Ready Player One by Ernest Cline
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
“Ready Player One” is the type of book that keeps the action coming. I found myself unable to put the book down after I started reading. Absolutely phenomenal. Not only does “Ready Player One” fall into one of my favorite genres of literature (post-apocalyptic sci-fi), but it also carefully avoids many of the pitfalls of that genre. Often times when I begin reading a sci-fi novel I tend quickly become overwhelmed. Authors try to quickly build the word up and establish characters, and I tend to be left having to reference back to the beginning of the book to remember what is going on. “Ready Player One” avoids making this mistake while still presenting a very compelling and interesting world.
One of the most beautiful aspects of “Ready Player One” is its setting. The characters spend a large portion of their time inside a computer simulation designed to be like the real world, except this simulation contains many videogame-like qualities. Players can cast spells, use outrageous weapons, and drive and fly all manner of vehicles. They have health points, virtual currency, and all manner of other videogame-like mechanics. Many people actually live most of their lives inside this virtual world called Oasis. Characteristics of Oasis are revealed as the book goes on, almost making it a character itself. We learn of new rules, powers, and even elements of Oasis’ very own culture. This virtual world is easily the most compelling element to “Ready Player One.”
This wondrous universe exists in stark contrast to the real world. While Oasis might be a dreamland, the real world is on the verge of total collapse. Poverty, corruption, pollution, and wide class disparity are all issues that have wrecked the real world. This contrast is often presented in “Ready Player One” and is used as a central theme throughout the book. The protagonists often find themselves not only victims of the antagonists but also society itself.
“Ready Player One” is littered with 80’s pop culture. If I was alive to enjoy the 80’s then I definitely could have appreciated it more. Fortunately, Cline writes in a way that allows readers who are unfamiliar with the 80’s to still enjoy the references. Although the nostalgia wasn’t as powerful to me as it would be for a child of the 80’s, I was still able to appreciate the culture that Cline was incorporating in his novel. “Ready Player One” often receives criticism for being what many call “nostalgia porn.” Many feel that Cline relies too heavily on nostalgia to make his book more appealing. I would have to disagree. I hold absolutely no feelings of nostalgia towards the 80’s at all, and I was still able to really enjoy “Ready Player One.” Besides, there’s nothing wrong with leveraging those feelings in readers. In fact, many people adore “Ready Player One” for the nostalgia trip it leads them on, and there is nothing wrong with that.
Cline writes a very compelling story. It’s a little difficult to categorize its plot. It’s a mystery, a treasure hunt, an action, a romance, and even a space story. Cline balances all of these plots in a masterful work of coherency. Everything works together, and no individual plot tends to override or derail the book. This also makes “Ready Player One” very difficult to put down. Each chapter took me in a new direction and offered a new twist or turn. The plot never seemed to hit a lull and was always moving forward towards the next great climax of the book.
My one criticism of “Ready Player One” would be in its character development. The characters don’t actually seem to change much. While they have this grand adventure, they seem to come out the other side relatively unchanged. Fortunately, there is plenty of development contained within the relationships the characters have with one another. The way the relationships develop and change almost makes up for the lack of character development. The way the characters build their relationships seems very organic. It makes them feel human.
Overall, “Ready Player One” was a delight. If the heavy amount of 80’s pop culture references has kept you away from this book, I would encourage you to give it a try anyways. I never found myself lost or confused by them. The story is thrilling from beginning to end, even if the characters seem too static at times. The worldbuilding done by Cline is really the star of “Ready Player One.” Oasis felt eerily real and completely imaginary at the same time. The way it functions as its own culture and character are simply breathtaking. “Ready Player One” is an easy recommendation to anyone who enjoys sci-fi or a great thrilling page-turner. I hope I will be able to return to the world of “Ready Player One” again and enter Oasis again.
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