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« on: May 26, 2020, 10:09:11 am »
I just finished reading the science fiction / mystery LOCK IN by John Scalzi. It was just terrific. Scalzi imagines a pandemic has hit the world that leaves a small percentage of people mentally unharmed but physically paralyzed and "locked in." The world changes to meet the challenge of these sufferers of "Haydens's syndrome," often called simply Haydens. Technology evolves to the point that the Haydens can borrow the bodies of "Integrators" or can congregate create their own society in the "Agora," an online space for Haydens.
When an Integrator kills someone, who exactly was in charge when the murder happened? It's get complicated fast and our detective, rookie FBI agent Chris Shane, himself a Hayden, has to investigate.
Scalzi is a wonder at world-building. The complicated adjustments the world has made for the Haydens are skillfully described in great detail without slowing down the narrative at all. The Haydens have formed a complex new human society and the investigation takes place very believably within these new constraints. There's lots of humor and really good character development. It's easy to see why this got starred Kirkus, Booklist and Publishers Weekly reviews. It should have gotten an Edgar mention, in my opinion.
Anyway, there's a follow-up titled HEAD ON, which I read first and was also very enjoyable. Start with LOCKED IN though for best effect and expierience a talented storyteller at the top of his game.
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