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Tuesday, December 4, 2012

Review: Ready Player One

Ready Player One
Author: Ernest Cline
Genre:  Science Fiction, YA
Publisher:  Random House Audio
Release Date:  August 16, 2011
Audiobook:  15 hours 47 minutes
Narrator:  Wil Wheaton

Source: Audible.com
Buy the Book:  Amazon.com
Book Description
At once wildly original and stuffed with irresistible nostalgia, READY PLAYER ONE is a spectacularly genre-busting, ambitious, and charming debut—part quest novel, part love story, and part virtual space opera set in a universe where spell-slinging mages battle giant Japanese robots, entire planets are inspired by Blade Runner, and flying DeLoreans achieve light speed.
It’s the year 2044, and the real world is an ugly place.
Like most of humanity, Wade Watts escapes his grim surroundings by spending his waking hours jacked into the OASIS, a sprawling virtual utopia that lets you be anything you want to be, a place where you can live and play and fall in love on any of ten thousand planets.
And like most of humanity, Wade dreams of being the one to discover the ultimate lottery ticket that lies concealed within this virtual world. For somewhere inside this giant networked playground, OASIS creator James Halliday has hidden a series of fiendish puzzles that will yield massive fortune—and remarkable power—to whoever can unlock them.  
For years, millions have struggled fruitlessly to attain this prize, knowing only that Halliday’s riddles are based in the pop culture he loved—that of the late twentieth century. And for years, millions have found in this quest another means of escape, retreating into happy, obsessive study of Halliday’s icons. Like many of his contemporaries, Wade is as comfortable debating the finer points of John Hughes’s oeuvre, playing Pac-Man, or reciting Devo lyrics as he is scrounging power to run his OASIS rig.
And then Wade stumbles upon the first puzzle.
Suddenly the whole world is watching, and thousands of competitors join the hunt—among them certain powerful players who are willing to commit very real murder to beat Wade to this prize. Now the only way for Wade to survive and preserve everything he knows is to win. But to do so, he may have to leave behind his oh-so-perfect virtual existence and face up to life—and love—in the real world he’s always been so desperate to escape. 
A world at stake.
A quest for the ultimate prize.
Are you ready?
Review
 I first heard about this book during Audiobook week.  Everyone (I mean) everyone seemed to love this audiobook.  It seemed to be rated as the top audiobook overall and as well as an amazing performance by the narrator, Wil Wheaton (formerly known as the kid from Star Trek).  And you know what... I totally (100%) agree with all of the rave reviews.
The story is really well written.  From the first chapter to the last page Ernest Cline hooks the reader and there is nothing slow paced and boring.  There is one section toward the beginning where he gives you tons of back story and a few technical moments but they are perfect.  Not boring!  Not over the readers head if you are not into the gaming and computer world.  And it's extremely entertaining.
I love the thoughtfulness of the authors writing.  When most writers talk about the future, they seem to forget about the little things that we take for granted, like money, food, and going to the bathroom.  But Ernest thought of everything.  I mean everything!
I love Wade, the main character.  He is a great strong male character that is the underdog everyone will love.   During the whole book, I was rooting for him chapter by chapter.  There was one character that I feel in love with at the end of the book.  I am not going to tell you who it is...but you the author let's you see an old character in a whole new light.  And Bravo! Earnest for keeping the book interesting to the very end. 
As for Wil Wheaton the narrator.  He is/ was Wade.  He read the book in the perfect voice with the perfect (actor trained) voice from the beginning to the end. 
I hear through the grapevine that they are going to make this book into a MOVIE!!  If Wil Wheaton was a few years younger I would sooo cast him to play Wade.  He is Wade.  I am going to be the first in line to see this movie.  I can't wait!!!  *eek!*
Recommendations
I recommend this book to young adults and older. 
Challenges
This is book number 16 in my Audio Book Challenge
This is book number 45 in my Good Reads Challenge

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