Head On

Book Review: Head On by John Scalzi (Lock In #2)

This is the second book which features Chris Shane, an FBI agent who suffers from Haden’s, a disease which keeps its sufferers completely immobile or ‘locked in’. To allow Hadens to interact with able bodied humans, a network is placed in their brain and they then communicate via a couple of options, the most common using a robot-like body called a Threep.

This book has Shane and his partner, Leslie Vann, investigating a death during a new sport invented for Hadens called Hilketa. Hilketa reads like a mixture between American football and a Roman Gladiator battle. The game involves one team protecting the Goat (a player supposedly chosen at random) whilst the opposition tries to rip off the Goat’s head to use as a ball (which will subsequently be punted through goal posts to score). The title, therefore, becomes pretty clever — keep your head on to win, face the danger head on etc.

Although still a police procedural at heart, there’s probably more action scenes in this installment, especially more featuring Threeps. There’s scenes featuring Tank Threeps which are Hulk-like ramming robots created especially for the purposes of Hilketa. There’s inert Threeps coming to life (I found this particularly creepy actually) and also the opposite situation, ie Hadens leaving an empty shell of a Threep after they’ve committed a crime. I won’t, however, go into the whole sex model Threeps which feature (LOL!).

Actually, I will go into the sex models slightly… They do strengthen the whole argument I’ve read on the internet regarding several characters, including Shane, never having their gender and/or sexuality really specified (pretty much every character has a non-gender specific name – Leslie, Chris, Taylor etc). A lot of readers say it’s a bit of a social experiment as to how you ‘see’ the characters but, as I listened to Wil Wheaton’s narration via Audible, I must admit I probably failed some sort of feminist test and think of Chris as male.

Talking of Wheaton, his narration again is superb. He has great comic timing. I literally laughed out loud at Shane and Vann’s witty back and forth banter. (Vann’s cranky old lady act will never get old.) There’s also some very funny scenes involving a cat. (This reminded me a lot of Connie Willis’s To Say Nothing of the Dog, so if you’re a fan of that book, I suggest you grab this one and give it a go.)

I must admit some of the passages explaining the politics and money and business interests surrounding the game got a little boring and, dare I say, a little American. Not enough to annoy me though.

I do recommend that you read Lock In before you attempt Head On. Although the mystery/crime plots are completely separate, I think you’d need to read the first book in the series to fully appreciate and understand Head On.

This is an instant 5 out of 5 favourite and I hope Scalzi comes back to this universe soon. In the meantime, I will give some of his other books a go.

Unlocked

Book Review: Unlocked (Lock In #0.5)

This novella is the prequel to Lock In, a scifi detective novel set in the very near future where a disease called Haden’s has spread across the globe at an alarming rate.

This novella is the history of the disease, told chronologically from when the virus is first diagnosed through about 25 years to the action of Lock In. Told in various character interviews, the style reminded me very much of World War Z.

I’m not completely sure anyone would be interested in this novella unless they were reading and enjoying the full length Lock In novels. I’d also actually recommend you read this after you read Lock In rather than before. I don’t think some parts would have been as effective without knowing the background from Lock In, instead of the other way around.

There’s a lot less comedy in this novella than Lock In and the poignancy of some scenes might be lost on a new reader. For example, the scene showing the origin of the Threep transport device featuring First Lady Haden (who the disease is eventually named after) really resonated with me and I’m not sure it would without the background of Lock In.

Actually, I enjoyed all of President Haden and his wife’s scenes. The mentions of Shane, the hero of Lock In, and his father are also a highlight.

For such a short book there’s a lot to think about when it comes to how society treats people with disabilities and Scalzi shows lots of skill to include quite a few literary and quotable lines. (If I had to compare it to War World Z, I’d say Scalzi shows a lot more talent than Max Brooks.)

5 out of 5 for fans of Lock In

Lock In

Book Review: Lock In by John Scalzi (Lock In #1)

I love sci fi and really don’t read the genre as much as I should. I picked up Lock In via Audible on a whim, knowing only a little about the plot but probably tempted by the fact Wil Wheaton was its narrator. I’m so happy I did; I loved this book.

In the near future a virus (eventually called Haden’s Syndrome after America’s First Lady who becomes the most famous victim of the virus) sweeps across the world, killing many with flu like symptoms and causing many others to be ‘locked in’ their bodies. Being locked in means your mind still functions but you cannot move your body. Science’s answer to this becomes the invention of a network which is implanted into the brains of Hadens. With this network, victims can communicate and leave their inert bodies. The two popular choices to become mobile are sharing the body of selected humans (called Integrators) or, more commonly, utilising robot bodies called Threeps.

Our hero, Chris Shane, is a sufferer of Haden’s and, apart from the First Lady, the most well known sufferer. The son of a famous basketball player, Chris became the poster child for the successful introduction of Threeps into society and showing everyone that it was possible for Hadens to live a full and worthwhile life. His celebrity status is kind of fascinating, especially when, in reality, no one but his parents are probably familiar with what he truly looks like.

Now an adult, Chris joins the FBI and, partnered with a tough female agent, Leslie Vann, is assigned to a unit specialising in solving crimes involving Hadens. Vann and Chris have great chemistry. Their wit, especially during interrogations, is great fun. Although Chris cannot really convey facial expressions and Vann is a walking cliche of police procedural leading ladies, both show a surprising amount of depth and both shine during their more poignant scenes. Shane especially with the family members of one of the book’s victims and Vann when she reveals her sad backstory. They’re definitely likeable leads.

If you’re not a fan of scifi, I think you could still enjoy the book. It reads more like a mystery/thriller. The major crime plot involves Hadens and Integrators committing crimes, including terrorist acts. As the story progresses there are lots of social and political themes that gets the reader thinking.

I will admit I was kind of confused with the technical babble in the first part of the book but, pretty quickly, you get the idea of what is going on.

If you do think the scifi aspect will get the better of you though, I’d recommend you read Lock In like me, via audible. Wil Wheaton’s narration was excellent. He does nothing here that will harm his iconic status. I’ve immediately started listening to the prequel novella and the sequel (Head On) will be next on my list.

5 out of 5