Ready Player One Review

374 pages

In the year 2045, reality is an ugly place. The only time teenage Wade Watts really feels alive is when he's jacked into the virtual utopia known as the OASIS. Wade's devoted his life to studying the puzzles hidden within this world's digital confines, puzzles that are based on their creator's obsession with the pop culture of decades past and that promise massive power and fortune to whoever can unlock them. When Wade stumbles upon the first clue, he finds himself beset by players willing to kill to take this ultimate prize. The race is on, and if Wade's going to survive, he'll have to win—and confront the real world he's always been so desperate to escape.

Review:
I've been meaning to read this book for a while. A very long while. In preparation for the movie I decided to actually get started and see what all of the hype was about, and it didn't disappoint. The world created here is one in which the world is such a depressing place and the only way for the poor to escape that is to live in a virtual world called the OASIS. The creator of the OASIS decides to create a massive game within the OASIS upon his death, which will give all of his power and wealth to the one who can solve all of the puzzles and retrieve all three keys. Wade grew up in poverty and has devoted his life to solving and winning the game. His sole purpose in life is learning as much as he can about the greater of the OASIS and using that to solve the game. Along the way he forms friendships with unlikely participants and has a crazy adventure within the virtual and real life. I enjoyed the parallels between this world and our own. A major theme showed that you really don't know if the person you're talking to online is what they portray themselves to be in reality. This book was action-packed and filled with adventure. I definitely recommend this book if you like sci-fi novels and also if you plan on seeing the movie.

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