Some might say that the 80’s is a time that has come and gone. They think it’s a decade of terrible hairstyles, cheesy rock ballads, and neon. Ernest Cline decides to bring the time period back in his book Ready Player One. This author weaves 80’s pop culture into a humorous, dark, and slightly dystopian novel. The story begins in the year 2039, when the world faces famine, an energy crisis, and countless wars. However, everyone chooses to ignore these complications and spend all their time in a virtual reality simulator known as the OASIS, a video game where you can do anything. One day, James Halliday, the creator of the OASIS dies, and it’s released to the public that he hid his fortune inside the game itself. The first person to find
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But, since Halliday was a bit of a recluse, the only thing people really knew about him was that he had an obsession with the 80’s, the decade in which he was a teenager. So, the millions hunting for the egg begin to study 80’s pop culture around the clock, hoping that something would give them a clue to where the egg was. The 80’s came back into style over half a century after the decade ended. Five years later, nobody has found the egg, and the only ones searching are dedicated hunters. Wade Watts, a 17 year old living in Oklahoma City, is one of them. One day, he figures out the first puzzle and unlocks the first gate. Once his achievement is made public, people stop at nothing to clear it and advance in the quest. Wade then realizes he must find the key first, or else it may fall into the wrong hands. Ready Player One is a young adult book targeted towards an older audience. The geeky video game premise is something many teenagers would be drawn to, but the numerous 80’s references may be lost on younger audiences who know nothing about the time period. Even so, the book is still funny and filled with twists and turns. Wade’s character is smart, never hesitates to put things into perspective, and his charming, yet nerdy personality is entertaining to read. Supporting characters are well rounded and have their own unique personalities as well. It’s hard to put down Ready Player One because every few pages, something
But, since Halliday was a bit of a recluse, the only thing people really knew about him was that he had an obsession with the 80’s, the decade in which he was a teenager. So, the millions hunting for the egg begin to study 80’s pop culture around the clock, hoping that something would give them a clue to where the egg was. The 80’s came back into style over half a century after the decade ended. Five years later, nobody has found the egg, and the only ones searching are dedicated hunters. Wade Watts, a 17 year old living in Oklahoma City, is one of them. One day, he figures out the first puzzle and unlocks the first gate. Once his achievement is made public, people stop at nothing to clear it and advance in the quest. Wade then realizes he must find the key first, or else it may fall into the wrong hands. Ready Player One is a young adult book targeted towards an older audience. The geeky video game premise is something many teenagers would be drawn to, but the numerous 80’s references may be lost on younger audiences who know nothing about the time period. Even so, the book is still funny and filled with twists and turns. Wade’s character is smart, never hesitates to put things into perspective, and his charming, yet nerdy personality is entertaining to read. Supporting characters are well rounded and have their own unique personalities as well. It’s hard to put down Ready Player One because every few pages, something