Head On by John Scalzi

June 8th, 2018 Kimberly Review 38 Comments

8th Jun
Head On by John Scalzi
Head On
by John Scalzi
Series: Lock In #2
Narrator: Wil Wheaton
Length: 8 hours and 52 minutes
Genres: Science Fiction
Source: Publisher
Purchase*: Amazon | Audible *affiliate
Goodreads
Rating: One StarOne StarOne StarOne StarHalf a Star
Narration: 5 cups

John Scalzi returns with Head On, the standalone follow-up to the New York Times bestselling and critically acclaimed Lock In. Chilling near-future SF with the thrills of a gritty cop procedural, Head On brings Scalzi's trademark snappy dialogue and technological speculation to the future world of sports.

Hilketa is a frenetic and violent pastime where players attack each other with swords and hammers. The main goal of the game: obtain your opponent’s head and carry it through the goalposts. With flesh and bone bodies, a sport like this would be impossible. But all the players are “threeps,” robot-like bodies controlled by people with Haden’s Syndrome, so anything goes. No one gets hurt, but the brutality is real and the crowds love it.

Until a star athlete drops dead on the playing field.

Is it an accident or murder? FBI Agents and Haden-related crime investigators, Chris Shane and Leslie Vann, are called in to uncover the truth―and in doing so travel to the darker side of the fast-growing sport of Hilketa, where fortunes are made or lost, and where players and owners do whatever it takes to win, on and off the field.

scifi MURDERMYSTERY Fave Narrator Law

Head On by John Scalzi is the companion follow up to Lock In. I was excited to return to this science fiction world altered by a virus known as Haden’s syndrome. Head On has us tagging along with FBI Agent and Haden-related crime investigators, Chris Shane. Narrated by Will Wheaton Scalzi transported me and I became caught up in this procedural crime novel. Scalzi delivered a witty, clever mystery that fed my inner nerd, piqued my curiosity and had me laughing out loud.

The reason Hilketa is so popular is that the players score points through simulated decapitation and go after each other with melee weapons. It’s team gladiatorial combat, on a football field, with a nerdy scoring system. It’s all the violence every other team sport wishes it could have, but can’t, because people would actually die.

Five reasons to grab Head On

  • You loved getting your geek on, but want the technology delivered in layman’s terms. Scalzi is masterful with world-building and has created a fascinating dystopian world that feels realistic and believable. The reader quickly comprehends the Haden virus and new technological advancements make the leap to this world seem grounded.
  • If you love procedural crime novels, you will love tagging along with FBI Agents Chris Shane and his partner, Leslie Vann. The two are investigating the death of a Hilketa player who dies during the game. Clues lead them to scandal and corporate greed all while providing near-death experiences, witness tampering and Shane losing one-two-many Threeps (machines that Hadens’ move around with).
  • You appreciate witty humor, brilliant detective work, and strong characters. I like Agent Shane; he is direct and to the point. Scalzi lets the reader be a part of Chris’s thought process as he works the case but also gives us moments with his family, friends and the daily trials of living with Haden. Secondary characters from suspects to associates added depth and further fleshed out the plot.
  • The case was riveting with plenty of twists, turns, and false leads. During the investigation, it showcased how the corporate world uses laws not specifically intended for them to pad their bottom line. It was a relevant topic and added believability to the case.
  • Wil Wheaton narrated, and he is perfect for this series and characters. His wide range of voices both male and female, pacing and tone enhanced an already brilliant story.  His narration took the story to the next level. If you’d prefer you can listen to the story narrated by Amber Benson who does a stunning job.

The world, characters and action-packed mystery have me hoping we will visit this world again soon!

Head On by John Scalzi the companion follow up to Lock In was fast-paced and brilliantly narrated by Will Wheaton #JIAM2018 #loveaudiobooks #sci-fi #mystery Click To Tweet

 

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About Kimberly
Kimberly is a coffee loving book addict who reads and listens to fictional stories in all genres. Whovian, Ravenclaw, Howler and proud Nonna. She owns and manages Caffeinated PR. The coffee is always on and she is ready to chat. Twitter | Facebook | Instagram

38 Responses to “Head On by John Scalzi”

  1. Robin

    I agree this was so good. I’m glad you enjoyed Will’s narration as much as I did.

  2. MarthaE

    This sounds like a winner to me. I have several Scalzi titles available on my TBR but I just added this to my wish list to pick up. Thanks for sharing your thoughts and enthusiasm.

  3. Lorna

    Not sure about this kind of science fiction-I’m so picky about what I like. You make it sound fantastic. I have listened to a book narrated by Amber Benson and thought she did great. Now that was a UF series that was 5 stars all the way for me but that’s a whole other story. I don’t think I’ve listened to Wheaton before? Maybe. Glad you loved this one.

    • Kimberly

      Right. Which makes this awesome because John knows how to tell a story and Will makes my ears happy <3

  4. Anne

    I finally snagged Lock in on audio so I’ll get started soon. I just decided I wanted audio and they didn’t have audio at the library only ebook. Robin enjoyed this one and reviewed it earlier this year. Anne – Books of My Heart

  5. Sophia Rose

    After just reading another In Death series book, this blend of sci-fi and investigation work is just what I’m in the mood for. Still need to read/listen to book one.

    • Kimberly

      No Karen, as soon as you begin listening (or reading) the world comes back to you. This shares a great murder-mystery.

  6. Vanessa

    I’m not big with scifi, but dang! The story really sounds interesting plus I love those cover!

    • Kimberly

      I love the world he has created. This is written in such a way that it will entertain a broader audience. I encourage you to see if your library has it and try a few chapters.

    • Kimberly

      I think if mystery and crime are favorite genres this would be a fun one to try. I, of course, recommend Lock In, first, however this hold on its own.