Unlocked: An Oral History of Haden's Syndrome

Nice, quick bit of background for [b:Lock In 21418013 Lock In (Lock In, #1) John Scalzi https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1438701397l/21418013.SY75.jpg 26115712]. Much like the movie Contagion, the beginning hits a little close to home obviously. But shows just how deeply thought it was. [a:John Scalzi 4763 John Scalzi https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1562613145p2/4763.jpg] writes science fiction like a great mystery/noir.

This Novella is a lead in to the full length John Scalzi novel “Lock In”

This is story of a pandemic Flu is told in an interview format similar to Max Brook's “World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War”

This was published in 2014 an is eerily prescient on some of the political machinations that we have seen over the last few years.

The third stage of this flu leaves some survivors “locked-in”. Left in a vegetative state, but fully aware of their surroundings. Scalzi comes up with some interesting technological advances that give these people a chance to participate in life, But these also come with problems for society and individuals to overcome.

I like the concept, but I won't be moving on to the full novel as the last few years have left me not in a mood to read pandemic fiction. Even if it comes with a sci-fi twist.

An okay read. 3 Stars

#JennyGuyColvin

This is a cute exploration of the world in which Lock In is set, how it functions and how the pandemic spun out of control. Does it feel a little bleak to the 2020 reader to read about the denial and spread of a pandemic? Sure does. Does it feel even bleaker to read about the nation coming together to respond...

Anyway, maybe not the best 2020 reading, but well put together and a solid piece of world-building.

Great introduction to the series.

I listened to the audiobook of this but I did it after “Lock In”. I wish I had done this first.

A great introduction to Locked in. In fact without this story the book feels a bit incomplete in regards to the context in which it's happening

“Unlocked” is the backstory of the world created in Scalzi's Lock In. Rather than starting the story off with hundreds of pages of background, he jumps directly into the narrative, hooking you into. If the book had started with Unlocked, it would've been more difficult to hold my attention. Reading it after the fact as background on the world was just right though.

“Unlocked” is the backstory of the world created in Scalzi's Lock In. Rather than starting the story off with hundreds of pages of background, he jumps directly into the narrative, hooking you into. If the book had started with Unlocked, it would've been more difficult to hold my attention. Reading it after the fact as background on the world was just right though.

Note: This story can be read for free on: Tor.comExecutive Summary: An interesting short story that has me excited for [b:Lock In 21418013 Lock In John Scalzi https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1399037491s/21418013.jpg 26115712] later this month.Full ReviewI held off on reading this one until it was closer to the release of [b:Lock In 21418013 Lock In John Scalzi https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1399037491s/21418013.jpg 26115712], and I'm glad I did. It did it's job, namely promoting that book and whetting my appetite. But now I have to wait.The story takes the form of a series of interviews from the people who were there, explaining the details of Haden Syndrome and doing an excellent job of world building. This is the first time I can recall a story in this format, and it seems really fitting. He's able to provide the details he wants to without it coming off like a giant infodump. And he does this while providing a variety of views on the matter without needing to do a lot of character development that would bog down such a short story.I'll be curious to see how he handles this in the novel itself. Will he expect readers to have done this short story first, and leave those who haven't confused? Or will he rehash much of what is here? I hope he's done it in such a way that people who haven't read it won't be lost, but those of us who have will be rewarded with an enriched experience. Time will tell.My recommendation without knowing the answer to that question is to check this out first if plan to read [b:Lock In 21418013 Lock In John Scalzi https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1399037491s/21418013.jpg 26115712]. Especially since it's free!

Interesting fictional account of an epidemic. Looking forward to reading the novel that follows.