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  • Lock In (Narrated by Amber Benson)

  • By: John Scalzi
  • Narrated by: Amber Benson
  • Length: 10 hrs and 56 mins
  • 4.1 out of 5 stars (201 ratings)

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Lock In (Narrated by Amber Benson)

By: John Scalzi
Narrated by: Amber Benson
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Summary

Two editions. Two narrators. One thrilling story. You can also choose to download Wil Wheaton's narration.

"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)

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.

©2014 John Scalzi (P)2014 Audible Inc.
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Editor reviews

Editors Select, August 2014 - I'm a huge sci-fi listener, and when I heard that John Scalzi was coming out with a new novel in August, there was no question that it was going to be my pick for the month. The premise: In the near-future, a mass contagion called Haden's Syndrome sweeps the world. 99% of those affected experience normal flu-like symptoms, but 1% of the world is left "locked in" – trapped with a fully functional mind inside a non-functioning body. Technological advancements have made it possible for these people to move through the world using artificial android-like bodies but often at the sacrifice of being viewed as less than human. Lock In takes place about twenty years after the outbreak, and focuses on Chris Shane's first day on the job as an FBI agent (Chris is one of the world's most famous victims of the disease). I've always admired Scalzi for is his ability to write compelling, multi-dimensional characters of all genders, and in this book, he does something truly novel: he never specifies a gender for Chris. As a result, we're rewarded with two great versions of this audiobook - one narrated by Wil Wheaton, and one by Amber Benson ( Buffy the Vampire Slayer). This is a thrilling, highly original, genre-bending story that will appeal to mystery & thriller and sci-fi fans alike. —Sam, Audible Editor

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)

What listeners say about Lock In (Narrated by Amber Benson)

Average customer ratings
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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Story really grabbed me

On starting it I was prepared for another cop duo book but the world scenario it was set it really set this book apart. loved the bonus novella, the style reminded me of World War Z (the amazing book, not the awful film)

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Great concept if you can stand “van said” “I said”

Great concept and really good plot and pace with good characters. The narrator was a good choice however the downside to which nearly ruined it was the abnormal amount of “I said” “van said” etc it totally ruined the flow of the conversation and was overly used. The novella was great mainly because of the lack of this

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6 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Great story could be the next long running series.

The story is good but the back storyline is a cracker that may jus be another great series that just keeps on giving.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

a bit disappointing

great concept...with some good moments but annoying characters and less than convincing narration spoiled it for me

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

I said, he said, she said

Really interesting plot and concept which I think the author really explores very well.

However the dialogue is pretty poor, and the constant (CONSTANT) use of "I said, Schwartz said, I said, Schwartz said, Venn said, I said" is so grating that I was tempted to stop listening.
If I was actually reading it I probably wouldn't have noticed it, but it really distracted from the conversation when the narrator had to actually say it each time. Even if they sighed, grunted, whispered, lisped, groaned, shouted, replied occasionally or gave a description of HOW the thing was said it would have been more interesting.

Benson's voices for the different characters also got to me at times, but overall she was good, and I'd probably listen to something read by her again.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

A unique and creative story

A really unique take on a post-plague world. The use of robots to transport the consciousness of the afflicted patients is interesting. The story was action packed, witty, and realistic. I really had a good time listening this book. The only slightly annoying was the narrator was female and the main character male. Very minor, but I kept thinking of the main character as a women.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Satisfying at all levels

Fascinating scifi premise with social implications that are relatable to our world, detailed, exhaustive world building even if not at first (the extra novella at the end explains a lot), interesting characters and captivating plot, awesome performance by Amber Benson. Definitely recommended.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

An ok book!

The ending should have been first. The story was good as a whole but the explanation into the virus and the effects it had on the world should have been read at the beginning.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Good story but poor narration

The audible book badly let down in parts by poor narration.

Some of the characterisation was mumbled in distinct and very unclear.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

A Novel approach

Where does Lock In rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

This is my favourite of the Scalzi stories I've listed to. Mostly due to the awesome reading by Amber Benson.

What does Amber Benson bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you had only read the book?

Amber Benson manages to create a dramatic story where you can almost forget the descriptive prose.

If you made a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

Lock - In - Threepio FBI

Any additional comments?

Scalzi appears to have a verbal tick, which is noticeable when read, of using "said" a lot. When reading a book you can skim this but when it's read it jumps out (at least to me).

The appended full cast novella "Unlocked" was awesome!

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10 people found this helpful