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)

A Fanboy's Paradise

Easily one of the best books I've ever read. Wil Wheaton energetically delivers this non-stop action tale of a nerd's journey. Do it!

Nerdtastic and so well written!

Loved it so much I couldn't stop listening once I started. The subject was so far off the beaten path from my usual read or interest, but I found myself completely drawn into it.

Still one of my favorities

The story just sucks me in and the enthusiastic narration rocks. No matter how good the movie is, this will still be my favorite way to experience ready player one.

Reads like a grocery list of 80’s stuff

The story itself was pretty decent, without having any real plot twists. It’s your basic everyday hero story and you never have to wonder even for a second whether things are going to work out for the protagonist. The main character faces a challenge, overcomes adversity, and gets the girl while the villain and some bit characters die. Pretty standard stuff with a happy ending. The only real problem is the lists. Good lord the author likes to wrote lists. Altogether I fast forwarded through probably over an hour’s worth of the author listing 80’s references and the “game’s” leaderboard. That’s just lazy writing. I remember my fourth grade teacher telling the class that was lazy writing, yet somehow it got published in this book. That could use some serious editing but other than that, it was enjoyable.

Nerdy Thriller

This is my first audiobook on audible and I burned through it in 3 days. I was so addicted to the story I'd listen to it any chance I got. While I was driving (which I do a lot of for my job), working out, cooking, etc. Highly recommended, especially if you are a nerd and/or love the 80s.

wish I could give 10, stars

the story is great. I slapped my forehead multiple times shouting, "I remember that " even those who didn't live through the 80s will identify with the story. Will's performance was exceptional. his narrative elevated the experience to new heights. I am a veteran audible user, and this has by far been my favorite story. when it ended I took a minute to revile in the conclusion, then restarted it. just finished the second time through and loved it even more. I want to thank the author and Will for this treasure. Really wish I could give it 10 stars

Satisfying

This book completely captures the essence of gaming culture and validates all our beautiful obsessions.

Loved it and I'm not a Geek!

Can't wait to see the movie! Will Wheaton was a phenomenal narrator. You simply must read this!

Character Voices - Use Them

If you could sum up Ready Player One in three words, what would they be?

Nostalgic. Nerdy. Adventure.

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

The activities required to complete the 3 Gates were awesome.

What didn’t you like about Wil Wheaton’s performance?

I don't think that the cache of having Wheaton narrate the book outweighs the lack of professional narration. Wheaton has a decent voice, but the lack of even a hint of character voices is jarring in today's world of professional narration. In a book like "Ready Player One" where some of the dialogue is rapid-fire in the moment, it got pretty difficult to determine which character was speaking, since they were all voiced in the same way. Loved the book, but the narration really detracted from my experience.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Just a fun book.

Loved this quirky story.

From the moment I downloaded DOOM from some message board or forum I was hooked. 80s big hair, RUSH big rock band sounds-loved it all. I never gave up my love for video games and my adult friends can't believe I have an XBox. So, this story spoke to me (no pun intended) and I smiled all the way through. Wil Wheaton as narrator was an awesome choice