Awards and Honors
Awards
Distinctions
Series
Belongs to Publisher Series
Work Relationships
Common Knowledge
- Canonical title
- Lock In
- Original title
- Lock In
- Original publication date
- 2014-08-26
- People/Characters
- Chris Shane; Leslie Vann; Samuel Schwartz; Lucas Hubbard; Nicholas Bell; Marcus Shane (show all 9); Tony Wilton; Klah Redhouse; Cassandra Bell
- Important places
- Washington, D.C., USA; Navajo Reservation, Arizona, USA
- Dedication
- To Joe Hill, I told you I was going to do this.
And to Daniel Mainz, my very dear friend. - First words
- Haden's syndrome is the name given to a set of continuing physical and mental conditions and disabilities initially brought on by "the Great Flu," the influenza-like global pandemic that resulted in the deaths of more than 40... (show all)0 million people worldwide, either through the initial flu-like symptoms, the secondary stage of meningitis-like cerebral and spinal inflammation, or through complications arising due to the third stage of the disease, which typically caused complete paralysis of the voluntary nervous system, resulting in "lock in" for its victims.
- Last words
- (Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)"Now. Everyone say 'cheese.'"
- Publisher's editor
- Nielsen Hayden, Patrick
- Blurbers
- Preston, Douglas; Doctorow, Cory
- Original language
- English US
- Canonical DDC/MDS
- 813.6
- Canonical LCC
- PS3619.C256
Classifications
Statistics
- Members
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- Reviews
- 223
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- Paper, Audiobook, Ebook
- ISBNs
- 22
- UPCs
- 1
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- 17