 |
| https://www.goodreads.com/book/photo/9969571-ready-player-one |
ISBN-13: 978030887436
Format: Hardcover
Cost: $24.00
Annotation: In the year 2044, high school senior Wade Watts is poor with only one living relative, and like millions of others, spends most of his time in the OASIS, a virtual world created by James Halliday, who, after his death, left puzzles pertaining to 80's trivia to be solved. Wade's whole life has been spent in the virtual world, totally dedicated to the quest of solving all the puzzles, as the winner controls the OASIS and becomes wealthy beyond imagination.
Awards: 2012 Prometheus Award for Best Novel
2012 ALA Alex Award
Mini Book Review: James Halliday created the OASIS, a virtual world in which people live, work, go to school, and play in the year 2044. Mr. Halliday was quirky, loved 80's trivia, and upon his death, left an impossible puzzle contest for one lucky winner to win the lottery ticket, control the OASIS, and become extremely wealthy. Many people have tried to solve the puzzle for many years, but when high school senior Wade Watts (Parzival in the virtual world), by chance, solves the first puzzle, he opens the door to the onslaught of thousands of puzzle hunters who are willing to kill to win the ultimate prize. Follow Wade on his quest for the ultimate prize, meet his virtual friends and fellow hunters, Art3mis (possible love interest), Aech, Daito, and Shoto, the evil Nolan Sorrento, corporate fiend who will kill anyone that gets in his way, enjoy massive amounts of 80's trivia, and discover what secrets the virtual world conceals from reality.
I highly recommend this exciting adventure quest through an amazingly descriptive virtual reality world. While many people escape into this fake world because reality is so discouraging and ugly, Mr. Cline points out through his story that one can't enjoy life virtually and that real happiness can only be found in the real world. This lesson is extremely relevant in relation to our high tech world and how many hours we waste, I mean spend on computers and playing computer games. This book would be a great addition to a young adult and adult fiction collection in a public or personal library, and a young adult fiction collection in a school library. This book is appropriate for ages 12 and up but be forewarned, it is a long novel. Additionally, older adults will enjoy the nostalgia of the 80's trivia!
Available Formats: Paperback, Kindle, Hardcover, Audio CD, Audible Audio Edition.
Quote: Taken from page 364, advice from the virtual avatar Halliday:
"I need to tell you one last thing before I go. Something I didn't figure out for myself until it was already too late." He led me over to the window and motioned out at the landscape stretching out beyond it. "I created the OASIS because I never felt at home in the real world. I didn't know how to connect with people there. I was afraid for all of my life. Right up until I knew it was ending. That was when I realized, as terrifying and painful as reality can be, it's also the only place where you can find true happiness. Because reality is real."
Multimedia: Here is an interview with author Ernest Cline, about the book Ready Player One:
(Disclaimer to video, please note this video was from 2011, so the book signings at the end have already taken place!)
Extra! Extra! Once you read Ready Player One, you will be ready to test your knowledge with a quiz game about the story! You can take the quiz here: http://www.shmoop.com/ready-player-one/setting-quiz.html
No comments:
Post a Comment