Lock In by John Scalzi

*This Review is Spoiler Free*

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Twenty-five years after an illness known as Haden’s swept through the world, infecting millions of people before it even got it’s name, we are introduced to Agents Shane and Vann of the FBI. Lock In follows main protagonist and Haden’s survivor Chris Shane as he begins his career with the FBI. Hadens is a disease which causes flu like symptoms of varying severity. In a small percentage of the people infected with Hadens, some experience what is now known as Lock In, where victims are fully awake/aware but have absolutely no use of their bodies. 

There is so much more that can be mentioned about this novel without really be any form of a spoiler, but I want to give you just the “bare bones” of the story. I went into this reading experience with  only the skeletal synopsis of what I remember hearing around the time of the books initial release in 2014. This was also my very very first John Scalzi novel which pains me to admit. I had heard nothing but positive recommendations of Scalzi’s work and I don’t even understand why I had yet to read anything by this author. Now, I can add my own words of wisdom to the John Scalzi adoration fest. 

The novel is very well written, the characters are dynamic, well thought out and developed, especially considering that the novel in not that long. I have come to think of John Scalzi as a hardcore Sci-fi writer who writes all the things you stereotypically associate with the genre, so I was very surprised by how non-stereotypically Sci-fi this novel is. There are most definitely aspects to the story and characters that scream ‘SCIENCE FICTION’ at you, but I feel that the novel is very much a Political Thriller. Now, there, there, Sci-fi fans, don’t you fret, this novel is highly enjoyable and I think that many fans of the genre will adore this novel. I think this is an amazing novel to be considered for a ‘Swiss-Army Knife’ recommendation for Sci-fi. It is enjoyable for seasoned fans and would be a great introduction to the genre for readers who do not tend to gravitate Science Fiction and/or Fantasy and who may be intimidated by other-worldly storylines. I give Lock In 8 out of 10 unicorn horns…and I will for sure be checking out more novels by John Scalzi.