Ready Player One by Ernest Cline (2011)

Not since reading American Gods by Neil Gaiman have I been so obsessed with a book that I finished it within a few days of buying it, but as soon as I started Ready Player One, I was completely enthralled. 

The book begins in the year 2044, a future where most of the world lies in slums and ruin. In this future, gaming, social media, work, school and play have all combined within an elaborate simulation known as the OASIS. James Halliday, the man responsible for creating the virtual world, dies after years of running and maintaining the system. In the wake of his death, it is revealed that Halliday hid a mysterious Easter Egg within the game world that can only be found by opening three gates with three different, hidden keys. The person who recovers the Egg will inherit Halliday's vast fortune. Wade Watts (known in the OASIS as Parzival) is one of the many egg-hunters in the gaming world, and soon becomes the first player to discover one of Halliday's sacred keys after years of zero progress.

It is revealed early on that Halliday was obsessed with the period he grew up in: the 1980's, and that users obsessively study his interests and hobbies, which is why this book is jam packed with everything 80's. While sometimes movie/TV/book/video game references can seem forced and corny, Ready Player One throws in reference after reference without ever sounding ridiculous or contrived. Everything from Dunegons & Dragons to Ultraman to Rush's 2112 are discussed by characters in the book. 

Other than simply enjoying the references, I loved this book's plot and pacing. A vast, virtual reality filled with hundreds of users is by no means an original thought, but this book really gets you interested in this OASIS simulation, and doesn't feel like it's trying to incorporate gamer culture just to sound hip. The best way to describe Ready Player One using other works as examples would be Scott Pilgrim meets The Matrix with a hint of Willy Wonka and Fanboys (which Ernest Cline also wrote).

I also enjoyed how the book remained at a reasonable length. Recently, it seems like books are getting longer and longer, and more and more filled with useless information that does not move the plot forward. Ready Player One did not have this issue at all. At 372 pages, the book is short and sweet, and is paced perfectly, keeping the reader glued to the pages.

Another thing I loved was that, even though the story sounds like it can be a little hard to believe, there were never any moments where I really had trouble suspending my disbelief. I really liked that fact that one of the big factors in the hunt for the Easter Egg was that a giant corporation was essentially attempting to monopolize the hunt and take the inheritance for themselves. The characters were all believable and the dialogue never felt forced. 

Overall, this book is a guaranteed must-read. Whether you're a hardcore gamer or someone who has only played one game of Pac-Man in your life, you will likely love this book. Five out of Five People Who Couldn't Finish Infinite Jest.