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Ready Player One

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Ready Player One

By: Ernest Cline
Narrated by: Wil Wheaton
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Brought to you by Penguin.

***NOW A MAJOR MOTION PICTURE DIRECTED BY STEVEN SPIELBERG***

A world at stake. A quest for the ultimate prize. Are you ready?

It's the year 2044, and the real world has become an ugly place. We're out of oil. We've wrecked the climate. Famine, poverty, and disease are widespread.

Like most of humanity, Wade Watts escapes this depressing reality by spending his waking hours jacked into the OASIS, a sprawling virtual utopia where you can be anything you want to be, where you can live and play and fall in love on any of ten thousand planets. And like most of humanity, Wade is obsessed by the ultimate lottery ticket that lies concealed within this alternate reality: OASIS founder James Halliday, who dies with no heir, has promised that control of the OASIS - and his massive fortune - will go to the person who can solve the riddles he has left scattered throughout his creation.

For years, millions have struggled fruitlessly to attain this prize, knowing only that the riddles are based in the culture of the late twentieth century. And then Wade stumbles onto the key to the first puzzle.

Suddenly, he finds himself pitted against thousands of competitors in a desperate race to claim the ultimate prize, a chase that soon takes on terrifying real-world dimensions - and that will leave both Wade and his world profoundly changed.
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If you loved READY PLAYER ONE and can't wait for more, check out ARMADA, Ernest Cline's latest geek masterpiece!

'Wildly original and stuffed with irresistible nostalgia, Ready Player One is a spectacularly genre-busting, ambitious, and charming debut' Independent

'Part intergalactic scavenger hunt, part romance, and all heart' CNN

'Ernest Cline's novel deserves to be a modern classic' SciFiNow

'Gorgeously geeky, superbly entertaining, this really is a spectacularly successful debut' Daily Mail

© Ernest Cline 2011 (P) Penguin Audio 2012

 Adventure Cyberpunk Dystopian Science Fiction Thriller & Suspense Exciting Fiction Geeky Feel-Good
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Continue the series
Ready Player Two cover art
Ready Player Two By: Ernest Cline

Critic reviews

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 byBlade Runner, and flying DeLoreans achieve light speed (Justin Trudeau)
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 favourite toys and games into a perfectly accessible narrative (Janet Maslin)
A most excellent ride . . . the conceit is a smart one, and we happily root for [the heroes] on their quest . . . fully satisfying
Gorgeously geeky, superbly entertaining, this really is a spectacularly successful debut
If you grew up with an Atari or maybe had a Commodore 64 back in the day, you are going to really enjoy this one. Cline really captures the feeling of those good old days in Ready Player One
The strength of Cline's first novel, other than its geeky referencing of 1980s pop culture, is the characterisation of the Candide-like Wade and his redemptive quest in both VR and the real world
Ernest Cline’s novel deserves to be a modern classic…the most relevant novel of the 21st Century to date (Steve Wright)
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
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
Fascinating and imaginative...It's non-stop action when gamers must navigate clever puzzles and outwit determined enemies in a virtual world in order to save a real one. Readers are in for a wild ride
All stars
Most relevant
On paper, I was not supposed to like this book. It's about a teenager who spends his entire life in an online virtual reality world playing a quest (reminds me of my weekly challenge to get my kids off their i-stuff and outside for a bit!) BUT - this story is actually all about paying homage to the 80s, plus a bit of rom-com for good measure!

Absolutely loved it!! Once I started, I couldn't put it down. If you're into your 40's/50's and enjoy a bit of '80s nostalgia, then this one's not to be missed!

Surprisingly enjoyable!

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This is something of a gamer geek novel - so I preface all my views with the caveat that like Neal Stevenson's REAMDE it may appeal to those, like me, of a certain sub-culture. The story-line itself is not so remarkable, civilization in deep decline in the next few decades yada yada. What makes this story interesting is the alternative that the majority of the population turn to in order to escape and a challenge that arises therein.
It is fast paced story that never seemed to drag. It has a great 1980's sub-plot if you have fond memories of early games, TV, books, film and computers. I found the characters and their gamer-style issues with RL (real-life) accurate and engaging. I found myself looking forward to the drive to work in the mornings (when I get to listen to my audiobooks) which doesn't often happen to me!
The narration by Wil Wheaton (of ST:TNG fame and avid gamer) is excellent, a really good choice and nice kind of twist as you will find out if you choose to listen.
All in all I consider this one of my best ever spontaneous buys on Audible after being a member for many years - highly recommended.

Ready Reader One

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What a gem! This book is humorous, tense and geeky. If you're a fan of computer games you will enjoy it a lot.

The story takes you into the 80's world of games, films and music. There are a countless number of references which will keep you interested and entertain till the end.

I couldn't help myself from trying to second guess what is going to happen next, but the author did a brilliant job of keeping surprises coming right up till the last pages.

The characters are likeable and put up a good fight against, well, that would be telling now, wouldn't it...

I so enjoyed it! This book is well worth a credit and there is a good potential for the story to turn great on the big screen.

Wil Wheaton gives a good performance. His steady voice fits well into the story, so you can absorb every part of its geekiness without missing out the details.

80's House of Surprises

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I thought the movie was good I then soon noticed the book is a million times better and the movie is just based on the book and has pretty much no similarities in story. the book was a great listen and kept me entertained for hours

great listen

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I really like this book and Wil Wheaton is brilliant at reading this, also did anyone else keep thinking of anorak looking like Steve Jobs.

Well worth your money 10/10

Smegging brilliant

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