Ready Player One by Ernest Cline

We are at a point in pop culture where nostalgia seems to be the hot topic. Star Wars and Jurassic Park rule the box office while revived shows like Hawaii Five-0, Roseanne, and the upcoming reboot of Murphy Brown play on our televisions. I mean, even American Idol, which saw its historic run end only two years ago, has been brought back for another go. Not everyone is on board with the constant reboots and revivals that we seem to be obsessed with, but you can't deny that they are selling.

In his blockbuster novel Ready Player One, Ernest Cline presents a highly original adventure set in a future that is steeped in the nostalgia and throwbacks that we can't get enough of. The year is 2045 and all of Earth has been explored. The ever-expanding human population has stripped the planet of most resources. Teenage Wade Watt lives in the stacks, a large collection of stacked trailer homes that tower throughout what used to be bustling major cities. To escape the stress and downright bleakness of their lives, people spend the majority of their time in the digital playground known as The Oasis.

The Oasis was the brainchild of the late genius James Halliday. It serves as a center for education, entertainment, and commerce. Essentially, anything that can be dreamt can be programmed into The Oasis. Upon his death, Halliday announced that he programmed an easter egg into the world. Whoever finds the egg will gain complete control of The Oasis. Naturally, large corporations are stopping at nothing to retrieve the egg and control. If the unlikely hero Wade Watts has anything to do with it, he'll find the egg first!

After waiting for years to read this novel, I was finally inspired to pick it up before seeing the movie adaptation. Both book and movie differ in huge ways, so I'm definitely happy I read the book. I'm a huge nerd, so I especially enjoyed the references to video games, movies, and Dungeons and Dragons. While many of the plot points hinge upon pop culture references, I don't think you have to know about the references to enjoy the book. The plot works completely on its own as a fast-paced race to discover the easter egg. This is the perfect summer read that seems to have hit at the perfect time in our culture. Ready Player One is pure escapist fun that will have you reading late into the night.

For more information, visit the author's website, Amazon, and Goodreads.

(2018, 24)

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8 Responses to “Ready Player One by Ernest Cline”

  1. I enjoyed this book when it came out Ethan. I want to see the movie as well. Thanks for refreshing my memory!

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    1. I'm happy to hear you enjoyed this one too! Definitely watch the movie when you get a chance.

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  2. I'm on chapter 38 -- listening to it on Audible while I read it. Initially picked it up because my kids want to see the movie, and my daughter wanted to read it (I felt like I needed to preview it first.) I really like it, way more than I expected to!

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    1. I'm so excited for you and your kids to share in this one! It truly works as some cross-generational fun.

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  3. This has been in my the pile way to long! Great review Ethan.

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    1. Get to it ASAP! You won’t be disappointed :)

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  4. I actually own this one but haven't read the book and when I finally get around to it I'll make sure to see the movie afterward too. I don't think I will get a lot of the pop culture references admittedly, but it's nice to know my enjoyment won't depend on that alone.

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