READY PLAYER ONE
Ready Player One, Book #1by Ernest Cline | Publication: August 16th, 2011
Random House | Genre: Science Fiction, YAbr />
Rating: ★★★★
“For an 80’s kid like me, it feels like coming home.”
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IN THE YEAR 2044, reality is an ugly place. The only time teenage Wade Watts really feels alive is when he's jacked into the virtual utopia known as the OASIS. Wade's devoted his life to studying the puzzles hidden within this world's digital confines, puzzles that are based on their creator's obsession with the pop culture of decades past and that promise massive power and fortune to whoever can unlock them.
But when Wade stumbles upon the first clue, he finds himself beset by players willing to kill to take this ultimate prize. The race is on, and if Wade's going to survive, he'll have to win—and confront the real world he's always been so desperate to escape.
But when Wade stumbles upon the first clue, he finds himself beset by players willing to kill to take this ultimate prize. The race is on, and if Wade's going to survive, he'll have to win—and confront the real world he's always been so desperate to escape.
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It took me two days to finish this book — not because it was difficult, but because there’s just so much to soak in. Entire worlds, really. I couldn’t zip through it without enjoying every bit of it. There are worlds within worlds, games within games. Arcade classics rendered in 3D, virtual schools and libraries, players with armor, swords, magic, and spaceships. And of course, 80s music and movies everywhere.
And Og? Og is ridiculously amazing. His estate is modeled after Rivendell, and he blasts Duran Duran and Billy Idol. He’s one of my favorite fictional humans right now.
Am I making any sense?
Okay, let me back up a little.
The year is 2044, and Earth is a mess — energy crisis, food crisis, and probably every other crisis you can imagine. The one good thing left is the OASIS: a massive, free virtual utopia where anyone can escape their bleak reality.
OASIS was created by James Halliday, who died without an heir. After his death, his will revealed a final challenge: he hid an Easter Egg somewhere inside the OASIS. Whoever finds it inherits his entire fortune — and control of the OASIS itself. Naturally, everyone wants it. These egg hunters are called gunters, and among them are Parzival, Art3mis, Aech, Shoto, and Daito. The story is told from Parzival’s POV, so we follow his adventures — ranging from amusing to genuinely dangerous.
“For a bunch of hairless apes,
we've actually managed to invent some pretty incredible things.”
This book is packed with 80s pop culture references, a dystopian future, virtual and real world danger, mysteries, quests, and a cast of likable characters with distinct personalities and classic young adult angst. It’s not particularly deep or philosophical — it’s simply a fun, immersive ride.
READY PLAYER ONE is an incredibly detailed and well constructed virtual world, bursting with creativity and imagination. And for an 80s kid like me, it feels a little like coming home.
And Og? Og is ridiculously amazing. His estate is modeled after Rivendell, and he blasts Duran Duran and Billy Idol. He’s one of my favorite fictional humans right now.
Am I making any sense?
Okay, let me back up a little.
The year is 2044, and Earth is a mess — energy crisis, food crisis, and probably every other crisis you can imagine. The one good thing left is the OASIS: a massive, free virtual utopia where anyone can escape their bleak reality.
OASIS was created by James Halliday, who died without an heir. After his death, his will revealed a final challenge: he hid an Easter Egg somewhere inside the OASIS. Whoever finds it inherits his entire fortune — and control of the OASIS itself. Naturally, everyone wants it. These egg hunters are called gunters, and among them are Parzival, Art3mis, Aech, Shoto, and Daito. The story is told from Parzival’s POV, so we follow his adventures — ranging from amusing to genuinely dangerous.
we've actually managed to invent some pretty incredible things.”
This book is packed with 80s pop culture references, a dystopian future, virtual and real world danger, mysteries, quests, and a cast of likable characters with distinct personalities and classic young adult angst. It’s not particularly deep or philosophical — it’s simply a fun, immersive ride.
READY PLAYER ONE is an incredibly detailed and well constructed virtual world, bursting with creativity and imagination. And for an 80s kid like me, it feels a little like coming home.
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About the Author:
ERNEST CLINE is a novelist, screenwriter, father, and full-time geek. His first novel, Ready Player One, was a New York Times and USA Today bestseller, appeared on numerous “best of the year” lists, and is set to be adapted into a motion picture by Warner Bros. and director Steven Spielberg. His second novel, ARMADA, debuted at #4 on the NYT Bestseller list and is being made into a film by Universal Pictures. Ernie lives in Austin, Texas, with his family, a time-traveling DeLorean, and a large collection of classic video games.
Photo: © Dan Winters
Photo: © Dan Winters
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