Lock In (Lock In, #1) in Book Riot's Read Harder Challenge

Sep 03, 2014 Arianna rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: audiobook, audible, bea-2014, aoma

shelfnotes.com

Dear Reader,
I think I love authors who, like Tolkien, build entire worlds with fully-fleshed back histories in order to tell their stories. You can tell that Scalzi knew his imaginary world inside and out as he wrote his mystery novel, and that fact was brought home by the bonus content included in the book: an entire oral history of Haden's Disease. I was blown away by the detail in this section, which wasn't even part of the original novel: if you've read World War Z, you will ha shelfnotes.com

Dear Reader,
I think I love authors who, like Tolkien, build entire worlds with fully-fleshed back histories in order to tell their stories. You can tell that Scalzi knew his imaginary world inside and out as he wrote his mystery novel, and that fact was brought home by the bonus content included in the book: an entire oral history of Haden's Disease. I was blown away by the detail in this section, which wasn't even part of the original novel: if you've read World War Z, you will have a good idea of the depth and breadth of this amazing & thoroughly developed back-story. And all of that being fleshed out just made the novel so much easier to immerse yourself in. I loved the small little touches that just seemed taken for granted that they made sense, such as "inside voices" and "Threeps". The latter took me a minute to get the joke on ("one of the most beloved robots in science fiction"), but I loved it even more once I did.

And Wil Wheaton. Ah, Wil. I have adored you since your Stand By Me days, and was thrilled to read along as you outed yourself as a fellow geek in your first book. Whenever I have to remind my (no good with faces) husband who Wil is, I mention his stellar appearances on The Guild and Leverage. He's done such awesome work. And this was certainly on par. I love Wil's voice, and I think he's actually weirdly grown into the Richard Dreyfus of his Stand By Me voice-over (great choice, Reiner). In any case, the reason I rave so much about this particular point is that I was fascinated to learn why the audiobook reader was given a CHOICE in the narration - the other option besides Mr. Wheaton was Amber Benson (another great geeky choice!). Why two narrators, one of each gender? Why, because the gender of "Chris Shane," the protagonist, is never actually revealed! I am not sure I would have noticed that if it hadn't been brought to my attention; I would have just assumed "male" while listening to Wil Wheaton read. However, I do love that little detail about the book. It is fascinating how Chris' gender never actually became a thing. Love it.

Otherwise, I was immediately enthralled by the book's premise. The mystery plotline was actually of secondary importance to me, behind the amazing future world that Scalzi had drawn up. This concept of a disease which leaves stricken people "locked" in their own heads, unable to sense or interact with the world around them? Incredible (but certainly not impossible) to contemplate. And then the development of these "personal transports" which the Threeps use to interact with the "meat world" - you could tell that every little touch was thoroughly thought through by the author. Right down to the variety of quality in personal transport design - which is absolutely how our world would work! I loved the back-stories of Chris and his partner Van, and the rich characters whom the author introduced throughout the novel. I am not big into crime novels (although I do love me my SVU), but whatever your natural genre inclinations, do yourself a favor and read this one. It is definitely worth your time.

Yours,
Arianna

P.S. We saw this author speak at the BEA last year on a sci-fi panel, and I've been eager to read this book ever since!
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Oct 12, 2016 Sarah rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: sci-fi-and-fantasy, fiction, audiobook

I've said before that I enjoy Wil Wheaton's reading - and that hasn't changed with this book. (Again, no voices, or accents, but subtle differences between the 'feel' of the characters.)

This is the second John Scalzi book I've 'read' (listened to). Again, the universe and the premise is great - maybe not completely original, but I'm a big sci fi/fantasy fan and so I'm used to ideas being oddly familiar.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I looked forward to my commute each day - and I didn't realis ...more

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Jul 03, 2014 Loretta rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: sci-fi-and-fantasy, audiobooks

I thoroughly enjoyed this audiobook. I'm going to have to try reading Scalzi in paper form sometime soon (maybe Redshirts will be up next). But Lock In had a fascinating premise, fully developed and executed within a murder mystery, great characters and a plot that kept me listening when I should have been sleeping.

Note: I listened to the audiobook narrated by Wil Wheaton. I didn't realize when I bought it that there were 2 versions - and because of that I missed the fact (which I likely would h ...more

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Aug 29, 2014 Emily rated it it was amazing

Shelves: fantasy-sci-fi, detective-lit, read-in-2014, arc, netgalley

Probably closer to a 4.5. But I enjoyed the heck out of this one. Full review to come.

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Nov 25, 2014 Elizabeth rated it it was ok

MEH. Interesting idea, incredibly ho-hum execution and mystery.

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May 11, 2015 Jill rated it it was amazing

Shelves: sci-fi

Could not put it down!

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Apr 22, 2018 Loretta rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: audiobooks, sci-fi-and-fantasy

My second read/listen, this time to the Amber Benson narration. It's still a really good book, fascinating premise well-executed. Moving on to Book #2 in the series now. ...more

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