You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Take a photo of a barcode or cover
4.06 AVERAGE
4.06 AVERAGE
What a fun, unique, interesting, quirky and imaginative story. I loved it, and have been jamming to 80s music for the last 2 weeks straight. well done
By far one of the best books I've read - they better make this into a move! It is video game history, 80s pop culture, futuristic fantasy, and thriller wrapped into one.
Wow, I really enjoyed this book! Totally surprised me because I ended up DNFing this author’s second book Armada. That one I found just annoying and a bit boring with all the insider info geared towards gamers. This book, on the other hand, was a delight and a fun nostalgic trip to all things pop culture from the 80’s, the decade I spent most of my pre-teen and teens in.
I totally agree with another reviewer in that Wil Wheaton made this book for me! Listening to him narrate this story was such a trip, especially when the story referenced him and anything Trek. Being that this story is about a group of players searching for the ultimate Easter Egg inside a game to have so much of the story is essentially one giant Easter Egg was amazing. At almost every turn there was some pop reference that made me smile.
But that isn’t all that Ready Player One is about, oh no, there is much more to be had in this tale. There is also a great social commentary on where our society might be headed if we don’t change our ways. We get a glimpse at what might await us if we don’t start taking climate change seriously or stop rampant corporate greed. I also enjoyed the ideas about where technology might be headed that the author proposed.
The last leg of this story focused on a small band of misfits struggling to fit in, in this world. Outcasts that live their lives mainly online and struggle with social interactions. Not to mention a budding romance that was beyond sweet. The characters, like in any epic tale, are true heroes out to fight for the greater good.
I thoroughly enjoyed listening to this book. I’m not sure I would have felt the same way if I had read it myself though. Wil Wheaton’s inflection and talent as an actor added that something extra that bumped this story up an entire star for me. So if you have the option I would definitely listen to this one.
I totally agree with another reviewer in that Wil Wheaton made this book for me! Listening to him narrate this story was such a trip, especially when the story referenced him and anything Trek. Being that this story is about a group of players searching for the ultimate Easter Egg inside a game to have so much of the story is essentially one giant Easter Egg was amazing. At almost every turn there was some pop reference that made me smile.
But that isn’t all that Ready Player One is about, oh no, there is much more to be had in this tale. There is also a great social commentary on where our society might be headed if we don’t change our ways. We get a glimpse at what might await us if we don’t start taking climate change seriously or stop rampant corporate greed. I also enjoyed the ideas about where technology might be headed that the author proposed.
The last leg of this story focused on a small band of misfits struggling to fit in, in this world. Outcasts that live their lives mainly online and struggle with social interactions. Not to mention a budding romance that was beyond sweet. The characters, like in any epic tale, are true heroes out to fight for the greater good.
I thoroughly enjoyed listening to this book. I’m not sure I would have felt the same way if I had read it myself though. Wil Wheaton’s inflection and talent as an actor added that something extra that bumped this story up an entire star for me. So if you have the option I would definitely listen to this one.
I loved Ready Player One. It didn’t follow the path I thought it would but the storytelling was great, characters were interesting, and I don’t even like video games that much.
adventurous
emotional
funny
informative
medium-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 could not for the life of me enjoy this book. Will Wheaton's narration did not help at all.
The main character was so immature and unlikeable. The book is essentially a mish mash of references from different games, movies, etc.. and even though I recognised some of them they didn't add to the enjoyable for me.
Maybe if I stuck with it I'd enjoy it more but after getting almost a third of the way through it I realised that there wasn't much to enjoy for the book.
The main character was so immature and unlikeable. The book is essentially a mish mash of references from different games, movies, etc.. and even though I recognised some of them they didn't add to the enjoyable for me.
Maybe if I stuck with it I'd enjoy it more but after getting almost a third of the way through it I realised that there wasn't much to enjoy for the book.
I wasn´t too impressed by the main character. In fact, the main character got on my nerves a bit towards the end of the book. So even though I quite liked the book and it kept me engaged, and fully understand its appeal, I don´t think it´s worth 5 stars.
"Being human totally sucks most of the time. Videogames are the only thing that make life bearable. - Anorak's Almanac , Chapter 91, Verses 1-2
Words to explain how much I loved this book. FAN-FUCKING-TASTIC! AWESOMENESS!GLORIOUS! MY SHIZNIT!(totally not a word, but I'm using it!)
This book was like turning on the radio(I never do, Houston radio sucks) and hearing a song you really like and then saying, "Oh man! This is my JAM!!"
And then dancing all alone at home thinking no one understands your love for this song! Usually it's a song that you don't tell people you like. Well I started reading this book, I kept thinking..."Someone UNDERSTANDS!"
This book is my new Jam! I want to hug it, go to sleep with it, and maybe have it's awesome futuristic 80's babies. It's 2044 and the world revolves around the internet, more specifically OASIS. OASIS is free multiplayer online game which evolved into a globally networked virtual reality. Kind of like the Sims, but WAY better. Everyone logs in to attend school, go to work and some log in and make their lives in Oasis and never bother to live in the real world. Then we meet Wade Watts, an 18 year old highschool student who lives his life through OASIS. He eat, sleeps, dreams and thinks of OASIS all day long. He has no life, no real family(a shitty aunt). He lives in a poor neighborhood and logs into OASIS for school everyday. He's antisocial. He doesn't like to be around people and prefers OASIS to the real world. Pretty much a hermit. Well for the past five years a competition has been going on for every player(Gunter)in OASIS. James Halliday is the owner/creator of OASIS and when he dies, in his will, he leaves all of OASIS and his fortune to the winner. Any Gunter that can find three keys and pass the three gates and find the Easter egg will win. Well it's been five years and no one has found the first key. Then Wade does and there is a full on war.
I don't want to say anymore because then I will be giving it away, but I will leave you with some awesomeness to expect when you read this book.
BAM!
BAM!
BAM!
BAM!
Words to explain how much I loved this book. FAN-FUCKING-TASTIC! AWESOMENESS!GLORIOUS! MY SHIZNIT!(totally not a word, but I'm using it!)
This book was like turning on the radio(I never do, Houston radio sucks) and hearing a song you really like and then saying, "Oh man! This is my JAM!!"
And then dancing all alone at home thinking no one understands your love for this song! Usually it's a song that you don't tell people you like. Well I started reading this book, I kept thinking..."Someone UNDERSTANDS!"
This book is my new Jam! I want to hug it, go to sleep with it, and maybe have it's awesome futuristic 80's babies. It's 2044 and the world revolves around the internet, more specifically OASIS. OASIS is free multiplayer online game which evolved into a globally networked virtual reality. Kind of like the Sims, but WAY better. Everyone logs in to attend school, go to work and some log in and make their lives in Oasis and never bother to live in the real world. Then we meet Wade Watts, an 18 year old highschool student who lives his life through OASIS. He eat, sleeps, dreams and thinks of OASIS all day long. He has no life, no real family(a shitty aunt). He lives in a poor neighborhood and logs into OASIS for school everyday. He's antisocial. He doesn't like to be around people and prefers OASIS to the real world. Pretty much a hermit. Well for the past five years a competition has been going on for every player(Gunter)in OASIS. James Halliday is the owner/creator of OASIS and when he dies, in his will, he leaves all of OASIS and his fortune to the winner. Any Gunter that can find three keys and pass the three gates and find the Easter egg will win. Well it's been five years and no one has found the first key. Then Wade does and there is a full on war.
I don't want to say anymore because then I will be giving it away, but I will leave you with some awesomeness to expect when you read this book.
BAM!
BAM!
BAM!
BAM!
adventurous
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This book had an entertaining premise and some fun action and references.
Unfortunately, it went way, way overboard with the references. I felt like I was reading a book of 80s trivia instead of a novel sometimes. It was too much and took me out of the narrative. When that much of your wordcount is blatantly pulled from other sources, it starts to become a problem.
I was also very disappointed and irritated at how it seemed like the author was trying to do some subversive things but kept taking the easy way out. Parzival falls for Art3mis in the OASIS and she keeps saying he won't like her in real life... and it turns out that. When they made their big assault on the castle we knew only three of the four could get in, and I KNEW it would be who wouldn't make it in. Aech's revelation fell rather flat--situations like his would likely be VERY common in something like the OASIS. Maybe even the norm.
Parzival's really stretched the limits of credibility. You can play fast and loose with credibility in the virtual environment of the OASIS, but less so with the real world. There were also a few too many strokes of wildly improbable luck.
The entire subplot with the crush on Art3mis was cliche and annoying. Juvenile boy wish fulfillment. He'd been totally obsessed with the search for the egg most of his life, then when he made some progress with it he just shrugged to go hang out with his virtual not-girlfriend with her stereotypical overwrought girl angst. Yawn. I've read this story so many times... and the end. Bleh.
There was some interesting world building though. I would have liked to read more about the OASIS and how the real world and virtual worlds interacted and contrasted. There's a whole universe of potential here that is somewhat lost under the 80s nonsense and trite love story.
The book started out clumsy and somewhat pulled together, but kept going into deus ex machina territory and framing the main character as so much better than he actually was.
Update: Revisiting this book I think I was far too generous. I keep seeing this book on 'best of' lists and it pisses me off. Ready Player One is less a novel than a smug, self congratulatory piece of 80s nostalgia porn combined with a Twilight level stalkerish "love" story. What this book really is is a bizarre glorification of consumption--all Wade does with his life is consume 80s trivia and media, and he is richly rewarded by the narrative and patted on the back by the author for it. It is a book about unhealthy obsessions and being rewarded for them. Fandom can be fun, but it is not a virtue, especially when taken to its extremes. I have read better litRPGs since reading this one, and it really throws the weaknesses and flaws of this one into focus.
Unfortunately, it went way, way overboard with the references. I felt like I was reading a book of 80s trivia instead of a novel sometimes. It was too much and took me out of the narrative. When that much of your wordcount is blatantly pulled from other sources, it starts to become a problem.
I was also very disappointed and irritated at how it seemed like the author was trying to do some subversive things but kept taking the easy way out. Parzival falls for Art3mis in the OASIS and she keeps saying he won't like her in real life... and it turns out that
Spoiler
she just has a big birthmarkSpoiler
the obviously Asian guySpoiler
in which the avatar deliberately did not reflect the playerParzival's
Spoiler
infiltration of the IOI complexThe entire subplot with the crush on Art3mis was cliche and annoying. Juvenile boy wish fulfillment. He'd been totally obsessed with the search for the egg most of his life, then when he made some progress with it he just shrugged to go hang out with his virtual not-girlfriend with her stereotypical overwrought girl angst. Yawn. I've read this story so many times... and the end. Bleh.
There was some interesting world building though. I would have liked to read more about the OASIS and how the real world and virtual worlds interacted and contrasted. There's a whole universe of potential here that is somewhat lost under the 80s nonsense and trite love story.
The book started out clumsy and somewhat pulled together, but kept going into deus ex machina territory and framing the main character as so much better than he actually was.
Update: Revisiting this book I think I was far too generous. I keep seeing this book on 'best of' lists and it pisses me off. Ready Player One is less a novel than a smug, self congratulatory piece of 80s nostalgia porn combined with a Twilight level stalkerish "love" story. What this book really is is a bizarre glorification of consumption--all Wade does with his life is consume 80s trivia and media, and he is richly rewarded by the narrative and patted on the back by the author for it. It is a book about unhealthy obsessions and being rewarded for them. Fandom can be fun, but it is not a virtue, especially when taken to its extremes. I have read better litRPGs since reading this one, and it really throws the weaknesses and flaws of this one into focus.