Ready Player One Book Review

February 1, 2014
System Overload
By: Julia Seck
Ready Player One
Ernest Cline
348 Pages


     Ernest Cline’s thrilling dystopia novel Ready Player One is a plot twisting sci-fi drama which takes place in the year 2044 when the world’s economy and government are in ruins. The only slight comfort is OASIS, a massive multi-player online video game in which all individuals take refuge in and shelter themselves from the destruction that has overtaken civilization.

     James Halliday, the creator of OASIS, died a multi-billionaire. In his last will and testament he left all claims to his fortune and rights to OASIS to the first player who could complete the quest he designed within the virtual world. The objective was simple, collect three different keys in order to unlock a series of gates, before reaching the final stage and in the process outlasting all other players in the game. The novel begins several years after the Halliday’s death, where the reader is introduced to the main character known as, Wade Owen, who is the first player to ever obtain one of the three keys needed. Wade soon finds himself competing against the clock as many other players quickly discover the hidden clues. With others who will stop at nothing to retrieve the ultimate prize, Wade is conflicted with who to trust, hoping to unlock the secrets Halliday left behind before his enemies overtake him.

     As the story progresses it becomes apparent, the lengths to which one will go in order to retrieve what one desires. This brings up the question does the end justify the means? As the pressure for wealth increases greed and corruption play a large role in the demise of many. The theme of the story illustrated by Cline revolves around these motifs. They portray the idea that there is no end to what one will overcome if they desire something enough. When pressured with harsh conditions, one is willing to overlook their own morality to obtain it. This causes the reader to think about their own morals and to what lengths they might go when pressured. This theme is timeless making this novel relevant to any period allowing the audience to connect and engage with its characters. Because of this the novel is much more exciting and realistic.

     Personally I found this to be a thrilling adventure story. The plot is unexpected and one is always left hanging at the end of each chapter. Honestly, this was one of those books you could never put down. I would recommend this book to those who enjoy sci-fi themed novels and who is also familiar with many common video game characters which the e story incorporates. One does not need know every computer game but knowing some of the basic games one’s help with some of the terminology used within the novel. l. Another issue I found is that the novel uses harsh language in several chapters and therefore I would not recommend it to young readers. Overall, the book is very easy to read and understand. It is exciting, dramatic, and possesses an overall sense of adventure.