Reviews

Ready Player One by Ernest Cline

megansgc's review against another edition

4.0

Jam packed full of 80's culture references which is entertaining. Also a page turner where you can't wait to see what happens. Some may say it is a predictable ending but it's certainly an enjoyable ride

nglofile's review against another edition

5.0

Simply stated, this is one of the most fun and wholly satisfying books I've read recently. A clever mix of humor, action, nostalgia, a touch of romance, and overflowing with wit.

The game is well-plotted, the '80s references are liberal yet not overplayed, and the author has managed a skillful balance of adventure and heart. I was tempted to start over and play again immediately.

audiobook note: Just when I thought I couldn't enjoy this book more, I drank in the audiobook edition narrated by Wil Wheaton. His reading is strong, clear, and tinged with droll amusement. When the plot turns more dramatic, he navigates the different tones with more ease than you'd think. Perfectly cast.

re-read (audio): 12/11

brobocop187's review against another edition

4.0

I did not read the book first. I saw the movie first and fell in love with that. I then read the book after several viewings of the movie and let me tell you, i feel robbed. The book had some sweet action pieces!

kirsteny's review against another edition

adventurous challenging funny lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

jasonwalko's review against another edition

lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

1.5

Representation is so important in literature. We have a growing number of books that center around issues facing BIPOC and LGBTQ. Ready Player One is important because it brings literary representation to the most repressed minority of all: gamers.

How on God’s green earth did this get published?

Maybe it’s because I wasn’t alive for the totally awesome radical 80s, but the amount of pop culture references shoved into the narrative is absurd. What’s world building? We can just take a bunch of stuff from IPs that already exist and shove them all together into one giant unholy conglomerate! We don’t even have to make anything up. Also this is 2044 and people are obsessed with pop culture from 80 years ago? Can you imagine today’s world but everyone’s going hog wild for Betty Boop and Steamboat Willy or whatever because some old rich guy liked it? Whatever.

The whole plot is so dumb once you realize that the entire reason for Wade Watt’s crusade is because he wants to stop the transfer of his favorite video game’s rights from one billionaire to another (although I guess some gamers might go to war over microtransactions). Big yawn. Who cares.

Wade Watts also sucks, literally any of the other characters are more interesting than him. This man would 100% buy gamer girl bath water if he could. He develops a really uncomfortable obsession with fellow gamer Art3mis, a character who’s function is to represent the author’s barely-disguised fetish. Wade goes as far as to pull personal data files on her from the Bad Guys Inc. servers and tells her that “she looks even more beautiful in person.” And it’s played off as cute flirting. Hurl.

I have no idea who this book is for. The main character is a high schooler and plays video games a lot, which is more relatable to a younger audience, but there is a lot of swearing and sexual references that would make it inappropriate for YA, not to mention the barrage of Gen X pop culture references that a teenager would never get. Bad book. Stupid book. Snow Crash for Disney adults. Neuromancer for Redditors. All the conventions of cyberpunk with nothing important to say. But I will say this: it’s better than the movie. I’d rather eat a stale donut than a dog turd I guess.

While you’re here, I’d like to subject you to Ernest Cline’s “poem” The Nerd Porn Auteur, which should be considered a crime against humanity: https://youtu.be/LwNOzWXb7RE?si=oLgrcveq0uqC5kXP

apaperboundlife's review against another edition

adventurous medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

saluki's review against another edition

5.0

The OASIS was beautifully rendered in meticulous graphical detail, right down to bugs and blades of grass, wind and weather patterns.

Making for an insanely immersive atmosphere for virtual game players in 2044.

Halliday/Anorak, OASIS's co-founder, dies without leaving an heir and offers his $240 billion company and future profits as a grand prize for the first person to find his Easter egg in the game. Gunters, egg hunters, now compete for the prize, but it's no easy task as OASIS contains vast worlds and for years there has been no avatar names on the scoreboard. Added to this herculean game experience is the existence of IOI, a villainous corporation and its employee players, the sixers, on the hunter for gunters and the gate keys to win the egg... at all costs.

The main players, Parzival, Art3mis, Aech, Shoto and Daito are likeable geeks and suit their avatars and virtual names. Loved all the nerdiness and, for this reader, Halliday's love for 80's pop culture. Certainly a trip down memory lane for all the people, videogames, music, cartoons, TV and movies referenced. Yes, there is a lot of info-dumping about 80's pop culture but that's part of the game. Players have to fully immerse themselves in Halliday's personal preferences, or read Anorak's Almanac, to get clues... not just to increase powers and levels, but to find the correct level to play!

The novels speaks of isolation and loneliness and tackles gender, race and sexual orientation in this 2044 future, and of course existential matters concerning reality versus virtual reality and the complexity between friendships made in the virtual community. And more, especially poverty and greedy corporations.

I had a blast. Ridiculously fun and addictive. I'm looking forward to see how Spielberg tackles the movie project due for release March 2018... I'll probably reread it then, maybe try the audiobook version with Wil Wheaton narrating who incidentally also gets mentioned in the book!

slowry44's review against another edition

adventurous funny lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes

4.75

ktxx22's review against another edition

5.0

GAAAAAHHHHH!!!!!!! THIS BOOK!!!!!!! Fast paced, unique storyline, excellent characters, fun personable writing, action packed, etc.... like I could, and let’s face it I’m probably gonna, gush about this book forever! I don’t reread books... I would reread this... hell I’m probably gonna reread it! Easy 5/5 from me... if I could give it more stars... well you know I would!

The audiobook was sooooo much fun Wil Wheaton does another BANGERANG read! And I may have gotten emotional at the end of this book. But my heart was sooo happy! (Does this supersede my current favorite reads of this year.... don’t tell Pierce Brown.... but maybe!!!)

ekreif's review against another edition

adventurous medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

Literally my all time favorite book.