Reviews

Lock In by John Scalzi

cantonchillifightclub's review against another edition

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adventurous mysterious 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

3.75

angus_mckeogh's review against another edition

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2.0

I hope I’m not getting too old or jaded to read science fiction, and I’m probably against the trend on this one, but I found it just okay. The premise on the back of the book sounded amazing. But the storyline inside just seemed silly. Gratuitous, multiple murders for little motive. Battling robots (who oddly enough cannot really inflict damage on one another and also inexplicably have “installed pain sensors” that are irrationally dialed up to the maximum at various points in the book) with various human “consciousnesses” inside them, ridiculous interrogations of said robots again with different (and hidden) personalities. An appearance by the Navajos. A main character who is comatose and paralyzed in an apartment somewhere but living out his life in a robot avatar. A dad who’s a HOF basketball player. Uh...please. It just got more ridiculous. Oh well. It is what it is. Just not my kind of thing.

bookph1le's review against another edition

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4.0

Really fun book set in an interesting and well-built world with lots of interesting and well-drawn characters. Left with the potential for future installments, which I really hope happen.

miggyscardust's review against another edition

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funny mysterious tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

gamecocksara's review against another edition

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4.0

I enjoyed the premise of this book. My only complaint would be that I think it would've been a bit stronger/more plausible if the entire story didn't take place over just a few days. E.g., the main character could've been working at his job for a while before this case/event happens, etc. BUt still, I thought it was a quick & enjoyable read.

ghostlyweeds's review against another edition

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5.0

I can be honest and admit there was a bunch in this book that I may never understand and I am okay with that. But my dude just wrote a new favorite character of mine and didn’t even know it because I am in love with Vann. Shane is great too! I love their partnership and their conversations, their back and forth while they’re talking to the suspects… it was all just A+ writing. But Vann, especially after learning her story, felt so real and human to me in a way that Shane didn’t.

I may very well run right out my front door and to the nearest bookstore to get the next book because I absolutely need more of this world that Scalzi has created.

jennrocca's review against another edition

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4.0

I liked it the first time around but I think I liked it more the second time around. Maybe the pandemic perspective? Maybe the non-binary perspective.

gspear's review against another edition

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adventurous funny mysterious 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

4.5

gabbyduncan's review against another edition

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adventurous mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

maggiebook's review against another edition

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5.0

Probably one of the best Sci-Fi books I have read in awhile. The story takes place after a flu pandemic
that has left some people paralyzed (locked in). Devices are placed in the heads of locked in people which allow them to control and experience life through a robot. Their bodies stay in a sling but their minds can move around within the robot. The whole concept is very well thought out and explained to the reader early in the book.
We follow a locked in man in his mid twenties who starts to work at the FBI. His second day on the job, he and his partner are assigned to a murder. The book follows that story line.
As I said, I really liked this book.
The characters in this book have a backstory which is provided to the reader within the story rather than a narrative that introduces each character.
The author doesn't withhold information. The background of where the world is now is explained to the reader up front. You come into the story with full information.
The plot is more than a murder mystery. There are political, social and economic sub-plots which made the story more believable for me.
The setting is in the US as you would imagine it in the future with some scientific changes and the dealings with a pandemic aftermath which again made it very possible.
Highly recommend this book if you like a good, well thought out Sci-Fi novel.