Lock in by John Scalzi

Lock in

by John Scalzi

Fifteen years from now, a new virus sweeps the globe. 95% of those afflicted experience nothing worse than fever and headaches. 4% suffer acute meningitis, creating the largest medical crisis in history. And 1% find themselves 'locked in' - fully awake and aware, but unable to move or respond to stimulus.

1% doesn't seem like a lot. But in the US that's 1.7 million people 'locked in' ... including the President's wife and daughter.

Spurred by grief and the sheer magnitude of the suffering, America undertakes a massive scientific initiative. Nothing can fully restore the locked in. But then two new technologies emerge. One is a virtual-reality environment, 'The Agora', where the locked-in can interact with other humans, whether locked-in ornot. The other is the discovery that a few rare individuals have brains that are receptive to being controlled by others, allowing those who are locked in to occasionally '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 ...

Reviewed by Terri M. LeBlanc on

3 of 5 stars

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There’s something I find fascinating about a good crime novel. There’s something equally fascinating about accessible science fiction. Smash those two together and you’ve got Lock In. A captivating science fiction crime novel that takes place in a world much like our own after a devastating meningitis-like virus hits the human population hard.

It wasn’t hard to imagine a world like the one Scalzi lays out in Lock In. With the recent rash of E. Coli breakouts, the Ebola epidemic and childhood illness likes mumps and measles making a comeback, the human nature to throw money at our problems, help the poor souls affected and legislate the heck out if was real. At points, I was drawing parallels between the novel and news stories about funding being provided (or not provided) for certain types of medical research. The availability and accessibility of medications and other technology for people with disabilities. And just our general treatment of those who are different from us. This is not a far fetched science fiction world. We are just mere steps away from Haden-world of Lock In. And in some cases, right in the middle of it.

The main characters in Lock In are fairly straight forward—the hard-nosed FBI agent and the rookie. How those characters interact is based on their experiences prior to becoming partners and there is not much new. That isn’t to say that I didn’t enjoy Chris Shane and Leslie Vann; there’s just nothing new that I haven’t seen before, relationship-wise, in a decent cop shop or movie. The real depth of the story comes with how everyone exists and interacts in the post-Haden Syndrome world. It adds some twists and turns to the old traditional cop story that caught me a bit off guard.

I definitely recommend reading Lock In for those readers who are fans of crime fiction as well as those who like lighter science fiction. The medical details regarding Haden’s is fairly straight forward and explained well right up front. The technology mirrors technology we already have. This novel would be a great way to dip your toes in the science fiction genre if you find it intimidating. And while GoodReads does have Lock in listed as the first in a series. The book does not end in a cliffhanger and stands on its own and is well worth the read.


This review was originally posted on Second Run Reviews

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Reading updates

  • Started reading
  • 31 October, 2015: Finished reading
  • 31 October, 2015: Reviewed