Lock In: A Novel of the Near Future (Lock In Series Book 1)
2001
- virus diseases
- fiction
- epidemics
- isolation (hospital care)
- virtual reality
- paranormal fiction
- fiction / science fiction / general
- fiction, science fiction, general
- brainwashing
- paralysis
The story
"Fifteen years from now, a new virus sweeps the globe. 95% of those afflicted experience nothing worse than fever and headaches. Four percent suffer acute meningitis, creating the largest medical crisis in history. And one percent find themselves "locked in"--fully awake and aware, but unable to move or respond to stimulus. One per cent doesn't seem like a lot. But in the United States, that's 1.7 million people "locked in"...including the President's wife and daughter. Spurred by grief and the sheer magnitude of the suffering, America undertakes a massive scientific initiative. Nothing can restore the ability to control their own bodies to the locked in. But then two new technologies emerge. One is a virtual-reality environment, "The Agora," in which the locked-in can interact with other humans, both locked-in and not. The other is the discovery that a few rare individuals have brains that are receptive to being controlled by others, meaning that from time to time, those who are locked in can "ride" these people and use their bodies as if they were their own. This skill is quickly regulated, licensed, bonded, and controlled. Nothing can go wrong. Certainly nobody would be tempted to misuse it, for murder, for political power, or worse....John Scalzi's Lock In is a novel of our near future, from one of the most popular authors in modern science fiction"--
What it’s like
Brisk, wry prose reads like a procedural with a sense of humor: short chapters, plainspoken sentences, and dry asides that undercut grim scenes. The near-future world comes through ordinary textures, such as hospital corridors with humming monitors, government briefings, and the Agora, a shared virtual space that feels like a crowded room where the locked-in gather and talk. The vibe is clever, quick, and faintly melancholy, with an undertow of grief and institutional unease. It suits a long train ride, a lazy weekend afternoon, or a stretch when you want to be pulled forward by questions more than atmosphere. Intensity is moderate: a few violent crimes and deaths handled without gore, frightening medical detail about paralysis, and tense confrontations rather than sustained horror. There is little sexual content. It is for readers who enjoy science fiction that treats technology as a social problem, appreciate crisp dialogue, and want a page-turner with a conscience rather than a slow, lyrical book.
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