Ready Player One

By: Ernest Cline

Narrated by: Wil Wheaton

Length: 15 hrs and 40 mins

Publisher's summary

#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • Now a major motion picture directed by Steven Spielberg.

“Enchanting . . . Willy Wonka meets The Matrix.”—USA Today • “As one adventure leads expertly to the next, time simply evaporates.”—Entertainment Weekly

A world at stake. A quest for the ultimate prize. Are you ready?

In the year 2045, reality is an ugly place. The only time Wade Watts really feels alive is when he’s jacked into the OASIS, a vast virtual world where most of humanity spends their days.

When the eccentric creator of the OASIS dies, he leaves behind a series of fiendish puzzles, based on his obsession with the pop culture of decades past. Whoever is first to solve them will inherit his vast fortune—and control of the OASIS itself.

Then Wade cracks the first clue. Suddenly he’s beset by rivals who’ll kill to take this prize. The race is on—and the only way to survive is to win.

NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY Entertainment Weekly • San Francisco Chronicle • Village Voice • Chicago Sun-Times • iO9 • The AV Club

“Delightful . . . the grown-up’s Harry Potter.”—HuffPost

“An addictive read . . . part intergalactic scavenger hunt, part romance, and all heart.”—CNN

“A most excellent ride . . . Cline stuffs his novel with a cornucopia of pop culture, as if to wink to the reader.”—Boston Globe

“Ridiculously fun and large-hearted . . . Cline is that rare writer who can translate his own dorky enthusiasms into prose that’s both hilarious and compassionate.”—NPR

“[A] fantastic page-turner . . . starts out like a simple bit of fun and winds up feeling like a rich and plausible picture of future friendships in a world not too distant from our own.”—iO9

©2011 Ernest Cline (P)2011 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

2017, Laura Hillenbrand Outstanding Literary Award, Winner

“The science-fiction writer John Scalzi has aptly referred to Ready Player One as a ‘nerdgasm’ [and] there can be no better one-word description of this ardent fantasy artifact about fantasy culture. . . . But Mr. Cline is able to incorporate his favorite toys and games into a perfectly accessible narrative.” (Janet Maslin, The New York Times)

“This non-gamer loved every page of Ready Player One.” (Charlaine Harris, #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Sookie Stackhouse series)

Great!

can't wait for the movie to come out this year. loved the book, great story

Gets better as the story progresses

At first it sounded like the story was only reinforcing the "nerdy" stereotypes around video games. But the story is so much better as you listen to it. Very immersive, easy listening. I don't know a lot about the 80s (I'm 90s and 2000s) but there were a lot of relevant references even for me.

anything read by Wil Wheaton is amazing!!

just finished chapter 1 and I don't think I will put my phone down! Will Wheaton has always been one of my favorite human beings ever born, but just hearing how he can set a scene and get into the story himself makes the book even better!!!! Will Wheaton for president of the world!!!!

I does connect very well to 80's pop culture

I loved all the suspense and well may not have been the most unpredictable book it certainly was one of the most enjoyable books I have listened to.

absolutely perfect for nerds

futuristic enough that it's inspiring, realistic enough that it's thought provoking. the puzzle is fun to try to solve in your own

Awesome

This book is for all the undercover 80's needs like me out there. I learned much about 80's pop culture that I didn't know before...despite living it. A must listen, Will Wheaton is a phenomenal narrator.

Could not wait to drive to listen to this

If you like video games, movies, songs, books, or culture from the 70's to the 80's and even 90's you'll love this. It's a fantastic story with themes of life, purpose, and love with tons of fantastic references thrown in everywhere. I honestly looked forward to my 35 minute drive to and from work as I got lost in this story. I HIGHLY recommend this audio book. Whill Wheaton did a whonderful whork and the story is gripping.

Great Book

It’s an excellent story with a fantastic reader. Wheaton made the book come alive. I loved every minute of it.

Excellent!!!

Awesome movie and the book was even better! Wil Wheaton did an amazing job narrating the book.

Not like the movie, its different

I saw the movie and enjoyed it immensely, so I figured might as well try the book. it was great too. it's kind of so far off, it's like an alternate reality telling. Definitely recommend both the book and the movie, but treat them as companions not twins.