Scan barcode
bsparx's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
There’s a lot going on straight away when you first begin Lock In and it can be overwhelming. This is one reason why I recommend reading Unlocked first, it helps to set up the story. Another reason? I enjoy some science fiction like space, aliens, dystopia, medical and virology, so when I read the synopsis I got the impression the story not only had a mystery aspect to it, but there would be the virology and societal adaptation too. The story touches on that, sure, but it’s more to explain and set up for the mystery, the politics, the prejudice, that sort of thing. Whereas Unlocked talks more about the virology and the societal adaptation.
I would have preferred my impression of the synopsis more, but I still enjoyed the mystery. I found the mystery itself to be intriguing and executed well. The science on the other hand…
You know when you read something and it’s badly written? Not executed well, characters are underdeveloped, and the story line has plot holes? That’s not Lock In. Lock In is on the other side of the coin. It’s executed well, the characters are developed and likeable, and the story is well written, but it just wasn’t my cup of tea
I’m not really into crime, for starters, and the science made me sleepy. The whole neural network idea and how it was done was fascinating, yes, but towards the end of the novel there’s more detail and I started to fall asleep. Apparently I can only listen to and watch things about technological detail rather then read it.
As for the story itself, as I said it is well-written, the characters are developed and likeable. I enjoyed the characters quite a lot. Vann has a lot of issues, but I feel this makes her more well-rounded and relatable. I like messy characters for that reason. I would like to have known more about the twins, but it’s not pivotal to the story.
While the mystery and crime are taking place, in the background there’s a huge civil rights movement underfoot. The ideas of lock in with the virus and how it isolates them from the rest of society, yet they adapt to be in society, really showcases prejudice towards others. It also shows some of the complexity dealing with disabilities in, an able-bodied biased, society. It’s a shame it takes place, in real life, but I feel having issues like these come up in stories not only brings them to your attention, makes you think, but also mirrors society. It makes the story more relatable. It’s a shame, as I said, but unfortunately arseholes exist.
I guess I’m disappointed, but I know it’s not the stories’ fault. I’ve heard so many great things about Scalzi’s writing and I’m not giving up just yet, I’ll try something else. I’ve read some intense science fiction in the past, so it’s not like I can’t enjoy SciFi, but I will have a break and then I will try something else by John Scalzi.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Classism and Chronic illness
Moderate: Medical content, Racism, Violence, and Injury/Injury detail
velvet_young's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
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? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism
Moderate: Hate crime, Chronic illness, and Murder
Minor: Gun violence, Suicide attempt, Suicide, Violence, and Alcoholism
livimack's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
informative
mysterious
reflective
medium-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
3.75
It makes sense that I enjoyed this read/listen less than the multiple times I read/listened to the same book during lockdown.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Violence, Chronic illness, and Terminal illness
Moderate: Alcoholism and Alcohol
ladylothlorien's review against another edition
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
This is my second time around with this book. I first listened to the audiobook narrated by Wil Wheaton a few years ago and now I’ve read the paperback for my book club. I think perhaps it would have been better to read the editions in the opposite order. Not that the audio narration was bad, not at all. But I think I followed the story better with the paperback since there were a lot of unique technologies in this world. That being said, I highly recommend both editions. It’s a quirky story: a sort of detective thriller with the usual trappings but the main character is piloting a robot and the murder mystery to be solved gets into the nitty gritty of the technology that allows the main character to pilot the robot. There is technobabble and sometimes it is confusing. But if you kind of just go with it, it’s a fun ride.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Ableism, Addiction, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Body horror, Chronic illness, Death, Bullying, Murder, Suicide, and Violence
People with “lock in” who use robots to get around experience bullying, casual discrimination, and violence. And because they are people with disabilities, the problems they experience are related to ableism.kadtide's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
medium-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? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Confinement, Death, Hate crime, Murder, Violence, and Gun violence
Moderate: Suicide
Minor: Medical content, Death of parent, Alcoholism, Car accident, and Ableism
More...