Armada

A Novel

By: Ernest Cline

Narrated by: Wil Wheaton

Length: 11 hrs and 50 mins

Publisher's summary

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • A rollicking alien invasion thriller that embraces and subverts science-fiction conventions, from the author of the worldwide phenomenon Ready Player One

“Exciting . . . mixes Star Wars, The Last Starfighter, Independence Day, and a really gnarly round of Space Invaders.”—USA Today • “A thrilling coming of age story.”—Entertainment Weekly

Zack Lightman has never much cared for reality. He vastly prefers the countless science-fiction movies, books, and videogames he's spent his life consuming. And too often, he catches himself wishing that some fantastic, impossible, world-altering event could arrive to whisk him off on a grand spacefaring adventure.

So when he sees the flying saucer, he's sure his years of escapism have finally tipped over into madness.

Especially because the alien ship he's staring at is straight out of his favorite videogame, a flight simulator callled Armada—in which gamers just happen to be protecting Earth from alien invaders.

As impossible as it seems, what Zack's seeing is all too real. And it's just the first in a blur of revlations that will force him to question everything he thought he knew about Earth's history, its future, even his own life--and to play the hero for real, with humanity's life in the balance.

But even through the terror and exhilaration, he can't help thinking: Doesn't something about this scenario feel a little bit like . . . well . . . fiction?

At once reinventing and paying homage to science-fiction classics, Armada is a rollicking, surprising thriller, a coming-of-age adventure, and an alien invasion tale like nothing you've ever heard before.

©2015 Ernest Cline (P)2015 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

“Nerd-gasmic . . . another science fiction tale with a Comic-Con's worth of pop-culture shout-outs.”—Rolling Stone

“An amazing novel [that] proves Cline has the ability to blend popular culture with exciting stories that appeal to everyone.”—Associated Press

“A fantastic second novel . . . fans of Ready Player One, it is time to rejoice.”—HuffPost

An easy fantasy listen.

will Wheaton crushed it again
few plot twist
had the charm of ready player one that captures millennial culture
It's quick listen but
I won't be revisiting the story anytime soon

Art Imitates Art

Ernest Cline makes no bones about it. The concept of video games being used as a covert training device? He cites every possible antecedent (e.g. Ender's Game, Last Starfighter), and then proceeds to create a plot around the same idea. The concept of advanced alien life forms setting up a conflict in order to test the character of humans? Again, Cline points to every episode of Star Trek based on the same idea, as well as other touch points, and then works that in too.

And you know what? It works. Borrowing plot points actually becomes an integral part of the plot for Cline, the pop culture references as much a part of the story as they are a fun device for us readers. In the end, we have video games and pop culture, and Wil Wheaton returning to narrate Cline's second novel, and the result is almost as much fun as Ready Player One.

Almost. RPO had the advantage of being fresh and new. Armada cannot ambush us in the same pleasant way. On the contrary, it has to live up to the expectations set by RPO. It's not quite as inventive, not quite as encompassing in scope in its virtual world and its cultural references. But it's still way good. Wheaton slows his pace down a bit and softens his snark, but he remains the best, bar none.

This will not disappoint fans of Cline and Wheaton. And it may even capture the imagination of new readers who haven't (yet) read Ready Player One.

ignore the negative reviews

Most of the negative reviews I read are more aptly applied to RPO instead. Nerd culture name dropping is less noticeable in this book , theme is more mature, and execution is more fluid.

In doubt many will worship Cline for his penmanship, but his ability to spin an adventure is undeniable.

In short, this book is fun and reasonably thought provoking. The author's writing style has improved and this book is worth your time.

Heartpounding Adventure Heart Breaking Story

There's too much to say and I can't give away a sliver of the story because the twists and turns really make it crazy fun! This is a tight, well laid out plot with a lot of quick but efficient world building and excellent payoff. It's not necessary to understand all of the pop culture references but knowing some, especially the subtle ones, is really fun.

I would recommend this to anyone who likes a lot of action, a great quick read that also tugs at your heart strings.

FYI: There isn't any super graphic violence (no gore, sexual violence, or cruelty) but this book does mention the existence of sex (no sex scenes).

I found the inclusivity and diversity of the plot's realistic depictions of women and people of color to be great considering the novel's subject matter could easily play only to a predominantly white and male audience. The only thing that bums me out is that it got me thinking about the lack of mainstream published stories written by and told from the point of view of POC and women with a "nerdy" or gamer focus. This book acknowledges that not all gamers are white, straight, and male in a way that isn't forced and feels pretty ok to me. However it's still told from that perspective as all other books of this kind are (that have this level of success). That's not this book's fault but just a thought I wanted to include that kept coming up for me while I read.

Wil Wheaton was a great narrator. I had a couple cringe moments with some of the accents but nothing that really pulled me out of the story.

Looking forward to the next Cline book!

Wow

₩@₩, so good that if this was written right before Moses got the 10 comments there be an 11th and it would say "Don't buy this book"

Armada by Ernest Kline

The ending was unexpected as well as thought provoking. The novel explores the long term effects of loss,greif as well as the joy being reunited.Keeps hope alive yet honors sacrifice

very awkward performance, fun story, not great.

narrator had issues portraying already awkward characters. definitely a fun experience first time, would not listen to it twice. in that sense very similar to RPO, where as the writing was lack luster, but you still enjoy the experience. when you arent cringing at least.

It’s Honestly Really Good

As a huge fan of Ready Player One, I was ready to dive headfirst into Cline’s next adventure, and low and behold it does not disappoint. Full of adventure, fulfilling stories, and emotional backing. If your a fan of this type of alien pop culture, you are going to love Armada.

Great Adventure

The story has a lot of heart and will certainly make you feel for the protagonist. While it's no Ready Player One, I feel that it stands alone on its own merit and does so quite well.

Great follow up to Ready Player One

Though this book is not in the same story as Ready Player One it shares the author's love of pop culture sci-fi, television, game, and music references from the 70s, 80s, 90s, and 00s. It was a fun romp and was well narrated by Wil Weaton. I now find that I want to dig out old video games, music, and movies having completed this book. Well done and looking forward to what this author writes next.