From en.wikipedia.org:
[Novel by John Scalzi] [the novel] [date=March 2025]
{{Infobox book <!-- |italic title = (see above) --> | name = Lock In | image =
Lock In Cover.jpg | caption = Cover of hardcover | author = John Scalzi |
title_orig = | translator = | illustrator = | cover_artist = Peter Lutjen |
country = United States of America | language = English | series = | subject =
| genre = Science fiction, police procedural | publisher = Tor Books |
pub_date = August 26, 2014 | media_type = | pages = 336 | isbn =
978-0-7653-7586-5 | congress = | preceded_by = | followed_by = Head On }}
_LOCK IN_ is a science fiction police procedural novel by American writer John
Scalzi. The book was published by Tor Books on August 26, 2014.[1] The
audiobook of the novel was released in two versions, one narrated by Wil
Wheaton and the other by Amber Benson.[2]
The sequel to this novel is titled _Head On_,[3] which was released in April
2018.[4]
** Plot summary
The world is exposed to a highly contagious virus. Most who get sick
experience nothing worse than flu-like symptoms. For 1%, the virus causes the
victims to be fully awake, but unable to move or respond to stimulus. This is
known as "lock in", and resembles the real condition known as locked-in
syndrome. The illness comes to be known as "Haden's syndrome" with its
victims called "Hadens". Humanoid robotic personal transport units controlled
by a Haden's brain (nicknamed "Threeps" after C-3PO from _Star Wars_) are
developed as the primary way for a Haden to interact with the outside world.
Twenty five years after the initial virus exposure, FBI agents Chris Shane
(who is a Haden) and Leslie Vann are assigned to a Haden-related murder, with
a suspect who is an "Integrator" – someone who can let a Haden use their
bodies. If the Integrator was carrying a Haden, then finding the suspect for
the murder is complicated. Further Integrator-Haden related murders occur,
making the case larger than expected, and as Shane and Vann dig deeper, they
uncover a plot to completely shake up the Haden economy.
** Companion novella
_Lock In_ is accompanied by a novella, _Unlocked: An Oral History of Haden's
Syndrome_, an epistolary work which provides background details about the
origins of the epidemic.[5][6] Chris Shane, the protagonist of _Lock In_, is
briefly mentioned in _Unlocked_.
** Reception
The _Milwaukee Journal Sentinel_ called it "compulsively readable", and
praised Scalzi for having "a combination of skill, vision and intuition."[7]
Legendary Television acquired the rights to _Lock In_ to adapt it into a TV
pilot in 2014.[8] However, sometime before March 2017 the TV rights were given
up by Legendary.[9]
{| class="wikitable sortable" |- ! Year ! Award ! Category ! Result ! Ref. |-
! rowspan=2 | 2015 | Campbell Memorial Award | — | [Finalist] | <ref
name=campbell2015>[url=https://locusmag.com/2015/06/2015-campbell-and-sturgeon-awards-winners/
] |- | Locus Award | Science Fiction Novel | [Finalist] | <ref
name=locus2015>[url=https://locusmag.com/2015/06/2015-locus-awards-winners/ ]
|}
An analysis at _io9_ suggested that, if not for the Sad Puppies
ballot-manipulation campaign, _Lock In_ would have been a finalist for the
2015 Hugo Award for Best Novel.<ref name=Puppies>This Is What The 2015 Hugo
Ballot Should Have Been (see
https://io9.gizmodo.com/this-is-what-the-2015-hugo-ballot-should-have-been-1725967147)
, by Andrew Liptak, at _io9_; published August 23, 2015; retrieved August 7,
2018
** References
[30em]
[John Scalzi]
Category:2014 science fiction novels Category:2014 American novels
Category:Police procedurals Category:English-language novels Category:Tor
Books books Category:Novels by John Scalzi Category:Novels about the Federal
Bureau of Investigation Category:Novels about viral outbreaks
Category:Speculative crime and thriller fiction novels