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 Story Underneath a Thick Layer of Arrogance

What did you like best about Ready Player One? What did you like least?

The story and thought put into the world of the Oasis are fascinating. The author seems to have thought of everything, from attending school to currency and transportation. The concepts presented by the Oasis makes you wish it were a reality.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Ready Player One?

The most memorable moments of the book to me if definitely of the character finding the first key and participating in the challenges.

Who would you have cast as narrator instead of Wil Wheaton?

Absolutely not. Wil Wheaton delivers lines so matter-of-factly that I found myself at times completely put off by his arrogance. His air of superiority and his delivery of lines is definitely reminiscent of a bragging teenager. While he has a good voice, the way he emphasizes certain words, like "I", eventually makes you want to slap some humility into him.

If this book were a movie would you go see it?

Absolutely. This lends itself to moviedom VERY well. Obviously it would have to skip a lot of the characters commentary and political views to appeal to a larger audience,, but the entertainment factor is on point.

Any additional comments?

The author writes in such a way that it is very easy to see who he is in real life outside of the book and it can be annoying to read through. I typically do not like books written like that no matter what political leaning they have. I like a story to be able to stand on its own. The first couple of chapters you are subjected to statements about Global Warming, Energy Crisis, and ideas that "God is Bullshit that is made up." This is done under the veil of character development but as you find out throughout the story, none of it has any bearing on the character at all. It is easy to see that the author just wanted to put in his own beliefs.

The other major turnoff for me is the degree of arrogance throughout the book. The main character actually spends a very large amount of time, and even entire chapters, bragging about himself and how much knowledge he has of things. He goes out of his way to tell you that he has watched every episode of XYZ TV shows three times each, read every book in this series twice, memorized all lyrics to all songs for all albums ever produced in the 80s, played every console and arcade game so many times that they are all second nature to him, seen every movie multiple times enough to know every line, etc etc etc. He does this in a bragging sort of way despite the fact that the main character is only 18 years old and has been in school his entire life. Fairly unbelievable and arrogant. He even describes in two separate occasions that he has a habit of correcting his teachers and offers no apology for this type of action. His degree of arrogance and superiority are without any semblance of guilt, empathy, or humility in any way.

Combine the authors arrogance with that of Wil Wheaton and it is almost unbearable. It's like a match made in egotistical heaven. I lost count of how many times I heard lines like, "Of course that wasn't a problem for me because I had watched every single episode and could recite every word ever spoken." Special emphasis placed on the word "I" by Wil Wheaton and read in a matter-of-fact way.

The irony is that, if you can sit through all of the political and religious views and the arrogance, then it is actually a very enjoyable story. The world of the oasis is an amazing concept and likely where we may be going. I begrudgingly recommend the book based on its entertainment factor alone. It is a good read. I've read people comparing this book to "OFF TO BE THE WIZARD" and I didn't draw that connection at all. I have found them to be entirely different books altogether and have enjoyed both.

easily became one of my favorite books

And Wil Wheaton fantastic performance. Really brought the book to life. Also this book has an amazing story that was obviously driven from a serious understanding of both a gamers and a reclous perspective. I actually felt I could connect with the the main characters.

One of the best books I've ever read!!

I think I've read/ listened to this book over a dozen times by now. I first got it in a Lootcrate and didn't know what to expect. After reading the paper copy a free times I found this recording by Wil Wheaton. One word. Amazing!

Willy Wonka meets Snow Crash

This book is Willy Wonka meets Snow Crash, as read by a second-string The Guild actor.

Thanks for the ride Mr. Wheaton!

Easily one of my top 5 favorite books if not all time fav. The narrating was superb! I appreciate the clear enunciation even if it came at the cost of slightly cringy Japanese (just splitting hairs). i'm not good with names but I will remember Wil Wheaton. Favorite part? Meeting H! so many feelings Sadness, bewilderment, anger, relief, pride. I hadn't even considered the impact it might have on certain walks of life! Very progressive and I approve wholeheartedly.

Fun and Nostalgia

Video/computer game fanatics, lovers of retro sci-fi and fantasy movies, and 80's audiophiles...this is the book for you! The story is fun and modern while taking you down memory lane with some of your favorite movies, books, computer and video games, and music from way back when. Set in a dystopian near-future, you follow the journey of young Parzival as he makes his way through the OASIS - a virtual world which has become the primary mode of interaction for humans.

The audiobook is entertaining, and the material is performed well by Mr. Wheaton. My boyfriend and I listened to the audiobook on a long road trip, and it had us on the edge of our seats the entire time! While I'm the nerdy, video/computer game-loving girlfriend, my boyfriend is the retro/80's audiophile and movie buff. There was something here for both of us, and it made our time on the road fly by! Give this book a listen...it will be well worth your time!

Very fun

Fun and nostalgic. If you ever played a video game you will enjoy this adventure.

Wow!

What a great story! Will's narration was perfect!

The story was captivating, exciting and funny. I loved all the '80s Greek references. You must get this book!

All that and more!

Clever, gripping, excitement filled! Ready to read it again and again! Thank you, thank you!

Fascinating story for ANYONE

People told me I'd hate this book because I am NOT a geek, in fact hardly know how to turn on my laptop or use my Kindle. They told me this book if just for those who know all the trivia connected with dungeons and Dragon fantasy. That's not true at all. This audible is totally engaging and fun. The action is clear and understandable even if you know nothing about computing or videogames. It's a kind of Wizard of Oz or Lord of the Rings plotline...a journey of friends in a challenging quest for truth.