Reviews

Encarcerados by John Scalzi

raisa's review against another edition

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? No

3.75

tanyak0203's review against another edition

3.0

John Scalzi only seems to write one main character but I like that character a lot. This was a fun police procedural in a unique world. I sometimes couldn’t follow the details of the plot but it didn’t matter because it was fun just to hang out in this world with these Bahrain eyes. 3.5 stars.

raetracer's review against another edition

5.0

This was a really quality effort from Scalzi, in the classic sci fi tradition of exploring the consequences of a change in the world as well as telling a story in that world. What if 1% of the world's population found themselves "locked in" - awake and aware but unable to move or communicate - how would that change society? The main character got to be sarcastic and witty, which Scalzi does so well. I hope there will be more stories in this world!

glitterbomb47's review against another edition

4.0

I liked this one so much I already checked out the next in the series from the library.

nglofile's review against another edition

4.0

Smart, inventive, and entertaining. A fascinating premise of post-pandemic society, rights and accommodations for the differently-abled, identity and ability, and the intriguing choice of incorporating elements of the Navajo Nation. The world-building is deftly handled; it offers a grounded approach that feels relatable and contemporary. Characters verge on being stock, but Scalzi somehow imbues hints of complexity even as they serve primarily as vehicles for action and ideas. While not strictly a humorous book, the writing balances lightness and tension, underscoring commentary with occasional wink or wit.

kirsteny's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny inspiring 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

5.0

chaikeeks's review against another edition

adventurous funny medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.75

I really loved this concept unfortunately the execution just didn't meet my expectations. I didn't find the characters relatable at all and didn't care to get to know more of their past/ what drives them. Maybe because I listened to the audiobook, I understand why the narration is a bit flat and robotic but to me it made the story even less interesting.
At some points the story felt very slow and it was a chore for me to continue on. 
This book feels like one episode of CSI or something like that. Unique for sure but not over the top fantastic, I'll probably forget this book by tomorrow. 

bbboeken's review against another edition

3.0

***1/2
Reluctantly started this book, because it mentioned a 'feed' in the beginning (i.e. an information stream projected into people's minds), but that was the extent of my irritation. The rest of the novel is very much a thriller/detective with a technological aspect of science-fiction, so if you're into detective/thriller fiction, don't let the science fiction denominator hold you back.

cdeane61's review against another edition

5.0

Had I not read Children of Time this year, this would have been the best book I read.

It's damn good, completely plausible (to me), and reads like a police procedural (ok, FBI - blah, blah, blah) just set in a changed world. Takes some superior writing to pull off the rookie and flawed veteran partner scenario, and this book does it well.

This occupied my Sunday afternoon, in spite of NFL football and Golf's Presidents Cup.

Will be looking for the follow-up - I see this is #1 - and hope he writes a few in this setting.

andreeavis's review against another edition

challenging informative mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

#𝑏𝑜𝑜𝑘𝑟𝑒𝑣𝑖𝑒𝑤 

📖𝑳𝒐𝒄𝒌 𝑰𝒏 𝒔𝒆𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒔, 𝐽𝑜ℎ𝑛 𝑆𝑐𝑎𝑙𝑧𝑖

⭐⭐⭐⭐(4/5)

#andreeareviews 

John Scalzi is one of my favourite science fiction authors. I’m committed to reading all his books and am currently at book 11. He writes stories with exciting plots, always a mystery within them and unexpected twists. But what stands out for me is his sense of humour; his books are hilarious, and I find myself laughing out loud constantly. 

Lock In series is a duology, to which Scalzi added a prequel, free to read on Tor(linked here  https://www.tor.com/2014/05/13/unlocked-an-oral-history-of-hadens-syndrome-john-scalzi/). The book is more of a science fiction thriller, reminiscing Blake Crouch’s style, but with Scalzi’s signature humour, thus more lighthearted. 

The story is set sometime in the future when a new virus ravishes the world. The virus, called Haden’s syndrome, as the first lady was one of the victims, has flu-like symptoms in the first stage and has a very low survival rate, with 75% of people who contract the virus dying. However, surviving the first stage doesn’t take one out of the woods: about 25% of the survivors get into the second stage, which resembles viral meningitis, having an even higher mortality rate per capita.  

Survivors of the second stage do not come out of the disease unscathed: the virus causes profound and persistent changes to the brain structure of some of them, while some of these suffer from what is called lock-in, complete paralysis of the voluntary nervous system. Others have their mental capabilities affected, but not their bodies. And lastly, a tiny percentage of the survivors, called Integrators, have their brains altered in a way that allows the locked-in Hadens to access them and use their bodies to experience regular life.

In this world, technology is advanced enough that locked-in people have software implanted in their brains that allows them to use threeps (robot-like bodies) to move around and have a normal life. At the same time, they live a rich internal life in the Agora, a Haden-only online space where they can create virtual realities for themselves. 

Now, grumpy detective Vann, a former Integrator, and newbie Chris Shane, a famous locked-in Haden, pair up to investigate Haden-related crimes. Both books will follow them around while they slowly unravel mysteries, chasing clues (and people) and getting hurt (or having their threep destroyed, in Shane’s case) multiple times. Unexpected twists and turns, a cat witness, political games, and criminal billionaires are only a few of the exciting parts of the plot in both books.  

I recommend this if you like thrillers, especially set up in the future, involving future technologies, if you are a Blake Crouch fan or if you love John Scalzi in general, as you can enjoy his usual lighthearted, humorous style while exploring a novel story. I do not recommend it for people who want to get deep into the technology or want the technology or the virus to be at the centre of the story; they are both parts of it though.