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)

the nostalgia is strong with this one.

As a man who was born in and raised by the 80's, I feel it is my duty to say this book has it all. great fun from the start to finish.

Thoroughly enjoyed!

Any additional comments?

Easily the most enjoyable of the 40 or so books I've read or listened to this year. Will be listening again!

So Much Awesome!!!

Everything about this is amazing!!!! Buy it, just do it and then barricade your self in your house for a few days. It's that good. Will Wheaton is the best as well, he really brings the book to life!

Fantastic Sci-Fi Novel

This book was amazing. The story was gripping and the narrator did a great job acting out the different characters and voices. I really felt like I was watching a movie.

The content of the novel is a bit nerdy, but not overly technical. I recommend this book for anyone who has ever been a fan of video games or sci-fi.

The only subjective con I can think of is the length of the novel, but honestly when I had finished the book I was sad it was over. I wanted the story to keep going because it was so good.

So. Good.

From Wil Wheaton's incredible performance, to the great writing, I was in the edge of my seat throughout the entire book. Can't believe I waited so long to read it. Highly recommended!

Amazing

Wil's narration is perfect and brings the story to life. I literally could not get enough of it. I'm now just scared the movie won't be as good as the book.

When VR meets social media in a troubled time

First and foremost, this was the most fun I have had in awhile! While the story can be predictable at times, the author always made it fun with the 80's to early millennium pop culture references and character development. Although, I would have like to have read another five or so chapters to get to know the supporting characters a little better. I liked the themes of a dystopian world that is not all that unimaginable. Ernest Cline's social media meets virtual reality in an unlimited environment does not seem too crazy after all, given our circumstances.

This is a must read for anyone that grew up in the eighties

If you grew up in the eighties and ever played a video game you will love this book.

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I really enjoyed it. Keep in mind that like the pop culture icons it references, not everyone will love this. Without the fun of the constant nostalgia the story would be a bit weak on its own.

fun when you recognized a reference

The story was entertaining but easy to predict, Yet Wade's adventure is not the sale point of this book, but the old school characters and references from cartoons, shows and games from old days. Reminded me of my childhood times when I played my transformer toys fighting my power range toys,