The novel is set in a post climate change-induced, apocalyptic world, where everyone escapes to their virtual reality utopia. A billionaire who had passed away unleashed a posthumous message that whoever completes the end of a virtual reality quest, chocked-fill of nostalgic references, inherits his wealth.

Seriously, based on the premise alone, this book did not age well. Not to mention, none of the characters are likeable, including the protagonist, who we are supposed to root for. ( )

Ready Player One was an enjoyable jaunt back through the history of movies and video games from my youth. ( )

Was better than I thought based on the blurbs..
Yea, it WAS full of pop culture references, but the story was excellent and well, had a good message.. ( )

Was better than I thought based on the blurbs..
Yea, it WAS full of pop culture references, but the story was excellent and well, had a good message.. ( )

from Luke:

Ready Player One is an interesting take on the current fiction fad of a dystopic future, with a dash of nostalgia for the 1980s. In the future, people live their lives online through a virtual reality interface called OASIS, and it is just that: an escape from the dire situation that the real world is in. A competition is ongoing, to find the secret Easter egg within OASIS, and the person who finds it gains ownership of OASIS itself. Though people have searched for years, one young man believes his only way out of a terrible life is to find it and become rich beyond his wildest dreams. The adventure has many twists and turns, and is richly engaging and fun. ( )

I chose the audio version of this and Wil Wheaton did a decent job narrating. I think I would have liked reading the book even less. I don't really care for dystopian themes, but I had already watched the movie and liked it and the audio book came highly recommended. I didn't play a lot of video games as a kid, but I did grow up in the 80's, so I got most of the references. The first half of the book dragged on for me, but the second half picked up and raised the rating for me just a bit. ( )

Clairement pas le bouquin à recommander à n'importe qui. Extremement geek, parfois cheesy, mais c'est pour ca que je l'ai apprécié. ( )

Interesting. As a child of the 80s, part of Ready Player One speaks to me. Then there's the part that loves a great story. The book spoke to that part too, but it mostly said, "go away, loser."

My review is heavily influenced by the experience of the audio book, read by Wil Wheaton (of Star Trek: The Next Generation Fame, for those of you who should probably not be reading this). The story had a disjointed narrative. Like numerous 'coming-of-age' stories, this one has a period where we suddenly go from relatively little skill to relatively great skill. Not that I mind, because in this case, it has a parallel to video game levels. But it was worth noting.

The audio:

One of my first audio books while not engaged in cross-country driving. I have to say I've been enjoying Wil Wheaton's reading--he imparts a lot of emotion to general descriptive text, and modifies his voice nicely when reading dialogue. He does a nice job with the ironic tone, too.

Writing doesn't best correspond with audio--but perhaps it would be worse listening. There's several sections with lists, including 80s movies and tv shows, and the top 10 scorers and their scores that is somewhat unsatisfying when read aloud. The text chat between the main character and Artemis was awkward as well, though I could tell Wil was doing his best: "Artemis: blah-blah," "Percival: blah, blah." Again, somewhat unsatisfying, and which makes me think about inexperienced writers.

********************************

I've discovered a couple problems in my listening, and I welcome advice. One, while I can listen while I do things around the house (cook, clean) or physical but not strenuous (walk dogs, rake, bike), after about a hour, my mind starts to wander, and I realize I didn't hear or process anything that was just said. I think I tend to turn it into "background music" after enough time passes. ( )

3.5 ( )

4.5/5 - Dinking a 1/2 a star off of this because of the writing - might have been a full star if I was reading the text and not listening to the audiobook. Wil Wheaton's narration MADE this. It was utterly fantastic. The story was thrilling, adventurous, and fun. ( )

what a fun read! Get ready to be fully immersed into some really classic 80's and 90's movies, sayings, songs and games. And the history of games is just amazing - I love video games and have been playing them for a long time! Hearing the history and some of the things I didn't know was just hilarious!

I really enjoyed learning the world around Wade. How we got to this point and what Oasis is. It's become too expensive to drive anywhere or fly. So there is a complete on-line world called Oasis. You can do everything there - go to school, hang out, watch movies, listen to music, and hang out with friends. Everything. I mean, it's not too hard to picture the world getting to this point one day.

the adventure through the Oasis, each key and gate - it was a wonderful time. I loved it! ( )

Okay, so it's not exactly [b:Crime and Punishment|7144|Crime and Punishment|Fyodor Dostoyevsky|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1382846449s/7144.jpg|3393917], but this book fit what I needed during a rough week in my family.

As most of you know by now, this is the story of Wade Watts, a "gunter" in the future who spends all of his spare time memorizing 80s pop culture trivia so that he can solve the clues placed in the OASIS, an international MMO-like simulation, that lead to a multibillion dollar prize, the legacy of OASIS creator James Halliday.

The book suffers under a massive info dump at the beginning. The first seventy pages or so were frankly, well, boring. I did not need to know that much about the OASIS and its history and how it works.

That said, I enjoyed the adventure that ensued, however simplistic. Since the pop culture references were a necessary part of the plot, they didn't feel forced to me, and since I turned six years old in 1989, I needed most of the explanation.

What did feel forced was... the revelation that Wade's best online friend Aech was actually an African American lesbian. The author could have picked one or the other (African American or lesbian), because as it was, it felt like a white dude's attempt to shoehorn in a character who was as marginalized as possible. Maybe it could have come off better with some editing, but as it was it felt like virtue signaling. Now I know that's typically a conservative term used to attack liberals, but I don't mean it that way--it's a real thing. Watch the film Get Out and you will understand.

I didn't understand the characters of Daito and Shoto very well. These are two gunters from Japan who are also high up in the contest's scoreboard. They came off to me as caricatures of Japanese people, and it was unclear what the author's purpose was in that.

The two were obsessed with samurai movies, so I thought they might just be emulating them as online characters, but I think this may have also reflected some stereotyping and a lack of research. There were weird things like the many references to the villains having no "honor," which is not how a normal modern Japanese person would talk. They are depicted as constantly bowing--bowing is a normal cultural thing in Japan, but in the book it seemed excessive. One of them also mentioned "seppuku" as a reference to suicide in general; however "seppuku" doesn't mean "suicide;" it refers to a very specific ritual suicide, which did not make sense in the context of the story. A Japanese person, especially one emulating a samurai, would know the difference. So, all of that got on my nerves.

As a straight-up adventure, though, the book was fun. The plotting felt pretty tight, too--things that were referenced earlier with an air of importance showed up again later and proved very important indeed.

It held some timely commentary on life in the online world, what is real, and what isn't.

I was glad that the author addressed what was going on with Wade's physical body and some of how the haptic suits worked, because I was really wondering about that. I think if he hadn't, I would have had a problem suspending my disbelief and just enjoying the story.

Facebook has been my "OASIS" on an off for the past couple of years, and I've just gotten unplugged from it again. I feel better when I live in the real world, and I'm hoping that beyond the scope of the story, Wade finds some happiness there too. I think he will. :)

I will probably see the movie. ( )

Finished my 2nd read through before the movie comes out later this month. I have loved this book for years, and it holds up on the repeat reading. It's certainly geared towards my exact interests and age group, but seeing how my interests of geek culture have started taking over so much of popular culture in the last few years, I think it'll appeal to more people than I may have thought at first. I'm not going to see the movie on opening night. Instead, I'm going to be going to Reno early next month to meet some friends and see it on the big IMAX screen. Looking forward to the vacation. ( )

A book that references pac man, Voltron, THX1138, Square Pegs, Wargames, Rush and Journey. If you're feeling at all nostalgic for the 80s, this book will either save you or kill you. In between all the 80s geek references, there is some discussion about what is real and what is not. I would have liked to see that explored a bit more, but all in all, a great read. It's a teen read for 40-somethings--perfect for me. ( )

There were some slow parts with random information that didn't really seem to pertain to the book much at all. It seemed kind of drawn out in the middle but the ending was good. ( )

So much better than the movie. I won't explain why so as not to spoil it, but it felt like the book had a lot more nuance and depth. ( )

This book had me hooked from the moment that I picked it up. The characters were fun and I loved the idea of an immersive game world like this. The puzzles were fun and a little trip down memory lane with all the old games and songs from the 80s. I am looking forward to reading the next one. ( )

I did enjoy it, but not being a geek, or ever been a fan of video games (never played one) a lot if it went over my head. I liked the references to 80s music and films tho. ( )

La historia empieza muy bien, pero poco a poco decae, principalmente por las soluciones tan simplistas y rebuscadas con las que el protagonista soluciona todo. Muy infantil (pese a los desesperados intentos del autor por no caer en esto tocando temas como sexo y masturbación). Muchos cliches. Y en especial... Las pruebas mas absurdas para obtener el tan codiciado "Huevo de Pascua". Solo engancha por momentos. ( )

I can't honestly give this more than 2 stars. The last half of the book had me hooked and I really enjoyed racing through it to see what was going to happen.

But the beginning. And the references. Oh, the references. Everywhere. All the time. For pages. This book is probably 20% explanation of every pop culture item and video game from the 1980s and while it works sometimes and is central to the book, it gets OBNOXIOUS. Especially in the first 50 pages or so. The world building was just atrocious and pandered to anyone who had a childhood in the 80s. Can you tell that I found it annoying? Also, the random masturbating references? Really?

Sometimes I felt like I was reading a well-crafted novel by a new author and other times I felt like I was reading something from a "wannabe" sci-fi author in one of my undergrad creative writing classes. It was so up and down that it made it really hard to enjoy.

Apparently others disagree as is evident by the high reviews and awards this book won...typically I can understand why my tastes differ from others, but this really isn't one of them. Seriously?

Anyway, it was OK in the end. I finished it and wanted to continue reading, which I suppose is saying something. But there was so much I hated about this that it essentially ruined some of the better parts of the novel. ( )

It was the most fun I've had reading a book in a long time and I recommend it to anyone who likes video gaming, tabletop gaming and/or the 80's. ( )

This book had everything: a futuristic dystopian world, virtual and real life danger, romance, lots of 80s historical references, a mystery and a quest. The main characters were all likable and the villains were evil. I am not a geek or an aficionado of the 80s but definitely knew enough about both to be able to follow the action. The hero had to impart a lot of information to the reader but I never felt I was being lectured to. Some things may have bordered on unbelievable but I had no trouble suspending belief to enjoy the ride. ( )

This is an amazing book. A great adventure story that would be just as good in a fantasy or wizard setting. However putting it in the pop culture of my youth was a bonus. ( )

A guy left his Converse sneakers at the Arcade's door in 1986 and keeps looking for them. Even after death.

This pretty much sums it up. One would think that, at least, something is gonna happen to raise the suspense but no, it's just a giant videogame geek's wank where the final reward is infinite lives, superpowers, money and, obviously, the girl; with a sloppy moralistic afterthought (probably by the editor, Great Absent otherwise) about the primacy of real life, slapped on the ending like a Parental Advisory on a CD.

Style: clunky when not absent. The attempts at giving characters a voice are even worse than the general flatness.

Storyline: ridiculously childish. There is every single marker of bad narrative: Deus ex Machina; last-minute tricks; plot-serving character twists; even the Protagonist's Cunning Plot (that goes so smooth that you start doubting whether the Evil All-Powerful Corporation is run by dummies). Had I marked every instance of bad plot symptoms, finishing the book would have taken years.

Characters: cardboard silhouettes. Should I mention predictability?

A second star because I was a child in the Eighties. But it's a guilty pleasure star. It should have been one star. Guilty as charged.

EDIT: I have afterthoughts, too.
To be honest, the first third of the novel is not that bad. I remember thinking that it could have made for decent cyberpunk dystopian sci-fi with a geeky twist (apart from the style. The style is awful throughout. I know, I am repeating myself). There were many interesting threads: life in the stacks of caravans, the collective loss of contact with reality, the protagonist not being your run-of-the-mill muscular handsome fella... until he becomes one, but more about this later on, in the spoiler.
The problem is that, as the novel goes on (I don't dare say "progress" because, well, it ends up going nowhere) all these threads are left loose, and the attention narrows down to a pretty challenge-less ascent to power with little credibility. Considering that the characters are already plot-driven and that the world-building stops at the caravan stacks, with some further reference to economic implosion and to the world of hikikomori, when the plot flatlines one is left with pretty little to keep the whole thing moving.
Then there is the diversity tokenism. Every time this guy tries to wink to minorities he ends up shitting himself with a distinct David Brent: Life on the Road flavour.

SPOILER ALERT CUM RANT.

The fat black lesbian chick disguising herself until now as a white handsome guy is totally fine, let's not challenge the choice and its repercussions; it's just that her homophobic mum taught her to pass white and male online to avoid problems and that's what she will keep doing until the end of the novel. A-okay, right? Look at the bright side, at least she was not acting when drooling over arses and tits with the protagonist. Yes, this is an argument actually made in-text. You are welcome.

Our protagonist is a chubby boy, how inclusive. Until he starts exercising and becomes your run-of-the-mill handsome fella, ditto. Because one doesn't want the reader to visualise a chubby boy smooching the pretty girl-with-birthmark-so-she-is-different-while-remaining-wank-material-for-acneic-teenager-males, does one?

END OF SPOILER ALERT. RANT CONTINUES BELOW.

And the style, well, the style sucks. Have I mentioned how the style sucks? I never tire of mentioning it. I wonder why. And indeed...

...one last consideration about the style, or lack thereof. Boy, this compulsion to put in the characters' mouths pedantic citations of date and details of books, games and movies. Come on, I am a Start Trek geek myself. I don't answer casual references to Data with "well said! Star Trek: Next Generation, 1985-1992, the actor was Brent Spiner". I just don't. Either the interlocutor is a geek like me, which makes this kind of info-dumping redundant, or they are not, which makes it just annoying. One is supposed to bond by hugging in tears at the discovery of a brother in arms, or to answer with another reference if the mutual geekiness is already acknowledged. There is no universe in which info-dumping is acceptable. Unless one IS Data, of course. And one is most definitely not.

Actually, it comes out that it was a rant more than an afterthought. Thank you for your patience. ( )

#BookReview

Ready Player One by Ernest Cline

It's a rare occurrence in my life when I end up watching the movie without realising that it is a book adaptation. Now that I've read 'Ready Player One', I sure am glad that I watched the movie first! (Be forewarned; the movie story is very different from that of the book.)

Imagine reading a book on baseball and you happen to be interested in sports but aren't an expert in baseball. You'll enjoy the book, no doubt. But there will be many terms that you can't understand and at the end, there will be a slight regret in your heart. You will start pondering, "if only I had some interest in baseball, I'd have enjoyed this book even more." That's me with 'Ready Player One'.

'Ready Player One' is a full paisa-vasool entertainer. The story is set in a dystopian 2045, where the world is in tumult after the energy crisis and countless wars. The only escape people have is to log into a huge virtual reality world called OASIS that is a combination of video games plus real life skill enhancing options such as schools. The owner of OASIS passes away without an heir and declares in his final will that whoever can solve a three-level challenge can inherit the company and all his wealth. You can guess the rest. Every OASIS player wants to win this challenge. There are some baddies too who want to win the challenge for their own profit. (I am slightly reminded of the movie 'Avataar' while writing this, but the similarity is only limited to the extent that there is a virtual world and there are heinous corporations involved.)

The key OASIS players in the challenge are all interesting characters and each of them displays a range of human strengths and weaknesses. Ernest Cline keeps the momentum of the book steadily going with his tricky unveiling of the challenges, his mastery over the pop-culture content and his vivid imagination. Boy, does the man know his video games or what! ( )