Lock In
{{Short description|Novel by John Scalzi}}
{{About|the novel|other uses|Lock in (disambiguation){{!}}Lock in}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2025}}
{{Infobox book
| name = Lock In
| image = Lock In Cover.jpg
| caption = Cover of hardcover
| author = John Scalzi
| title_orig =
| translator =
| illustrator =
| cover_artist = Peter Lutjen
| country = United States of America
| language = English
| series =
| subject =
| genre = Science fiction, police procedural
| publisher = Tor Books
| pub_date = August 26, 2014
| media_type =
| pages = 336
| isbn = 978-0-7653-7586-5
| congress =
| preceded_by =
| followed_by = Head On
}}
Lock In is a science fiction police procedural novel by American writer John Scalzi. The book was published by Tor Books on August 26, 2014.{{cite web|title=Lock In|url=http://us.macmillan.com/lockin/johnscalzii|publisher=Macmillan Publishers |accessdate=26 August 2014}} The audiobook of the novel was released in two versions, one narrated by Wil Wheaton and the other by Amber Benson.{{cite web|last=Scalzi|first=John|title=The Lock In Audiobook: Two Versions, Two Narrators. Pre-Order and Get Both |date=2 July 2014|url=http://whatever.scalzi.com/2014/07/02/the-lock-in-audiobook-two-versions-two-narrators-pre-order-and-get-both/|accessdate=26 August 2014}}
The sequel to this novel is titled Head On,[http://whatever.scalzi.com/2015/05/25/about-that-deal/ About That Deal]. Retrieved 26 May 2015. which was released in April 2018.[https://whatever.scalzi.com/2017/12/19/head-on-done/ Head On Done]. Retrieved 19 December 2017.
Plot summary
The world is exposed to a highly contagious virus. Most who get sick experience nothing worse than flu-like symptoms. For 1%, the virus causes the victims to be fully awake, but unable to move or respond to stimulus. This is known as "lock in", and resembles the real condition known as locked-in syndrome. The illness comes to be known as "Haden's syndrome" with its victims called "Hadens". Humanoid robotic personal transport units controlled by a Haden's brain (nicknamed "Threeps" after C-3PO from Star Wars) are developed as the primary way for a Haden to interact with the outside world.
Twenty five years after the initial virus exposure, FBI agents Chris Shane (who is a Haden) and Leslie Vann are assigned to a Haden-related murder, with a suspect who is an "Integrator" – someone who can let a Haden use their bodies. If the Integrator was carrying a Haden, then finding the suspect for the murder is complicated. Further Integrator-Haden related murders occur, making the case larger than expected, and as Shane and Vann dig deeper, they uncover a plot to completely shake up the Haden economy.
Companion novella
Lock In is accompanied by a novella, Unlocked: An Oral History of Haden's Syndrome, an epistolary work which provides background details about the origins of the epidemic.John Scalzi: Unlocked: An Oral History of Haden's Syndrome: New York: Tor: 2014{{cite magazine |title=Fiction Book Review: Unlocked: An Oral History of Haden's Syndrome by John Scalzi. Subterranean (www.subterraneanpress.com), $40 (96p) ISBN 978-1-59606-683-0 |url=https://www.publishersweekly.com/978-1-59606-683-0 |magazine=Publishers Weekly |language=en |date=July 7, 2014}} Chris Shane, the protagonist of Lock In, is briefly mentioned in Unlocked.
Reception
The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel called it "compulsively readable", and praised Scalzi for having "a combination of skill, vision and intuition."{{cite web |url=http://www.jsonline.com/entertainment/books/john-scalzis-lock-in-toys-with-consciousness-identity-b99332611z1-272220691.html |title=John Scalzi's 'Lock In' tackles consciousness, identity in a thriller |author=Jim Higgins |date=22 August 2014 |website=Milwaukee Journal Sentinel |accessdate=26 August 2014 }}
An analysis at io9 suggested that, if not for the Sad Puppies ballot-manipulation campaign, Lock In would have been a finalist for the 2015 Hugo Award for Best Novel.[https://io9.gizmodo.com/this-is-what-the-2015-hugo-ballot-should-have-been-1725967147 This Is What The 2015 Hugo Ballot Should Have Been], by Andrew Liptak, at io9; published August 23, 2015; retrieved August 7, 2018
Legendary Television acquired the rights to Lock In to adapt it into a TV pilot in 2014.{{cite web|work=Variety|url=https://variety.com/2014/tv/news/legendary-tv-buys-john-scalzi-novel-lock-in-exclusive-1201306307/|title=Legendary TV Buys John Scalzi Novel 'Lock In'|date=2014}} However, sometime before March 2017 the TV rights were given up by Legendary.{{cite web |url=http://whatever.scalzi.com/2017/03/31/quick-update-on-filmtv-stuff/ |title=Quick Update on Film/TV Stuff |date= 31 March 2017 |author=John Scalzi |publisher= |accessdate=3 April 2017 }}