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A review by rlisaacs
Ready Player One by Ernest Cline
4.0
This was really good!
I am sad to say that it was, in a great many ways, nothing like the movie. (And I saw the movie before I read the book. I know. I'm a monster.)
I still like both, but the book was definitely better. There was a lot less of Wade just stumbling randomly into figuring out clues, and more of him actually deciphering certain pieces because he's done the research on Halliday. Yes, he stumbles upon a few things by chance. (The first clue he figured out really was all by chance.) But everything after that fell into place because of his extensive knowledge as a gunter.
Wade's a lot cooler in the book too than he is in the movie. I mean, I'm sure we're kind of supposed to assume he's a nerd and a computer whiz type guy in the movie... but honestly, the movie makes it seem like everyone else aside from Wade has these really cool natural talents outside of just being a gunter, and then you have Wade who is the Halliday expert and nut. In the book, he's got way more smarts then just what he knows about Halliday. His brilliance as a hacker and computer tech whiz are what ultimately give them the opportunity to try and win the game.
Don't get me wrong. Like I said, I still like the movie. And when I had just watched the movie, Wade seemed pretty incredible, what with his nerdery for Halliday lore and facts, and his ability to figure out the finally pieces of clues and puzzles in the nick of time. But in the book, his ability to play the game, to progress forward in spite of where he had to start, is so much more impressive. In the movie, he's depicted as not having as much as other people. But in the book... you guys, he literally starts with practically nothing. And he's in school, for crying out loud! That's actually the only reason he's able to play the game at all. Because he's in school!
So again, separately, I like them both. But after having read the book, the movie almost feels kind of like a let down. The similarities between the two are... I mean, honestly, they're nonexistent. The basic concept of the book is taken, as well as the main characters, and used as inspiration for what the movie did. The most basic aspect of the plot is used. And after that, the details between the book and the movie diverge drastically.
There is only one difference between the book and the movie in which I am happier with the movie than the book. And that's just because... well, because I'm me. If you want to know about that, here is the spoiler below. But WARNING! It is a big spoiler for something that ends up happening in the book that didn't happen in the movie. Like... huge! I wasn't ready. So please, please, please, heed my words. If you don't want a massive bomb dropped, ignore the spoiler. If you don't care at all, feel free, but DO NOT say I didn't warn you.
In any case, as per usual, the book was better than the movie. Really glad I read it.
Now my only question is... how is there a sequel to this? After all of that, where the heck do you go from here?!
I have no idea. I'm honestly not sure I want to find out. We'll have to think on that for a while and see. But at the very least, this first book made me happy. And there's no cliffhanger or anything, so if I decide to just stop right here, I still have no regrets.
I am sad to say that it was, in a great many ways, nothing like the movie. (And I saw the movie before I read the book. I know. I'm a monster.)
I still like both, but the book was definitely better. There was a lot less of Wade just stumbling randomly into figuring out clues, and more of him actually deciphering certain pieces because he's done the research on Halliday. Yes, he stumbles upon a few things by chance. (The first clue he figured out really was all by chance.) But everything after that fell into place because of his extensive knowledge as a gunter.
Wade's a lot cooler in the book too than he is in the movie. I mean, I'm sure we're kind of supposed to assume he's a nerd and a computer whiz type guy in the movie... but honestly, the movie makes it seem like everyone else aside from Wade has these really cool natural talents outside of just being a gunter, and then you have Wade who is the Halliday expert and nut. In the book, he's got way more smarts then just what he knows about Halliday. His brilliance as a hacker and computer tech whiz are what ultimately give them the opportunity to try and win the game.
Don't get me wrong. Like I said, I still like the movie. And when I had just watched the movie, Wade seemed pretty incredible, what with his nerdery for Halliday lore and facts, and his ability to figure out the finally pieces of clues and puzzles in the nick of time. But in the book, his ability to play the game, to progress forward in spite of where he had to start, is so much more impressive. In the movie, he's depicted as not having as much as other people. But in the book... you guys, he literally starts with practically nothing. And he's in school, for crying out loud! That's actually the only reason he's able to play the game at all. Because he's in school!
So again, separately, I like them both. But after having read the book, the movie almost feels kind of like a let down. The similarities between the two are... I mean, honestly, they're nonexistent. The basic concept of the book is taken, as well as the main characters, and used as inspiration for what the movie did. The most basic aspect of the plot is used. And after that, the details between the book and the movie diverge drastically.
There is only one difference between the book and the movie in which I am happier with the movie than the book. And that's just because... well, because I'm me. If you want to know about that, here is the spoiler below. But WARNING! It is a big spoiler for something that ends up happening in the book that didn't happen in the movie. Like... huge! I wasn't ready. So please, please, please, heed my words. If you don't want a massive bomb dropped, ignore the spoiler. If you don't care at all, feel free, but DO NOT say I didn't warn you.
Spoiler
All of that to just mention Daito. That's the difference from the movie and the book in which I like the movie better. Because in the movie, Daito is awesome, just like the book. He's a samurai, just like in the book. But... in the book... he dies! He freaking dies! And I got to it and I was reading it and I was like... "Wait, what? Back up!" You guys! I was not prepared! At all! I had to put the book down for a minute because I was like, "No. No... No, that's not what happened! Take it back!"In any case, as per usual, the book was better than the movie. Really glad I read it.
Now my only question is... how is there a sequel to this? After all of that, where the heck do you go from here?!
I have no idea. I'm honestly not sure I want to find out. We'll have to think on that for a while and see. But at the very least, this first book made me happy. And there's no cliffhanger or anything, so if I decide to just stop right here, I still have no regrets.