This book must be every gamers dream book. It is a science fiction book set in 2045 and envolves around a world of computer games. All the games are mostly from the 80’s. I am not a gamer so I don’t know how many of the games mentioned in the book are real but it seemed quite accurate and trustworthy. No matter what this book was an interesting look into a world I have zero experience with and knowledge about.
Ready Play One
Ernest Cline
Audiobook
Will Wheaton (narrator)
My rating ★★★
Synopsis from Goodreads:
In the year 2045, 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. 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.
As you can see above I read Ready Player One as an audiobook. I do not have a lot of experience with audiobooks. Actually, this was my second ever audiobook. I had to get used to the fact that I had to listen and not read. At the beginning it was was a bit hard since my thoughts easily drifted. But I got the hang of it. The book was narrated by Will Wheaton and his voice was comfortable listening to. However, I had to get used to that it was Wheaton who interpreted the characters way of saying things and not me doing it in my head while reading. It didn’t bother me but my newbie audiobook head and ear just had to get used to it.
“Being human totally sucks most of the time. Video games are the only thing that makes my life bearable.”
I am usually more a fantasy kind of person than science fiction one, but the world of 2045 seemed realistic. Not wishful but believable. The main character Wade uses all his spare time in Oasis, a simulation game which changes the world when released. The game was created by Ogden Morrow and James Halliday. Just before Halliday’s death, he creates an egg to be found in Oasis which entitles that person to Halliday’s inheritance.
Wade both go to school in Oasis and hang out with his only friend Edge who he knows through Oasis and only there. Everyone who plays Oasis has a self-created avatar and avatar name, they can hide behind. Playing Oasis you are anonymous as well as the other players are anonymous to you.
I believe Cline uses this avatar system as a critique of today’s online “society”. All around the world people hide behind usernames and accounts, which are more or less fake and unrealistic images of the real person behind the account.
The book took its time to explain the history of the game Oasis and the story of the creators of the game. This in-depth knowledge about the game made the whole world of Ready Player One both the real and Oasis very realistic. You knew its entire story and that was cool however it sometimes felt a bit long-winded
“I am not crazy about reality, but it’s still the only place to get a decent meal.”
Wade is as all the other players of Oasis looking for Halliday’s egg. In the search for the egg, Wade makes new acquaintances and friendships among others the girl avatar Art3mis. For me, the best part of the book starts just before Wade meets Art3mis and a couple of chapters after their first meeting. It was here the story peeked for me.
I really liked Art3mis as a character, she was a cool badass but also emotional. I also like Wade a character though I did not love him. There happened a lot in the book all the time and it was therefore hard to get to know the characters really well. They never got under my skin, unfortunately. As the hunt for the egg intensifies so does the story but the intensifying never truly affected me. Maybe because I never felt there was any real danger and that they would succeed anyhow. I had wished the final battle was fought in the real world I believe that would have been more captivating.
“Going outside is highly overrated.”
As the story, evolves Cline’s indictment of the world and exciting reality becomes clearer. At one point Wade excludes himself totally from the real world. He stays in his apartment for 9 months without being outside even once! This is crazy and wrong on so manly levels! People should not forget to live in the real world. We use so much time online but we should not forget that it is only an online world. And the people aren’t always true. People choose to show what they want and leave out what they want. We should all accept who we are and our flaws but most importantly live! We should live in the real world and interact with people in real life!
I enjoyed reading/listening to Reay Player One by Ernest Cline. The world of Ready Play One was a completly new world and new experience. It was an educational look into the world of games. The book was filled with action, however, I never had the life or death feeling. I also really enjoyed listening to this book. It gave me a new kind of “freedom”. I could do a lot of things while listening among other things cooking and crocheting. I could never have done this while reading an actual book! That is definitely a plus though I believe it to be faster reading than listening. Anyway, I will definitely recommend this book to all who loves gaming or want a new and educational insight into that world.
First off have you read Ready Player One? Are you a gamer or can you recommend any must-try games? Lastly, do you also listen to audiobooks what do you prefer?
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