Jen K’s #CBR5 Review #36: Ready Player One by Ernest Cline

Taking place in 2044, this novel follows the adventures of Wade Watts, or Parzival as he is known in OASIS, the virtual reality/internet/gaming network that has come to dominate pop culture, media and recreation in the future. The creator of this virtual reality, Halliday, died over five years ago, and in his will, he left his 240 billion dollar fortune to whoever could win the game he created in the OASIS and complete his quest. Halliday afficionados know that to solve this quest they need to have an extensive working knowledge of all things ’80s, Halliday’s major obsession, and Wade is one of many “gunters” or egg hunters that has studied Halliday’s life and the ’80s in preparation for his quest. Unfortunately, Wade comes from a poor background, and it affects his ability to travel in this virtual world (he has access to books and media files for free) where transportation from one planet to the other requires money (real or virtual) or a vehicle of some sort. Access and usage of the OASIS is free but within that program everything has a cost. Wade only has access to his one world where he attends school and has no idea how to get more money or how to narrow down on which of several thousands of worlds the first challenge is located. However, while lost in thought in his OASIS Latin class, Wade finally makes that first connection that will allow him to discover the first key and be the first person to show up on the score board.

To see me completely miss the point, continue reading at my blog.  3.5 stars

Aunt Ada Doom’s #CBR5 Review #3: Ready Player One by Ernest Cline

Ready Player One is the story of the world’s highest-stakes virtual scavenger hunt and the 80s-obsessed teenager who takes the lead. In a not-too-distant future, the inventor of a virtual universe called OASIS leaves behind a video will with a clue to the start of a quest within OASIS. The first player who collects three keys, passes three gates, and collects the final egg will inherit his entire estate. 

The main setting is the richly-sketched virtual world of OASIS and the book is at its most enjoyable when it focuses on exploring that world. The plot is a pretty straightforward quest as the protagonist, Wade, searches for the egg and engages with friendly competitors as well as the requisite evil corporation. This is a fast-paced adventure that’s enjoyable even without much familiarity with 80s pop culture.