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 masterpiece!

This is a must readd for any fantasy fan. If you love video games you will love this book...Bravo

fun

listened to it twice right in a row. The 80s is the era of my youth and this book took me back while giving me a look at the future.

Fresh and nostalgic

The story is original and plays out well. The abundant references to 80s geek pop culture made a great trip.

Awesome

A great trip down memory lane, it is the Wizard of Oz wrapped up in 80's Spandex and topped with a perfect Sci-fi Bow!

Hard to put down

Any additional comments?

As a gamer I had high hopes for this book and I was not disappointed. The story was great and was only enhanced by Wil Wheaton's performance. Definitely a must read (or listen) for fellow geeks and gamers. The references to certain games brought back some good memories but it's too bad that I am not just a little bit older so I could have recognized more of the titles.

Loved this book

Hawill hawheaton does an annoying thing sometimes when he talks but other than that this was top notch

Great Addictive Listen

Awesome 80's nostalgia mixed with a thrilling mystery packaged in a coming of age story. Everything you ever wanted and so much more.

Nostalgia fodder but enjoyable.

Overall the book is simplistically written and often predicable. The story reads as a bit of an encyclopedia of the gaming and technology of the past and present while adding just enough futuristic vision to keep us interested. There are times where I feel Cline is just throwing lists of 80's games, books, tv shows at the wall so you can hear your favorites, but hey, don't we do this with our friends anyway? It's sort of interesting to have an author have that dialogue with you.
I found myself thinking there really isn't anything spectacular here and yet I was somehow addicted to listening. Maybe I'm just a sucker for nostalgia.

Amazing . just Amazing book .

I freaking loved it . it was the best book I have ever read .

Immersive

I LOVED this book! It was engaging, immersive, shifting scenes to and from characters , portals and Windows of islands activity and emotions. The story was read flawlessly where I felt like I was Wade at times and at other times I felt like I was that fleck on his shoulder aka a front row seat. Now, I simply can't believe it's over, I want more. I'll miss all of the characters. Virtually applaud. Virtual applaud. ...