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blogthatbook's review against another edition
2.0
This book feels quite different right from the opening, from a reading point of view. With a heavy focus on character interaction and dialogue, and almost no mental insight of character emotion, it all feels very unique and intriguing, at first. Unfortunately, it wasn't too long before I started to want more from these characters and this world. We're given everything we need to navigate our way through the surface of the story, but that simply isn't enough, I wanted to dive deeper.
Subconscious detail and exposition are where connections for the reader lie. Without those, there is very little urgency, intensity or threat felt. A friend of mine mentioned to me, before I started to read Lock In, that he found it to be 'lacking soul.' And I can see just what he meant. This is a good read, a fantastically layered and interesting premise, with so much potential. But it's like being driven around in a Ferrari. It's a great ride but unless you get to experience the thrill of actually driving and interacting with the thing it quickly becomes just another car.
Scalzi offers up a great opening few chapters with a new FBI partnership, a murder and official procedures. But it becomes obvious, as things slow down, that this story is actually about the life of one character, Chris Shane, as we follow him on some relatively mundane excursions. A bit of a turnaround from the initial offering. But, that's not to say this is a bad thing, it's still very interesting, considering who he is and what his physical reality is. But there is a mundane, even robotic, feel to the writing. However, considering the prevalence of robots used as transportation by Haden sufferers, I assume that's exactly the idea behind the writing structure Scalzi has chosen. In that regard, it works fine, but the danger is the reader may feel distanced, as it keeps them detached and unable to conjure much emotion for the characters or proceedings. Even the action scenes, characters being shot, chasing the shooter and the devastating conclusion all read like a technical manual rather than the emotional and heart-pumping rollercoaster you would experience from being inside the character's head, experiencing his emotions with him.
The ideas here are infinitely intriguing and don't even seem that farfetched. The illness effect, after which the book is titled, becomes somewhat secondary as the means by which these sufferers are able to leave their useless bodies takes centre stage, and the connotations and misuses of that technology become apparent.
As an overall writing exercise, Lock In works perfectly well. Enjoyable in its own way, but it won't be for every reader. Readers want to experience another life, another existence, but you're held at arms-length from it in this book.
Dislikes? Well, actually, no. Usually, I zero in on specifics to gripe about in a book. It's rare to like everything over the course of an entire novel. But here, I can honestly say I can't pinpoint any specifics I had a problem with other than the themes the author chooses to employ, which I've already pointed out. But having a problem with themes would be like reading a romance novel and complaining there were no horror elements. It's either your taste or it's not, that's not the fault of the book or the author, it's simply the fact that it's not to your personal taste
If you're not completely sick of my opinion, you can check out more of my ranting on blogthatbook.co.uk
Subconscious detail and exposition are where connections for the reader lie. Without those, there is very little urgency, intensity or threat felt. A friend of mine mentioned to me, before I started to read Lock In, that he found it to be 'lacking soul.' And I can see just what he meant. This is a good read, a fantastically layered and interesting premise, with so much potential. But it's like being driven around in a Ferrari. It's a great ride but unless you get to experience the thrill of actually driving and interacting with the thing it quickly becomes just another car.
Scalzi offers up a great opening few chapters with a new FBI partnership, a murder and official procedures. But it becomes obvious, as things slow down, that this story is actually about the life of one character, Chris Shane, as we follow him on some relatively mundane excursions. A bit of a turnaround from the initial offering. But, that's not to say this is a bad thing, it's still very interesting, considering who he is and what his physical reality is. But there is a mundane, even robotic, feel to the writing. However, considering the prevalence of robots used as transportation by Haden sufferers, I assume that's exactly the idea behind the writing structure Scalzi has chosen. In that regard, it works fine, but the danger is the reader may feel distanced, as it keeps them detached and unable to conjure much emotion for the characters or proceedings. Even the action scenes, characters being shot, chasing the shooter and the devastating conclusion all read like a technical manual rather than the emotional and heart-pumping rollercoaster you would experience from being inside the character's head, experiencing his emotions with him.
The ideas here are infinitely intriguing and don't even seem that farfetched. The illness effect, after which the book is titled, becomes somewhat secondary as the means by which these sufferers are able to leave their useless bodies takes centre stage, and the connotations and misuses of that technology become apparent.
As an overall writing exercise, Lock In works perfectly well. Enjoyable in its own way, but it won't be for every reader. Readers want to experience another life, another existence, but you're held at arms-length from it in this book.
Dislikes? Well, actually, no. Usually, I zero in on specifics to gripe about in a book. It's rare to like everything over the course of an entire novel. But here, I can honestly say I can't pinpoint any specifics I had a problem with other than the themes the author chooses to employ, which I've already pointed out. But having a problem with themes would be like reading a romance novel and complaining there were no horror elements. It's either your taste or it's not, that's not the fault of the book or the author, it's simply the fact that it's not to your personal taste
If you're not completely sick of my opinion, you can check out more of my ranting on blogthatbook.co.uk
reforming_dragon's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
4.5
cutenanya's review against another edition
5.0
I really love this book, it's got a decent plot, likable and believable leads and great world building. The audible book comes with the bonus (Unlocked) so I'm able to even better understand the Hayen syndrome. I'm skeptical at the speed at which the researchers manage to , it usually takes about that time to just apply for funding so it must be a very, very efficient and no nonsense world, one that is utterly different from ours (for certain). Anyway, the murder mystery is good because the idea behind is brilliant and I totally think it will be the perfect solution for the elderly and people with disabilities or paralysis.
I have already started the next book, which has a Haden version of gladiator!
Spoiler
develop neural networks and mechanical threepsI have already started the next book, which has a Haden version of gladiator!
stepriot's review against another edition
2.0
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eb2114's review against another edition
adventurous
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
teapottempest's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
kminor86's review against another edition
challenging
informative
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
klparmley's review against another edition
4.0
I am having an interesting listening experience. John Scalzi's Lock In series (2 books so far) is about a post-pandemic FBI agent named Chris Shane. The pandemic was not COVID but a flu/meningitis thing that has some people trapped in their bodies and using robot shells to get around.
The stories are good. Scalzi writes well.
Bonus cool thing is that both books are read by 2 different narrators. It happens that audiobooks are reissued with new narrators on occasion.. But both of these came out at the same time.
I thought that was odd by itself. And usually the gender of the reader matches the gender of the main character. So, that puzzled me. You aren't shocked to know that I got one of each. I have the first one read by Wil Wheaton and the second by Amber Benson.
What I found was that as I listened to the second book, the MC has turned from a man into a woman as I visualize the character. There has never been enough description of the character to force me to choose.
The stories are good. Scalzi writes well.
Bonus cool thing is that both books are read by 2 different narrators. It happens that audiobooks are reissued with new narrators on occasion.. But both of these came out at the same time.
I thought that was odd by itself. And usually the gender of the reader matches the gender of the main character. So, that puzzled me. You aren't shocked to know that I got one of each. I have the first one read by Wil Wheaton and the second by Amber Benson.
What I found was that as I listened to the second book, the MC has turned from a man into a woman as I visualize the character. There has never been enough description of the character to force me to choose.
doodlebuginarug's review against another edition
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
juliealmeida's review against another edition
4.0
This was the second book by John Scalzi I've ever read and I'm so happy I got to know his work. I'm looking forward to reading more of it!
I know this is a series, but this book is pretty much a stand alone story. But even having the closure at the end, I felt like I need more from this world. I'm definitely going to read the other one (I had the novella as a bonus in my edition, so I read that already).
I know this is a series, but this book is pretty much a stand alone story. But even having the closure at the end, I felt like I need more from this world. I'm definitely going to read the other one (I had the novella as a bonus in my edition, so I read that already).