Unlocked by John Scalzi

Unlocked by John Scalzi, 143 pages

This prequel novella introduces us to the virus that created the world of Locked In. Billed as "an oral history of Haden's Syndrome," it originally was included as a bonus to the Locked In audiobook. 

If you're a fan of this series, don't skip the novella. It's not required to enjoy the novels, but it does give perspective to that version of the world, sparking questions I'm not sure I would have otherwise asked. The audio version is especially engaging. 

 

Unlocked by John Scalzi

Unlocked by John Scalzi, 143 pages

Unlocked is a novella of oral snippets outlining a brief history of the origins of the great flu which would become known as Haden's, a disease in which the final stage induces Lock In when the patient is literally locked into their own mind. 

A fictional history book set in the Lock In universe, Unlocked shows how much thought went into the worldbuilding of the series. And after living through the COVID pandemic, this novella hits home with a lot more punch.