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Ready Player One

by Ernest Cline

ISBN13: 9780307887443
ISBN10: 0307887448
Condition: Standard

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Awards

2012 Powell's Staff Top 5s

Synopses & Reviews

Publisher Comments

At once wildly original and stuffed with irresistible nostalgia, Ready Player One is a spectacularly genre-busting, ambitious, and charming debut — part quest novel, part love story, and part virtual space opera set in a universe where spell-slinging mages battle giant Japanese robots, entire planets are inspired by Blade Runner, and flying DeLoreans achieve light speed.

It's the year 2044, and the real world is an ugly place.

Like most of humanity, Wade Watts escapes his grim surroundings by spending his waking hours jacked into the OASIS, a sprawling virtual utopia that lets you be anything you want to be, a place where you can live and play and fall in love on any of ten thousand planets.

And like most of humanity, Wade dreams of being the one to discover the ultimate lottery ticket that lies concealed within this virtual world. For somewhere inside this giant networked playground, OASIS creator James Halliday has hidden a series of fiendish puzzles that will yield massive fortune — and remarkable power — to whoever can unlock them.

For years, millions have struggled fruitlessly to attain this prize, knowing only that Halliday's riddles are based in the pop culture he loved—that of the late twentieth century. And for years, millions have found in this quest another means of escape, retreating into happy, obsessive study of Halliday’s icons. Like many of his contemporaries, Wade is as comfortable debating the finer points of John Hughes's oeuvre, playing Pac-Man, or reciting Devo lyrics as he is scrounging power to run his OASIS rig.

And then Wade stumbles upon the first puzzle.

Suddenly the whole world is watching, and thousands of competitors join the hunt — among them certain powerful players who are willing to commit very real murder to beat Wade to this prize. Now the only way for Wade to survive and preserve everything he knows is to win. But to do so, he may have to leave behind his oh-so-perfect virtual existence and face up to life — and love — in the real world he's always been so desperate to escape.

A world at stake.

A quest for the ultimate prize.

Are you ready?

Review

"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

Review

"Triggers memories and emotions embedded in the psyche of a generation....[Cline crafts] a fresh and imaginative world from our old toy box, and finds significance in there among the collectibles. A-" Entertainment Weekly

Review

"A most excellent ride...the conceit is a smart one, and we happily root for [the heroes] on their quest...fully satisfying." Boston Globe

Review

"Enchanting...Willy Wonka meets the Matrix. This novel undoubtedly qualifies Cline as the hottest geek on the planet right now. [But] you don't have to be a geek to get it." USA Today

Review

"Ridiculously fun and large-hearted, and you don't have to remember the Reagan administration to love it....[Cline] takes a far-out premise and engages the reader instantly....You'll wish you could make it go on and on." NPR.org

Review

"A fun, funny and fabulously entertaining first novel....This novel's large dose of 1980s trivia is a delight...[but] even readers who need Google to identify Commodore 64 or Inky, Blinky, Pinky and Clyde, will enjoy this memorabilian feast." Cleveland Plain Dealer

Review

"The grown-up's Harry Potter...the mystery and fantasy in this novel weaves itself in the most delightful way, and the details that make up Mr. Cline's world are simply astounding. Ready Player One has it all." Huffington Post

Synopsis

In the year 2044, reality is an ugly place. The only time teenage Wade Watts really feels alive is when he's jacked into the virtual utopia known as the OASIS. Wade's devoted his life to studying the puzzles hidden within this world's digital confines--puzzles that are based on their creator's obsession with the pop culture of decades past and that promise massive power and fortune to whoever can unlock them.
But when Wade stumbles upon the first clue, he finds himself beset by players willing to kill to take this ultimate prize. The race is on, and if Wade's going to survive, he'll have to win--and confront the real world he's always been so desperate to escape.

About the Author

Ernest Cline has worked as a short-order cook, fish gutter, plasma donor, elitist video store clerk, and tech support drone. His primary occupation, however, has always been geeking out, and he eventually threw aside those other promising career paths to express his love of pop culture fulltime as a spoken word artist and screenwriter. His 2009 film Fanboys, much to his surprise, became a cult phenomenon. These days, Ernie lives in Austin, Texas with his wife, their daughter, and a large collection of classic video games. Ready Player One is his first novel.

What Our Readers Are Saying

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Average customer rating 4.7 (45 comments)

`	Felicia Allen , August 25, 2017 (view all comments by Felicia Allen) I loved this book! The world Ernest Cline created for this book is completely unique. I have never read anything like this before. The characters are easy to relate to and funny. There is tons of adventure and parts that keep you on the edge of your seat. I found myself trying to figure out the clues as the characters tried. I love the research done to keep up with the 80's decade to create an almost National Treasure in space type adventure.
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`	Cgbutistayreal , June 09, 2016 I am crazy about this book! Basically, its about a kid living in the future where access to the virtual reality system OASIS is the norm for everyone. When the chance to solve clues that lead to a big prize comes up, he takes it, which takes him on a whirlwind adventure. What makes this book so fun is that it balances getting light-hearted and serious really well. There are a ton of 80s pop culture references which will either annoy you or leave you feeling super nostalgic. I think this book is a great introduction to the science fiction genre because it's not overwhelming at all.
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`	Sheila Deeth , October 29, 2015 (view all comments by Sheila Deeth) Author Ernest Cline creates a scarily believable near-future world in Ready Player One. Hints of The Matrix and 1984 build into a crowded, ill-fed place where corporations lie, corruption rules, and money is the root of everything. Ironically, the character who creates a WillyWonka-like contest at the story’s beginning is himself a product of the ‘80s, so readers might not only think of 1984, they’ll swim in a sea of movie, music and entertainment references from that famous year as well.
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Product Details

ISBN:: 9780307887443
Binding:: Trade Paperback
Publication date:: 06/05/2012
Publisher:: PENGUIN RANDOM HOUSE
Pages:: 374
Height:: .88IN
Width:: 5.22IN
Thickness:: 1.00
Author:: Ernest Cline
Media Run Time:: B
Subject:: Science Fiction and Fantasy-A to Z

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`	Dieveney , September 24, 2015 (view all comments by Dieveney) This dystopian novel is both a realistic view of our future and a love letter to the past, specifically the John Hughes, Atari, Goonies 1980s version of the past. In a world where everyone spends their time plugged into a virtual reality simulator, friends are only known by their avatars and travel means teleporting from one virtual planet to another. When a billionaire dies, leaving his fortune as the prize winnings in a video game challenge, a plucky teen named Wade Watts, AKA Parzival is willing to risk anything to win the prize, including physical danger, celebrity, and friendship. Suspenseful, laugh out loud funny, and charming it’s a cross between Charlie and the Chocolate factory, The Westing Game, and Goonies, not to mention the most fun I’ve have adventuring in a novel in a long time.
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`	clloop , August 27, 2015 (view all comments by clloop) A fun read. Great for a reader of any age. Nostalgia, action, problem solving, distopia what more can you ask for.
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`	Coni , June 30, 2015 (view all comments by Coni) I found this book a quick read and highly entertaining. I think it would be for anyone that grew up in the 1980s and loves everything pop culture from that decade including the music, movies, video games, D&D, arcade games, and more. It will also appeal to anyone that is really into gaming from roleplaying games to online games to anything close to virtual reality. I am guessing the only people that will not find anything entertaining about this book are people that don’t fall into one of those categories. This book does not offer you anything. It isn’t the best written book. The characters are not the most well written, but this is a book about moving the plot forward and it does that very well. It does not stop and ponder too hard on anything because there is another puzzle to solve! It is also the first book by Ernest Cline so I can only imagine his writing can improve, but I do appreciate his adoration for the 1980s. It is like a love letter to that decade and it’s a really fun one.
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`	odleybodley , November 13, 2014 (view all comments by odleybodley) This book has been the one I recommend to every person I know. Mr. Cline did an amazing job of creating a future world while keeping elements of the past. I keep going back to this book, for the humor, nostalgia, the love story, and the family these characters became forneach other.
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`	Adena , November 11, 2014 (view all comments by Adena) This is, without question, one of my top five books. Ever.
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`	Amy_S , October 27, 2014 (view all comments by Amy_S) A delightful genre mashup (sci-fi, coming of age, YA, fantasy) for any children of the 80's to dive into (though not purely 80's - there's a lot of Joss Whedon, Quentin Tarantino and other geek royalty thrown in)! I rooted for the hero, hated the evil conglomerate, and reminisced over all the pop-culture of my formative years. This tale spans a wide readership audience -- if you liked Rainbow Rowell's "Eleanor & Park", if you sacrificed all your quarters to playing arcade games at the local pizza parlor, if you loved and studied Matthew Broderick's "War Games," if you think "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" indelibly changed television and if you laugh at xkcd.com jokes... you'll love this book.
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`	Kassie Halpin Robinson , October 22, 2014 (view all comments by Kassie Halpin Robinson) This is a must read for anyone who self-identifies as a geek, loves classic video games, or grew up in the 1980s. I had to read the reference to Tandy computers twice before I could believe it, loved the references to songs, TV shows, and movies, and I laughed out loud reading in public multiple times!
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`	J Haskin , September 11, 2014 Be warned: this is the kind of book that will make you resent having to do things like "work," "eat," or "sleep." I am halfway through the book so far, but it only took me a chapter or two before I decided on at least three people in my life who will be getting copies of it for their birthdays or Christmas. The writing is engaging, intelligent, and highly readable, and the world of the book is an all too plausible - and therefore scary - extension of the current world. The main character is someone with whom you can readily identify (even if you aren't a geek-culture-oriented teenage boy), and the book in general is one in which you find yourself immersed without really even noticing it. (Which, in itself, provides food for thought on the "losing oneself in virtual reality" theme of the book.) If this book continues as it has begun, it will end up on my list of favorite books - something that rarely happens!
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`	trynewideas , December 29, 2013 The first 100 pages of this book are lovely, filled with good worldbuilding and nice pacing. But the more it tries to ape Snow Crash, the more it plays out like a poorly-cut mashup video of 80s cartoons--it reads more like an early nineties cyberpunk novel that's been rewritten by the SEO manager of an 8-bit game console emulator site, more worried about hitting keyword quotas than telling the story. Then there's the thin, broad characterizations, with two Japanese characters portrayed as borderline racist stereotypes and a quiet but persistent homophobic/transphobic undercurrent. There's a weak romance sideplot that sits squarely in fedora-wearing Nice Guy idiocy: the protagonist is rewarded despite blatantly stalking and harassing a woman who is trying to avoid him. Pop culture references hit maybe once every ten times they're smashed into the reader's face and become a page-skipping burden less than halfway through the book. (At least skipping them makes this a fast, if tiring, read.) The Wonka-ish nature of the plot is forgivable, but this could have been a much, much tighter book. It feels like it was edited for the factual accuracy of its references rather than to determine if most of them were remotely necessary to the story or characters.
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`	Gracie , December 07, 2013 (view all comments by Gracie) This book is as addictive and fun as the video games it nostalgically champions. Underdog hero Wade, aka Parzival, is living in an all-too-realistic dystopian future: the planet's a wreck and escapism in the virtual OASIS is infinitely preferable. The OASIS is, in fact, where Wade spends most of his time and where he considers his real life to be. The creator of the OASIS, philanthropic soul, lover of all things 1980s, and Wade's hero, James Halliday, also preferred the virtual world. So much so, that when he died, he left no heirs but a contest. Whoever wins Halliday's contest will inherit his great fortune and control of the OASIS. There is, obviously, widespread interest in the contest. Whether it's idealistic individuals, cooperative clan groups, or mega corporations out for profit, the game is on. Wade must do battle with friend and enemy alike, trying to decipher clues, pass tests, and even just to stay alive. And it's along the way that he'll discover who he really is, what he wants, and change the world he knows. Ernest Cline writes this story with wit and depth, using pop culture references and gaming strategies to illuminate the human condition and the mise en abyme of the game within a game works beautifully. Loved this book.
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`	chipkerchner , March 24, 2013 (view all comments by chipkerchner) If you grew up in the 80s and loved the pop-culture of the time (TV, movies, books, video games), this definitely a must read. I couldn't put it down after a bit of slow start of the book. I felt that the contest puzzles built up a nice climatically ending to the story and the characters were fun and identifiable. Definitely a modern day "Willy Wonka" type of story meets a coming of age in a dystopian future. I would love to see the movie, if and when it comes out, and hope to see another great book by Ernest Cline.
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`	lukas , February 27, 2013 (view all comments by lukas) Like author Ernest Cline, who also wrote the screenplay to "Fanboys," I grew up in the 80s and have an affinity for the pop culture from that decade. And while I never self-identified as a geek, I read comics, played arcade games, watched sci-fi and was awkward around girls. I'm pleased to see that geek culture has become mainstream, but Cline's book is an example of the excesses and weaknesses of writing that is based almost solely on 80s pop detritus and the nostalgia of a generation. "Ready Player One" is basically "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" set inside "The Matrix." It's fun enough to read, but the proliferation of pop culture references (everything from Devo to WarGames to Joust) quickly becomes tiresome and serves little purpose other than for Cline to bond with the geek-o-sphere. Again, it's fun, but empty.
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`	txauden , January 31, 2013 This is a good book. i liked the characters and the story. There are a lot of pop culture references.
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`	shadowsuncle , January 30, 2013 (view all comments by shadowsuncle) This is one of the most entertaining books I've read in a long time. Cline very ingeniously combines a dystopian future with old school (80's) videos, movies and pop culture. It's a mystery, a game, and a romance. If you ever played in a video arcade (and even if you didn't, I'll wager), you'll love this book!
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`	brandons.asb , January 30, 2013 This book was a fantastic epic. A mash up of our favorite stories like starwars, tron and the matrix. A thrill ride with romance, uncommon settings and characters. Its just plain fun to read.
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`	beckydugo , January 27, 2013 Normally I am not a fan of science fiction, but this book was tremendously creative and an entertaining read for both fans of science fiction as well as those do not frequently read of science fiction. I did grow up in the 80's and although I did not play many of the video games referenced in the book, I thought that the 80's video games were incorporated into the storyline well. It was kind of scary ready about people plugged into a virtual world and realizing that our own society is quickly moving in the same direction.
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`	Elizabeth Brenner , January 16, 2013 It isn't literary, but it's a "read in one day" book that everyone, our grandchildren, children, friends ... love. A compelling plot and believable characters. So I am embarrassed to say that it really does qualify for the "best" book of the year. The virtual world that it depicts is extremely close to our world today, and gives both gamers and computer illiterates a taste of what could be our future.
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`	Amy GH , January 15, 2013 This was the very last book I read in 2012, but it was easily the best! Cline's narrator is laugh-out-loud entertaining, the setting and premise are original, and there are plenty of plot twists and turns to keep the reader hooked. This is a great book club book or one to recommend to anyone obsessed with gaming or the '80s.
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`	Barbaloot , January 12, 2013 (view all comments by Barbaloot) LOVED this book, which clearly dates me as having grown up in the late '70s, early '80s. This one grabbed me from the beginning and kept me up late wanting to keep going, as the story drags you on a quest through cyber-worlds, with a classic struggle of underdog against the dominant corporate machine. This was an engaging take on a familiar theme, intricately woven with cultural references for those of us of a certain age. Enjoy!
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`	vblodgett , January 12, 2013 (view all comments by vblodgett) I had so much fun reading this book, I finished it and immediately read the entire book again! Anyone who enjoyed 80s pop culture or has ever enjoyed gaming should read it!
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`	rerhoades , January 12, 2013 (view all comments by rerhoades) I read this book after seeing it so highly recommended by Powell's staff. When I first began reading, say first 25 pages, I thought oh, this book is not for me. But, I got hooked and just loved it. Once again Staff thanks so much for your recommendations.
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`	chainreader , January 10, 2013 (view all comments by chainreader) This book was the most fun that I have had in a long time. Full of 80's trivia, movies and music. When the creator of a virtual world dies he leaves his fortune to whomever can win the game he created. It involves playing video games from the 80's, being Matthew Broderick in one of his movies and Rush's 2112. It is an exciting romp through a virtual world with enough of yesterday's context to be fun. I loved it and enjoyed it as much as I did playing Centipede while listening to the best of the 80's.
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`	Courtney Quinn , January 03, 2013 (view all comments by Courtney Quinn) This book is packed with references to 1980's movies, music, and video games. Even though I was never alive during that decade, I still had a blast reading this book (my love of modern video games may have helped that). Great fun throughout; I highly recommend it.
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`	chainreader , January 03, 2013 (view all comments by chainreader) I haven’t had this much fun reading a book in a long time. There were constant references to music, movies and video games that I remember from the 80′s. I spent much of my time while reading this either smiling or laughing. Video game magnate James Halliday, obsessed with the 80′s dies and leaves his fortune to the gamer who can conquer the game. Set in our future most people spend most of their time in a virtual world called OASIS, everyone has an avatar that may or may not look like their real life personage. Parzival, Aech, Art3mis and a few others are some that go after the prize battling against a corporation which is as evil as many corporations now. The riddles and clues are grounded in 1980′s movies, music, MMO’s, video games and role playing games.
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`	inegal255 , January 03, 2013 A very good read loaded with "blasts from the past". A fast read but I recommend giving it a look and counting the times you smile.
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`	Adena , January 01, 2013 (view all comments by Adena) I loved this book so much I read it twice in 6 weeks! I recommend it to everyone I can find! It was, without question, the best book I read in 2012. Possibly the best book I've read in a decade! Thank you, Ernest Cline!!
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`	Arthur OConnor , January 01, 2013 Best sci if book of the year and a really fun read if you grew up in the eighties.
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`	heilex427 , January 01, 2013 (view all comments by heilex427) Ready Player One is about people being plunged into a virtual world that seems to be reality. In telling the story, it throws you into that world with them. Ernest Cline manages to craft a story that you can see in your head without describing everything in excruciating detail. The characters feel like real people and it's impossible not to get attached to them. The story itself is full of references to gaming and pop culture from the 80s, but none of it feels dated. Everything in this story is fresh and feels original. It's rare to come across a book that manages to pull inspiration from so many well known sources, but still manages to be its own. Ernest Cline is an author to pay attention to.
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`	HasnulKarami , December 21, 2012 (view all comments by HasnulKarami) By the halfway point I was giddy with all of the gamer fan trivia. How flipping crazy is this that ONE scene had references to D&D, MMO's, and the 80's game Joust? It's as if the heavens opened and decided to rain awesomeness. We won't even go into all of the classic t.v. sitcoms, cartoons, movies, and technology which have been mentioned. Star Wars, Thundercats, War Games, and Atari, indeed. NERDGASM! This book is a must read for fans of the 70's and 80's, as well as anyone who has ever played a console game, RPG, MUD, MMO, etc. How could anyone not love being immersed in the subculture of today's technology buffs?
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`	Josh Sorem , November 29, 2012 The best fun I've had reading a book in years. I only wish it were six hundred pages longer!
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`	deannemoinuddin , August 31, 2012 Loved this book! It's fast paced and fun. If you grew up during the 80's this book is a must read.
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`	Ronald Conner , August 29, 2012 (view all comments by Ronald Conner) Engrosing and full of pop culture. Anyone born after 1970 should at least crack the binding. I love the idea of tooling around the country in a back to the future delorean for a book tour.
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`	Barbaloot , August 25, 2012 (view all comments by Barbaloot) Wow. This book hits the ground quick and keeps on going. It was both a trip down memory lane with all of the 1980's references and a fascinating, believable near-future story. Enjoy!
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`	Adena , August 24, 2012 (view all comments by Adena) I am reading this book for the second time in six weeks! It is phenomenal! If you ever played Dungeons & Dragons, went to the video arcade, or loved '80s movies such as Breakfast Club, WarGames, or Blade Runner, you will LOVE this book! Go get it!!
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`	Robert Strupp , August 06, 2012 This is an excellent book for someone who obsessively played games during the era of 'PacMan' and prior.
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