Lock In by John Scalzi
Synopsis:
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.
A quarter of a century later, in a world shaped by what’s now known as “Haden’s syndrome,” rookie FBI agent Chris Shane is paired with veteran agent Leslie Vann. The two of them are assigned what appears to be a Haden-related murder at the Watergate Hotel, with a suspect who is an “integrator” – someone who can let the locked in borrow their bodies for a time. If the Integrator was carrying a Haden client, then naming the suspect for the murder becomes that much more complicated.
But “complicated” doesn’t begin to describe it. As Shane and Vann began to unravel the threads of the murder, it becomes clear that the real mystery – and the real crime – is bigger than anyone could have imagined. The world of the locked in is changing, and with the change comes opportunities that the ambitious will seize at any cost. The investigation that began as a murder case takes Shane and Vann from the halls of corporate power to the virtual spaces of the locked in, and to the very heart of an emerging, surprising new human culture. It’s nothing you could have expected.
Review:
Scalzi’s latest future world is another inspired and unforgettable one. A horrifying disease leaves a large portion of the world’s population paralyzed. But the technology has been created to use robotic bodies or “borrow” the rented bodies of willing donors. Shane is one of these “Lock In” victims who uses a synthetic body to stay mobile and work for the FBI.
Lock In is another fantastic standalone novel by one of today’s best scifi authors. The characters are engaging and the pacing is spot on. Full of mystery, intrigue, suspense, and fascinating technology – this novel is hard to put down. Scalzi’s novels are always a must-read and this is no exception. From a chilling idea to a thrilling execution and several fun plot twists – Lock In will certainly be making my top reads of 2014 list.
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