Lock In (Narrated by Wil Wheaton) cover art

Lock In (Narrated by Wil Wheaton)

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Lock In (Narrated by Wil Wheaton)

By: John Scalzi
Narrated by: Wil Wheaton
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About this listen

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

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

"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.
Fantasy Genre Fiction Medical Post-Apocalyptic Science Fiction Thriller & Suspense Exciting

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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)
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Some good ideas, and I think they’d make a good sci-fi-noir film, but I could take or leave the book (which isn’t noir-ish). The first person narrator character doesn’t grab my interest or sympathy. Also, Wil Wheaton’s narration is a bit boring. Every sentence sounds like he’s carefully explaining something to an idiot. There are lonnnnngg sections of dialogue where the characters discuss the conspiracy and theorise about what’s happening. I’m 2/3rds of the way through the book and just finishing it for the sake of getting it over with.

Meh.

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At the end of this book there is a bonus book about the history of Haden’s - I suggest listening to this first because there are no give always but it will enhance your understanding of what is going on in the audiobook.
I’m not a sci fi fan, more of a thriller reader but I loved this. I just had to rewind a Few times because I hadn’t fully grasped the situation which is why I suggest listening to the bonus story first.

Great story but listen to the bonus first

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I enjoyed Lock In despite it being totally different to what I was expecting! I love a crime novel that doesn't take itself too seriously. There is a novella, Unlocked: An Oral History of Haden’s Syndrome, that, in my opinion, should be listened to before Lock In itself as it explains the disease that is at the heart of Lock In however Audible has included it at the end of the recording. I would have found it much easier to get into Lock In if I'd listened to the novella first. Both of these books were written pre-COVID, I found listening to the novella a bit confronting as there were quite a few similarities with COVID including the way that society deals with a pandemic. I also found myself thinking about the similarity between those who experienced Lock In & those who are currently experiencing severe Long COVID.

Actually 2 books in 1 - worth a read!

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For whatever reason this just didn’t draw me in. I’m glad others enjoyed it, but for me the combination of weird sci fi and detective story just didn’t excite me. Well written, and read, mind you!

Decent detective story

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I really enjoyed the back drop of the Locked In world. The story was well thought out and presented in a unpredictable manner.
It uses very familiar and enjoyable character types. All round great listen. I was also surprised by how well Will Wheaton’s narration worked. I very quickly got sucked into the story and only had one or two moments of wondering what Sheldon would make of all this :-)

Clever and very enjoyable!

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