Lock In (Narrated by Wil Wheaton)

By: John Scalzi

Narrated by: Wil Wheaton

Length: 9 hrs and 56 mins

Publisher's summary

AudioFile Best Voices - Sci Fi, Fantasy, and Audio Theater, 2014

A blazingly inventive near-future thriller from the best-selling, Hugo Award-winning John Scalzi.

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.

BONUS AUDIO: Audible's audio edition of Lock In contains the bonus novella, Unlocked: An Oral History of Haden's Syndrome, written by John Scalzi and narrated by a full cast.

"I love working with Audible, in no small part because they’re committed to doing what’s right, both for my books, and the people who listen to those books. There's a really excellent reason for Lock In to have two entirely different versions, so when it came time to make the audiobook, Audible did an ingenious thing: they asked both Wil Wheaton and Amber Benson to record entire versions of the book. As the author, I’m impressed with Audible’s commitment to my narrative - and I’m geeking out that both Wil and Amber are reading my book. This is fantastic." (John Scalzi)

2 editions. 2 narrators. 1 thrilling story. You can enjoy Amber Benson's narration here.

©2014 John Scalzi (P)2014 Audible Inc.

Critic reviews

"Hugo-winner Scalzi successfully shifts away from space opera with this smart, thoughtful near-future thriller resonant with the themes of freedom, ethics, and corporate greed….This powerful novel will intrigue and entertain both fans and newcomers." ( Publishers Weekly)

"The novel--which contains plenty of action, great character development, vivid and believable worldbuilding and a thought-provoking examination of disability culture and politics--is definitely worth the ride." ( Kirkus)

"Another brilliant novel from a writer who has quickly become one of the genre’s most successful and intriguing practitioners." ( Booklist)

"With narrator Wil Wheaton attacking Scalzi's text with both vigor and nuance, this story tells about a silent minority being given voice, then having that voice threatened.... Thanks to Wheaton's skillful efforts, this production is an enjoyable melding of narrator and material." ( AudioFile)

Haven't met a Scalzi novel I didn't like

I have now listened to/read several Scalzi books and not one has been disappointing. This one is a great police procedural/mystery that happens to be set in a future when a devastating illness has left many “locked in” - minds intact in immovable bodies. They use robot bodies to function in the “real world” but also live in their own cyber world with others like them. This novel combines commentary on politics, medical and technical science fiction, and a good mystery. Loved it.

I like listening to Wil Wheaton.

Enjoyable even at 1.25x speed

Loved this Sci-Fi detective story. Nicely developed characters with depth. Futuristic with lots of descriptive technology which was a bit challenging at times.

Good listen like everything I’ve heard from Scalzi.

I expected nothing less than riveting, exciting and to make me stay up late listening. It did so!

Great novel. Superb novella.

I bought this one because I’ve enjoyed a lot of books by Scalzi and narrated by Wheaton. I confess that I wasn’t expecting a lot from the novel but it is good and well worth your time. But the novella? Blew my mind. Science fiction at its very best! I was amazed with Scalzi’s understanding of Deaf and disability cultures and the disability rights movement. Read it!

Well written, loved the narration

I really enjoyed the story. The need for neural network security is coming sooner than we think. I didn’t need a novella or the history of Hayden’s and I skipped the last 2 hours, which was a bit of a bummer since I thought the listening time was all for the main story and was surprised when it ended. I still recommend it, but be aware that the story is 2 hours shorter than listed.

Not Scalzi's best but only one can be

I've read lots of Scalzi books because he's not only a great author but he seems to have his own genre within sci-fi.
There are others that I've liked more but this series didn't disappoint.
If you've liked any of his other books I'm sure you will like this one too.

A doozie of a story!

I adored absolutely everything about this audiobook. The sequel rocks as well. I wish there were more books.

Inventive and meta

What goes on in Scalzi’s brain that he comes up with this remarkable creative stuff?

Amazing story in an interesting future

In "Lock-In," John Scalzi introduces readers to a future society where a devastating virus leaves some individuals locked into their own minds, forcing them to interact with the world through digital avatars or robotic bodies. Amidst this backdrop, a thrilling murder mystery unfolds, keeping readers captivated until the very end.

John Scalzi expertly blends suspense and intrigue, crafting a plot filled with unexpected twists and turns. But what truly sets "Lock-In" apart is the richly imagined world and backstory. The societal implications of the virus offer readers a thought-provoking exploration of identity and consciousness.

As I turned the final page, I was left in awe of Scalzi's storytelling prowess. "Lock-In" is not only a gripping read but also a compelling reflection on the potential consequences of technological advancement. It's a must-read for anyone seeking an immersive literary experience that lingers long after the book is closed. Five stars, without a doubt.

Middle of the road for Scalzi

I like John Scalzi's work so just calm down. This book was okay, original idea, but the story didn't wow me. Wheaton did a good job as usual and it kept me interested all the way through. Good. Just not as good as his other books.