Bibliographical Information
Title: Ready Player One
Author: Ernest Cline
Genre: Science Fiction
Subgenre: Dystopian
Publication Date: August
2011
Number of Pages: 384
Synopsis
In this jargon filled, imaginative work, a student named Wade Watts
lives his days escaping the bleak future by entering the OASIS, a global
virtual network. In the real world, Wade is an orphan in the slums of Oklahoma.
Within OASIS, Wade becomes his avatar, Parzival. His mission in this virtual
reality is to find the “egg” left behind by OASIS’s creator, the late James
Halliday. By finding the secrets, Wade would inherit the estate of Halliday and
escape poverty. When he finds the first of three keys to the egg, Wade and his scavenging
friends become targets of a multinational corporation hell-bent on obtaining
the egg and the prize within. Drawing inspiration from a wealth of movies and
games, including World of Warcraft, Monty Python and the Holy Grail, and Dungeons and Dragons, Ready Player One is a testament to
everything geekdom. A science fiction novel that incorporates 1980s and 1990s
nostalgia, Cline’s novel is a funny, offbeat, and rousing story aimed to please
readers aged 12 to 40.
Characteristics of Science
Fiction
Ready Player One features
several characteristics of the science fiction genre.
- It is set in the near future after the world has failed to curb climate change and natural resources have become scarce. With its virtual reality called OASIS, the novel subtly explores several intellectual and social quandaries regarding reality vs. fantasy.
- The novel presents setting that is not too far from our own, with more advanced version of technologies like Oculus Rift and Project Morpheus, along with a more ubiquitous presence of the internet.
- Its language is comprised of technical and popular culture jargon that sets it apart from modern English and from other dystopian and cyberpunk novels.
- In the spectrum of tone, Ready Player One trends to the comic end along with novels like The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy and the novels of Robert Asprin.
- With its electronic world of hyperactive communication, Cline’s novel is extremely fast paced and exciting.
Read-a-likes
Strange Flesh by Michael
Olson
Insignia by S.J. Kincaid
For the Win by Cory Doctorow
Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore
by Robin Sloan
Moxyland by Lauren Beukes
I was surprised to see an age suggestion for the readership. Why wouldn't someone who is 60 or 70 not enjoy the book? They would certainly enjoy and catch the connections with the 1980's and 90's. Is the book to quirky for someone over 40?
ReplyDeleteIn terms of readers advisory, there are numerous references to video games. A recent study determined that the average age of those Americans who play video games is 28. The book also received an Alex Award from the Young Adult Library Services Association.
DeleteI wouldn't say it is too quirky for people over 40, but it was definitely written to speak to a certain audience.
I listened to the audiobook of this and I LOVED it! I did notice however that you left the "series" information from your horror annotation.
ReplyDeleteSorry about that. The dangers of using a template...(smacking forehead).
DeleteI have wanted to read this book for so long! Now I am even more eager to check it out. Thanks for your annotation.
ReplyDeleteIt's an excellent book, but don't expect Shakespeare. It is a fun quick read. And it's going to be made into a movie by Steven Freakin' Spielberg. (Yay!) :)
DeleteThis book sounds like a good book for anyone who likes video games. It could be used in a cool book display featuring other books that have video game aspects in them. Or maybe use the Tron movie to do a like this... then try...
ReplyDeleteMost definitely. I get the feeling Ready Player One is only a preview of what is to come in terms of geeky pop culture lit for those who associate themselves with the term "gamer."
DeleteGood annotation! I think this kind of book that can cross between teens and adults is a good thing to know about and have at the library. At our library, we're always talking about how to bridge those gaps between departments and get teens to stick with the library when they become adults. Interestingly, our library has this one in our teen collection.
ReplyDeleteI am interested in the pop culture background of this book, and it sounds like it's a great idea to recommend to someone who likes movies, TV, and, especially, video games. In fact, I may recommend it to my husband (although that usually means he's not going to read it - he's stubborn like that!).
This comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteThis is the epitome of adult lit that works for teens. Especially considering that teens who are nearing entering college or just entered college have been reading dystopian YA fiction for past five years or so.
Delete