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)

Exceeds all expectations!

This is the first book in 15 years I had to stay up all night and read! (and I read at least 20 per year). After only a few chapters I literally couldn't put it down. Spectacular! Can't wait to see the movie!

Best audiobook so far.

Great book, great reader, all around best story written based off pop culture, video games, and movies.

INCREDIBLE

One of my favorite books ever written. So amazing that I had a hard time getting into any other books I read afterward. I highly recommend reading the book before seeing the movie. They're completely different. Ernest Cline does a very great job at describing everything. Definitely worth the credit!

Surprised and impressed by this story.

I was skeptical about this story, and despite suggestions to read it for about 3 years now, I put it off. Once I started, I couldn't put it down. I loved it.

great listen

Will Wheaton is the perfect choice for the voicing of this book. It's very well written and chock full of nerdy references but not over the top.

excellent

Listened to this after seeing the movie. Loved it!! Highly recommend! Great road trip book.

I LOVED it!

I doubt there is anything I can say about this book that hasn't already been said! Well done Mr. Cline! Well done Mr. Wheaton! Thank you for a very enjoyable and wild ride!

Fun 80s nostalgic romp

Wheaton does a great job narrating diverse voices without seeming hammy, making each voice unique without it not being his voice as the narrator. The story gave the wife and I an enjoyable story without all the dark violence of the shows we normally watch (we don't have many options- today's scifi and fantasy seems mostly sex and violence). Ifyou want a fun break from the usual faire, and you have any interest in 80 's nostalgia, games, film , Dungeons n Dragons, Rush, etc., and enjoy being read to by a narrator who respects his audience, his craft, and the text, you might enjoy. I am not a Wheaton fan, but he deserves credit here.

wicked awesome!

Will Wheaton. you talented jerk. I hate how impressed I am right now. well done

I never pick up books like this but, thankfully it was suggested by a friend. if you love video games and obscure 80s and 90s nostalgia it'll suck you in. the characters are great and the multi layered plot lines keep the whole thing moving. might be the best thing I've come across in years.

never once did I want to say "shut up, Wesley!"

obviously the book was great. what surprised me was will wheaton. he is by far the best narrator I have ever heard. this was my favorite book so far, and I've got a huge library.