In the midst of the sudden passing of Apple’s first and original genius, Steve Jobs, this all seems a bit too coincidental but such is life.
I’m sure I’ve said this before, but in case you didn’t know, I certainly have no shame or make no apologies for saying this again: I AM A NERD/GEEK! I am a child of the 1980′s and 90′s and I’m about to tell you about a novel that brilliantly embraces and encourages that ever-growing subculture that has become an ever-evolving lifestyle. I haven’t been so excited nor have I enjoyed a book so much since “The Da Vinci Code.”
Ready Player One takes place in the year 2044. A not-too-distant, believable, almost pre-apocalyptic world where overpopulation, limited resources, and pollution has turned America (and most of the world) into sector after sector of trailers stacked on top of each other like a game of Jenga.
The story revolves around The OASIS, a virtual reality simulation that the whole world is logged onto that is basically a billion times bigger than WoW (World of Warcraft,) Facebook, and eBay combined. A world created by renowned video-game designer, James Halliday. The story starts with the announcements of Mr. Halliday’s death.
As the announcement is broadcast to the world, among the billions to hear the news is Wade Watts, a geek to rival all geeks in his knowledge of the world that Halliday created and all the 1980′s pop culture history that inspired him to create the most successful game in the world and one of the richest men in it. Upon his death, Halliday leaves behind a video will that was more like a student short film crammed with references and homages to things such as the “Back to the Future” trilogy, the Commodore 64, and Pac-Man just to name a very, very few. It even referenced a real-life video game contest back in the 80′s of a game called SwordQuest whose Grand Prize was crown jewels valued at $150,000! If you don’t believe me, see for yourself.
The reason for all these references: the video contains clues to finding what is known as “The Easter Egg.” “The Easter Egg” is Halliday’s entire fortune of over $250 billion. As stipulated in his will, since he had no family to leave his vast fortune to, he decided to hide it deep within the world he created and the first one to find it, gets to keep it. Wade is one lonely guy who is a die-hard fan of Halliday and his creation. Upon news of his death, guilds are formed and rogue scholars search for the egg. All these people are known in the OASIS as “gunters.” Will (or Parzival as he is known) has spent his entire young life researching Halliday, even while he was alive, and became somewhat of a self-made scholar. The Egg is broken down into three phases, each more daunting than the last, as Parzival goes up against other gunters and the faceless corporation known as IOI that is also searching for The Egg to tighten their already suffocating grasp on the OASIS business ventures.
The first novel of self-proclaimed geek Ernest Cline, “Ready Player One” is a beautiful (yes I said beautiful) coming-of-age story. To my fellow nerds, geeks, and social misfits. To my Star Wars, Star Trek, and Battlestar fans. To my Dungeons and Dragons, Nintendo, and board game players, this one’s for you! READ THIS BOOK!!
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