Ready Player One

Ernest Cline

Aug 2011 · Ready Player One Book 1 · Penguin Random House Audio · Narrated by Wil Wheaton

About this audiobook

#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • Now a major motion picture directed by Steven Spielberg.

“Enchanting . . . Willy Wonka meets The Matrix.”—USA Today • “As one adventure leads expertly to the next, time simply evaporates.”—Entertainment Weekly

A world at stake. A quest for the ultimate prize. Are you ready?

In the year 2045, reality is an ugly place. The only time Wade Watts really feels alive is when he’s jacked into the OASIS, a vast virtual world where most of humanity spends their days.

When the eccentric creator of the OASIS dies, he leaves behind a series of fiendish puzzles, based on his obsession with the pop culture of decades past. Whoever is first to solve them will inherit his vast fortune—and control of the OASIS itself.

Then Wade cracks the first clue. Suddenly he’s beset by rivals who’ll kill to take this prize. The race is on—and the only way to survive is to win.

NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY Entertainment Weekly • San Francisco Chronicle • Village Voice • Chicago Sun-Times • iO9 • The AV Club

“Delightful . . . the grown-up’s Harry Potter.”—HuffPost

“An addictive read . . . part intergalactic scavenger hunt, part romance, and all heart.”—CNN

“A most excellent ride . . . Cline stuffs his novel with a cornucopia of pop culture, as if to wink to the reader.”—Boston Globe

“Ridiculously fun and large-hearted . . . Cline is that rare writer who can translate his own dorky enthusiasms into prose that’s both hilarious and compassionate.”—NPR

“[A] fantastic page-turner . . . starts out like a simple bit of fun and winds up feeling like a rich and plausible picture of future friendships in a world not too distant from our own.”—iO9

Ratings and reviews

This is a great book filled with an abundance of video game, music, pop culture, and techno-fantasy references. I also appreciated the fact that the author didn't skimp on the details of the future dystopian landscape of the "real" world, which didn't seem too far from the realm of possibility. I enjoyed jumping back and forth between the worlds listening to multiple story lines develop. That said, this book is primarily geared for children of the late 70s and 80s. I never felt lost, but I know I would have enjoyed it much more if I grew up during that timeframe. The story had a great flow and I finished it feeling complete. Highly recommend.

My personal favorite book! I love the nostalgia and can relate to all of the 80s references. I am 45 yrs old and I find myself not wanting to let go of those great times and collecting 80s memorabilia from my childhood is one of my favorite things to do. I really liked the movie but the book is so much deeper and I loved Wil Wheaton as the narrator as "Stand by Me" is one of my favorite movies of all time! I read the book and then purchased the audio book. For me it's a whole new perspective when I'm just listening, picturing what is being read is easier for me when someone else is reading :)

After seeing the movie (and really enjoying it), I wanted to see how different the book was. WOW! I now wish the movie had adapted the book better. I get that there has to be some changes, but the book is SO MUCH BETTER!!! At times it was slow, but it help develop the story. There were some great references and there were some predictable sections, but all in all a very enjoyable book. I found myself finding reasons to finish it.

About the author

Ernest Cline is a novelist, screenwriter, father, and full-time geek. His first novel, Ready Player One, was a New York Times and USA Today bestseller and appeared on numerous “best of the year” lists. Ernie lives in Austin, Texas, with his family, a time-traveling DeLorean, and a large collection of classic video games.

Wil Wheaton's acting career began in 1986 with acclaimed roles in Stand By Me and Toy Soldiers. He continued acting through his teen years as series regular Wesley Crusher on Star Trek: The Next Generation, and opposite Robin Williams in Flubber. He is also an author, blogger, voice actor, widely followed original Twitter user, and a champion of geek culture.