Ready Player One
By Ernest Cline
Genre: Science Fiction

In the year 2045, 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. 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.

First Impressions: I haven’t read many gamer novels before this one. Actually, now that I think about it, this might have been my first. But if they are as good as Ready Player One, then I will DEFINITELY be reading more! Also, can someone please invent the OASIS so I can play? Thanks. Also, felt a huge amount of hometown pride since Columbus, OH is like the coolest city in the country in this book.  And those 80’s references were beautiful.

My Thoughts:

Plot: Genius. That’s what I kept thinking as I read this book. Some super smart gazillionaire creates a totally immersive virtual reality video game and when he dies he hides an easter egg and says whoever finds it first inherits all his money and the game. Absolutely genius. It’s interesting, gives the characters an incredibly strong motivation, and makes the stakes so high you can’t see them from the ground.

Characters: The friendship between Wade and H was my favorite. Just two BFFs razzing each other, as best friends should. And even though he’s dead, I found Halliday to be as alive a character as any of the others. These characters know what they like and they embrace that. Love it. Art3mis fell a little flat for me, and I thought it would have been nice to have a more prominent villain rather than focusing on the generality of the Sixers. This was attempted with Sorrento, but I think it could have been emphasized even more.

Pace: It felt pretty slow at the beginning. But I suffered through it because I knew Ernest was laying the necessary groundwork so the reader understood what was going on. It’s a necessary evil in a lot of sci-fi and fantasy novels, and with a plot centered around a game as complicated as OASIS, it was definitely necessary. I also thought the pace fell in the times between Wade was close to finding a key. For instance, I could have done without all the description of his pity party after a certain falling out with another character.

World/Setting: Perfect 10 here. Ernest must be a wizard because he created and described the world in the OASIS so well I felt like I was actually in it myself. Bravo Mr. Cline. Bravo. I’m telling you, during the scene inside the OASIS, I would have given anything to be there with Wade.

The Jist:

What I Liked: The incredible world of the OASIS; the plot line of the race to find a hidden easter egg and protect your hero’s fortune from the bad guys; The Wade-H friendship; 80’s references everywhere.

What I Didn’t Like: Lack of concrete villain (one person) for the first half of the book; up and down roller coaster of pace.

Would I Recommend It? You betcha! Especially if you are a gamer and a reader. You’ll love it.

My Rating: 4/5 Lunas