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3.28 AVERAGE
3.28 AVERAGE
Эрнест Клайн обладает всеми качествами, необходимыми современному писателю: он в совершенстве владеет всеми буквами английского алфавита (это A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L, M, N, O, P, Q, R, S, T, U, V, W, X, Y, Z, но у каждой из них есть и зловещий карлик-двойник, вместе они это a, b, c, d, e, f, h, g, i, y, j, k, n, o, p, q, r, l, s, t, u, v, w, m, x и z) и большинством арабских цифр — в книге наиболее часто встречаются 1, 9, 8, и моя любимая 0 — и может генерировать их в большом количестве, работая за обязательно включенным в сеть компьютером с помощью аутентичной для 1980-х годов клавиатуры Apple Magic Keyboard.
Книга Ready Player Two является продолжением книги Ready Player One (это умная отсылка к системам нумерации, в которых Two стоит следом за One и означает на единицу большее значение чем единица), и её действие разворачиваеся после завершения действия книги Ready Player One, а заканчивается даже после начала действия книги Ready Player Two.
Книга поднимает важнейшие вопросы: так ли необходим художественному произведению редактор (господи, да, да), почему у продолжения тайтла, не вылезавшего из чартов The New York Times Best Sellers, этого редактора нет (мы правда не понимаем), и когда это всё наконец закончится (только что).
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unjerk: невероятно неизобретательная, оскорбительно глупая, бесконечно самоповторяющаяся ЁБАНАЯ ЗАЛУПА ПОШЛА ТЫ НА ХУЙ БЛЯДЬ, я надеюсь тебя сотни лет спустя будут исследовать как самый исчерпывающий набор детских антипаттернов в писательском ремесле.
Книга Ready Player Two является продолжением книги Ready Player One (это умная отсылка к системам нумерации, в которых Two стоит следом за One и означает на единицу большее значение чем единица), и её действие разворачиваеся после завершения действия книги Ready Player One, а заканчивается даже после начала действия книги Ready Player Two.
Книга поднимает важнейшие вопросы: так ли необходим художественному произведению редактор (господи, да, да), почему у продолжения тайтла, не вылезавшего из чартов The New York Times Best Sellers, этого редактора нет (мы правда не понимаем), и когда это всё наконец закончится (только что).
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unjerk: невероятно неизобретательная, оскорбительно глупая, бесконечно самоповторяющаяся ЁБАНАЯ ЗАЛУПА ПОШЛА ТЫ НА ХУЙ БЛЯДЬ, я надеюсь тебя сотни лет спустя будут исследовать как самый исчерпывающий набор детских антипаттернов в писательском ремесле.
If bad writing was a war crime, Ernest Cline would be tried in the Hague.
In fact, he should be tried in the Hague. For crimes against humanity.
In fact, he should be tried in the Hague. For crimes against humanity.
I was ready to reenter the world of Ready Player One, but this was a little too similar for me? And the ending wrapped up too quickly.
Strong character development:
No
I read this directly after re-reading RP1. Perhaps that is why the blocks of text and info dumping were particularly fatiguing. Multiple times I found myself having to force myself to go back and re-read paragraphs because I was skimming.
On a plus side - Cline appears to have taken on board the idea of more female representation. On the downside one of the exciting new female characters to be introduced is regulated to an OFF SCREEN side-quest. We barely ever hear from her.
The cringy dialogue from 1 is back in 2, making me stop and close the book in parts. They will be talking completely normally and suddenly, "X is awakened!" That might be how someone in a movie would say it, but not a human being! Also a lot of bowing and pledging to Wade which made me feel a little unwell. This book had a much stronger stench of teenage boy fanfiction trying to make themselves feel strong and powerful and it was just...ick.
In RP1 you didn't necessarily need to understand references to still enjoy the story. RP2 felt a lot more like Cline had ideas for multiple planets he wanted to show but never combined them with a cohesive story. The references don't ENHANCE the story, they ARE the story. The Prince chapters were nearly unbearable. The Lord of Rings section felt like it was just about showing off random lore rather than actually trying to write a new book. For an example of a way you can include references while allowing the plot to continue even if you don't understand them, you can look at Gilmore Girls.
In a lot of ways it felt like being dumped into a High Fantasy book when the author tries to add too much of their own language too quickly EXCEPT there is no payoff for figuring it out because it changes a chapter later (see: the lord of the rings place name references throughout).
There was some Deux Ex Machina in the first book. It is much worse in this one. Wade is basically useless. He's only there because he is the only one who can handle the shards and his friends happen to know exactly the right things to get him through the tasks. Every shard just 'happens' to be a special interest for each of them.
Somehow, even though the stakes are technically much higher in this book, I never once felt an actual sense of urgency throughout.
Wade is even more unlikable in this book than the first, with character regression instead of growth. Art3mis is way too good for him.In a move which really enhanced the ongoing feeling that Wade is an insert of unlikable nerdy teenage boys who think their nerdiness is why women don't like them and not the fact that they are obnoxious, Wade literally dooms humanity by not listening to Art3mis and all he does is apologise once and she's like, "Oh wow, what a guy! I forgive you." Seriously doing the bare minimum. The fact they end up together is forced and REALLY bad. Wade even says "she's better than me and she makes me better." Can we PLEASE stop normalising the idea that bringing nothing to the table and expecting a woman to make you better is at all ok? Or that woman should settle for it?
I was twitching at how quickly they decide to use the resurrection rod at the end because there are 'safeguards' against issues arising. You LITERALLY just finished fighting an enemy who circumvented all the safeguards in place in the OASIS, you don't want to take a second to think before you try that rod out too much? Zero chance Art3mis would actually use it the way she did without extensive thought and research either. Much less basically tell Wade he was TOTES right for ignoring her at the start.
Absolutely no thought about the ethical considerations of shipping off the memories and conscience of all the people they did at the end either. No seeking permission or anything. VERY off.
I would have been much more interested in hearing more about how they actually helped the world but in the end - it's still doomed?
On a plus side - Cline appears to have taken on board the idea of more female representation. On the downside one of the exciting new female characters to be introduced is regulated to an OFF SCREEN side-quest. We barely ever hear from her.
The cringy dialogue from 1 is back in 2, making me stop and close the book in parts. They will be talking completely normally and suddenly, "X is awakened!" That might be how someone in a movie would say it, but not a human being! Also a lot of bowing and pledging to Wade which made me feel a little unwell. This book had a much stronger stench of teenage boy fanfiction trying to make themselves feel strong and powerful and it was just...ick.
In RP1 you didn't necessarily need to understand references to still enjoy the story. RP2 felt a lot more like Cline had ideas for multiple planets he wanted to show but never combined them with a cohesive story. The references don't ENHANCE the story, they ARE the story. The Prince chapters were nearly unbearable. The Lord of Rings section felt like it was just about showing off random lore rather than actually trying to write a new book. For an example of a way you can include references while allowing the plot to continue even if you don't understand them, you can look at Gilmore Girls.
In a lot of ways it felt like being dumped into a High Fantasy book when the author tries to add too much of their own language too quickly EXCEPT there is no payoff for figuring it out because it changes a chapter later (see: the lord of the rings place name references throughout).
There was some Deux Ex Machina in the first book. It is much worse in this one. Wade is basically useless. He's only there because he is the only one who can handle the shards and his friends happen to know exactly the right things to get him through the tasks. Every shard just 'happens' to be a special interest for each of them.
Somehow, even though the stakes are technically much higher in this book, I never once felt an actual sense of urgency throughout.
Wade is even more unlikable in this book than the first, with character regression instead of growth. Art3mis is way too good for him.
Absolutely no thought about the ethical considerations of shipping off the memories and conscience of all the people they did at the end either. No seeking permission or anything. VERY off.
I would have been much more interested in hearing more about how they actually helped the world but in the end - it's still doomed?
Also a minor point – the apostrophe ‘d or ‘s has weird kerning and is too close together in the typeface and was very jarring.
Really disappointing and unnecessary sequal.
Really disappointing and unnecessary sequal.
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
funny
medium-paced
Edit (December 3rd): After sitting with it for a couple more days, I’ve cooled on this a bit. Not an absolute train wreck, but much more of a disappointment after taking time to sit with it. And much bigger problems.
A mixed-bag follow up to a novel that I love (although I recognize it also has a lot of problems), RPT is entertaining but problematic.
Part of the issue is that the magic just can’t be recaptured; the call to nostalgia that was so captivating in RPO is not only somewhat lessened by revisiting, but it’s also just not executed as well this time around. And, while I give Cline credit for not simply doing the same story all over again, it does still crib heavily from existing properties (as the character) so don’t expect something wholly original. Not that RPO wasn’t also an amalgamation homage.
One of my biggest quibbles is that, whereas RPO felt more like a puzzle that the characters were solving while we were along for the ride, this time around someone already seems to have the answer(s) and they just have to go through the motions. It’s like watching someone play a game while following a walkthrough; the progress doesn’t feel entirely earned.
Also, and I guess SPOILERS... ... ...the first 1/3 of the book barely takes place in the Oasis, upsets a fair chunk of the ending of RPO, and takes all that time to explain the actual drive of the book.
All-in-all, RPT is still an entertaining read, but if you had problems with the first book, they’re probably not going to be fixed here. And even if you loved the first book — like I did (again, despite recognizing its problems) — there’s a good chance this won’t reach those same highs.
A mixed-bag follow up to a novel that I love (although I recognize it also has a lot of problems), RPT is entertaining but problematic.
Part of the issue is that the magic just can’t be recaptured; the call to nostalgia that was so captivating in RPO is not only somewhat lessened by revisiting, but it’s also just not executed as well this time around. And, while I give Cline credit for not simply doing the same story all over again, it does still crib heavily from existing properties (as the character) so don’t expect something wholly original. Not that RPO wasn’t also an amalgamation homage.
One of my biggest quibbles is that, whereas RPO felt more like a puzzle that the characters were solving while we were along for the ride, this time around someone already seems to have the answer(s) and they just have to go through the motions. It’s like watching someone play a game while following a walkthrough; the progress doesn’t feel entirely earned.
Also, and I guess SPOILERS... ... ...the first 1/3 of the book barely takes place in the Oasis, upsets a fair chunk of the ending of RPO, and takes all that time to explain the actual drive of the book.
All-in-all, RPT is still an entertaining read, but if you had problems with the first book, they’re probably not going to be fixed here. And even if you loved the first book — like I did (again, despite recognizing its problems) — there’s a good chance this won’t reach those same highs.
adventurous
emotional
funny
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I was surprised by this book. It isn't as good as the first, but that doesn't mean I didn't like it. I thought it was well done, and the writing style was kept similar, which I loved. I overall will probably end up reading this again, as the first one is my all time favorite and this story is one I quite enjoyed overall as well. I will be interested to see if the side story's mentioned are expanded upon, as they were where I was bummed and felt I was missing information I wanted to know. Overall well worth the read.