Full Book Review of Ready Player One by Ernest Cline
Read my full review of Ready Player One by Ernest Cline, the popular science fiction novel about the worldwide treasure hunt for the ultimate prize within the sprawling virtual utopia, OASIS. This book was also made into a movie by Steven Spielberg, and I highly recommend reading the book before you see the movie.
Here’s a short synopsis of the book:
“In the year 2045, reality is an ugly place. The only time Wade Watts really feels alive is when he’s jacked into the OASIS, a vast virtual world where most of humanity spends their days.
When the eccentric creator of the OASIS dies, he leaves behind a series of fiendish puzzles, based on his obsession with the pop culture of decades past. Whoever is first to solve them will inherit his vast fortune—and control of the OASIS itself.
Then Wade cracks the first clue. Suddenly he’s beset by rivals who’ll kill to take this prize. The race is on—and the only way to survive is to win.“
This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.
Full Book Review Without Spoilers
In a world where OASIS really blurs the lines between real world and virtual reality, Ready Player One really pulls you in with it’s mix of futuristic problems and 80s pop culture references. The world building of the book is done so well that you could really see this happening one day in real life. If you enjoy sci-fi or ‘quest’ type books, I highly recommend that you read this one.
This book is science fiction with most of the book happening in the virtual reality OASIS, but it borders very close on fantasy (which is a plus for me) because of the nature of OASIS and the quest in the book. The quest complete with clues, riddles, and action scenes is really well thought out.
The plot of the book has an enjoyable amount of ups and downs, with a very compelling ending. I was pulled in at the beginning, and quickly read the entire thing. The key points at the end of the book really tie everything together nicely, and you feel satisfied after finishing the book.
It’s also a really fun read if you enjoy 80s references.
Characters
The main character of the book, Wade Watts can be frustrating at times. And the rest of the characters were sorta superficial as you continued the story. Over the course of the novel, you do really start rooting for the good guys and against the bad guys, though.
Plot
I thought the concept of this story was very interesting, especially seeing where we’re at in the real world today. The main reason the plot keeps you so engaged is the well-written and planned out quest in the book. The plot points of the book really keep the pace, so that you don’t feel too bored or too rushed.
Writing
The author Ernest Cline writes a page-turning science fiction with both a great virtual reality and compelling real-world dimensions. He writes in such a way that not only are you invested in the quest for the egg, but you’re also invested in problems of the real world. I kept having to put the book down, but then I would think, “just one more chapter”.
Full Book Review With Spoilers
You’ve been warned that from here on out there will be spoilers.
Right from the first chapter, you’re pulled into the Easter egg hunt for the ultimate prize of James Halliday’s entire fortune. This book wastes no time is starting the action and getting right into the first puzzle. While I’m not huge on the 80s, I did like that everything in the quest was consistently about that up until the very last riddle.
This book kept you reading throughout the entire thing because there was always a next clue, key, or problem to solve for the characters. Wade made a good main character because he’s a relatively normal, average guy that also has his shortcomings we see towards the end of the book. The whole time you are rooting for him or one of his friends to find the prize because they’re all well-written characters.
I also really liked that the evil corporation IOI, were a real threat in the book even getting to some of the keys and gates before Wade and his friends. It made the book more compelling for me and the ending more satisfying. One of my favorite parts of the book is Wade’s plan to get into (and out of) the IOI building to ultimately defeat them.
This is a great science fiction read if you like that genre of book, or even if you’re more of a fantasy reader. It’s worth the read if you like either genre or if you’re into video games, virtual reality, or the 80s.
Pros of the Book
The biggest pro of this book for me was the quest. I love something with clues, riddles, and puzzles to think about as you read, and this one was well-written in that way.
One of the minor pros of the book is Wade’s friends and who they turn out to be. There is a romance per se in the book, but it’s a minor part of the plot which I appreciated. And the love interest is someone who you actually like.
Cons of the Book
One of the cons of the book was that it is a little predictable. Maybe because it was just supposed to be a novel, you know that the good guys are going to win in the end. But the way in which they won was not predictable.
Another con of the book is that there weren’t any great characters. I get that Wade is supposed to be the unassuming, poor teenage boy that miraculously wins the hunt with his knowledge and skill, but he got a little annoying in the book. The female characters didn’t have much depth, and the minor characters all fit into a stereotype geek box.
Conclusion
Overall, this book was an enjoyable read for me as a fun of both sci-fi and fantasy, especially ones with quest-based riddles and puzzles. While the characters weren’t the greatest, the pace of the book really kept me reading. The alternate reality that Cline creates in this book is one of the better ones in the sci-fi genre, too.
You can find the book here.
I have a full summary of the book here if you need a refresher on any of the main points.
Rating- 4 out of 5 stars
This is a really great book for the target audience. Cline says he wrote it for everyone who grew up a major geek, especially in the 80s, and that fits with the content of the book. And even though that does not describe me, I still really liked the book for the plot.
Here’s how I rate all my books: My Rating System
Who Would Enjoy Reading?
If you’re a fan of well-written sci-fi, video games, and/or 80s references, this book would be right up your ally. I’m not huge on the 80s or video games, but I still really liked the book as a great sci-fi that really pulled me in. If you’re at all intrigued by the idea of virtual reality (either good or bad), I think you’d also enjoy this book.
What to Read After Ready Player One
Now that you’ve read this book, grab another great sci-fi book. There is a second book after this (Ready Player Two), but I’ve only heard negative things about it. I personally haven’t read it, so I can’t tell you for sure. But here are a few I can recommend with confidence.
The Martian by Andy Weir
Here’s another well-written book that pulls you in right from the beginning of the book. If you liked Ready Player One, and want even more science fiction, try this one. You can find the book here.
Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card
Here’s a whole sci-fi series that’s also set in outer space, but shares the same high stakes and character aspects as Ready Player One. You can find the book here.
Otherworld by Jason Segel and Kristen Miller
If you really loved the virtual reality part of Ready Player One, try this book. This is another good book that explores the perils of leaving the entire world behind for a virtual world. You can find it here.
