In the year 2044, the world is a pretty grim place. The oil’s run out, the planet’s a mess—you know the drill.
But then there’s OASIS: a virtual reality MMO that’s grown into something more akin to Second Life. Sure, you can work or go to school there—but in your off-hours you can also fly an X-wing through space, find and complete countless quests, or shake your moneymaker in a zero-G dance club.
That’s the state of affairs in Ernest Cline’s debut novel Ready Player One, which is a far cry from your typical dystopic novel. Instead, Cline follows the old adage: Write what you know!
And what Cline knows is gaming and 80’s pop culture.
The story begins with high school student Wade Watts, a socially awkward teenager who feels most at home in the fictitious worlds of the OASIS. Like millions of others, Wade’s goal in life is to find the ultimate video game Easter Egg: the real-life fortune of the OASIS’s 80’s-obsessed creator.
Because of the rapidly decreasing opportunities in life, Wade sees the Egg as his only way out. Unfortunately, he must battle not only other egg hunters (or gunters, as they’re called), but a faceless corporation who wants a controlling interest in OASIS. Is that so bad, you ask? Think Google acquiring the UN in a high-stakes Pac-Man game. You know, if Google were evil.
While the idea of Ready Player One is right up my alley, I started reading with a bit of wariness. My biggest fear was that each chapter would have some sort of cornball theme to it: a Star Wars chapter, a Tron chapter—you get the picture, and it ain’t pretty.
But I quickly learned that I had far underestimated Mr. Cline; not only did he avoid cheesy structuring, he weaves his themes like a master—and for me, that’s where the genius in this book really lies. Sure, there are tons of pop culture references, but at its heart Ready Player One is a great adventure story that actually has some things to say about society—and without getting too preachy, to boot.
The same can be said of the pop culture references. Cline works the very essence of the 80’s into the story in a very direct but logical way; those who are “in the know” will get a kick out of the almost total immersion, but RPO’s universe doesn’t come crashing down if they happen to sail over your head.
In the end you’ve got an exciting tale that does more than reference WarGames—it captures the spirit of it.
What makes Ready Player One my favorite read of the summer is its seamless integration of so many disparate themes. You’ve got online adventure, real-world danger from evil conglomerations, and the giddiness of a good old-fashioned treasure hunt.
Except, you know, not old-fashioned at all, what with the virtual reality.
I generally think of books as being in three categories: books I liked, books I didn’t care for, and one I like to call Surprise and Delight. Ready Player One definitely falls into the latter.
This review is based on an Advance Reader’s Copy. As always, the opinions expressed are mine alone.
