Ready Player One by Ernest Cline is my favorite science fiction book so far.
It’s about earth in 2045 and really focuses on the evolution of technology and how it’ll affect our world. In this world, almost everyone had a Virtual Reality headset and spent most of their time in the OASIS (the Ontologically Anthropocentric Sensory Immersive Simulation) . The OASIS was created by James Haliday, the head of Gregarious System Simulations and a total 80s fanatic who spent the last ten years of his life working on a world-wide contest called the Hunt. The Hunt started the day Haliday died when a video Haliday created was released to the world. The video was lengthy and included many 80s pop culture references, describing the rules of a contest that would give the winner Haliday’s entire fortune. Because of his success with the OASIS, the amount of money was tremendous and power over the OASIS was promised to whoever won. To win, the contestants had to find three keys that open three secret gates. The clue included in Haliday’s video says, “Three hidden keys open three secret gates wherein the errant will be tested for worthy traits. And those with the skill to survive these straits will reach The End where the prize awaits.” Suddenly, everyone around the world was obsessed with the Hunt. The 80s were back and there were millions of OASIS users searching for the prize. But, as the years passed, the Hunt became more of a joke. Every year that Haliday’s prize wasn’t found, more users left the Hunt. Until, five years after James Haliday’s death, Wade Watts, an 18 year old kid living in a trailer park on the outskirts of Oklahoma City, found the first key. For every moment after that, the world was focused on the Hunt. Wade Watts was an immediate celebrity, but also an immediate target. IOI, the corrupt gaming software company that was trying its hardest to get its hands on the world's most popular video game, targeted Wade and several other contestants that found the keys and, throughout the gates, they had to rely on skill and anonymity to stay alive.
I loved Ready Player One. The way Ernest Cline described everything is so detailed and he pays very close attention to the little things, which makes all the difference. Some people might say that some parts were slow and/or not needed, but I thought everything that was mentioned helped so much to bring the story to life. I watched the movie before watching the book so the book was way above my expectations. I was very impressed with how something so far from my usual genre could be so interesting.
This book, although it might seem a little nerdy or geeky, is a masterpiece. Ernest Cline addressed possible issues for the future with our progressing technology while also giving tribute to the greatest artists, creators, musicians, and geeks of the 80s. His book has sparked my curiosity for the trends, shows, and videogames of the time period. I spent hours after reading Ready Player One mastering Adventure, exploring the Dungeons of Daggorath, and conquering Joust. I also spent most of my freetime watching Monty Python and the Holy Grail, War Games, and other 80s movies I have a newfound love for. This book helped me to learn how creativity can shape our lives. Ready Player One is a fantastic book and I encourage everyone to read it.