It’s the year 2044, and the real world has become an ugly place. We’re out of oil. We’ve wrecked the climate. Famine, poverty, and disease are widespread. Like most of humanity, Wade Watts escapes this depressing reality by spending his waking hours jacked into the OASIS, a sprawling virtual utopia where you can be anything you want to be, where you can live and play and fall in love on any of ten thousand planets. And like most of humanity, Wade is obsessed by the ultimate lottery ticket that lies concealed within this alternate reality: OASIS founder James Halliday, who dies with no heir, has promised that control of the OASIS – and his massive fortune – will go to the person who can solve the riddles he has left scattered throughout his creation. For years, millions have struggled fruitlessly to attain this prize, knowing only that the riddles are based in the culture of the late twentieth century. And then Wade stumbles onto the key to the first puzzle.Suddenly, he finds himself pitted against thousands of competitors in a desperate race to claim the ultimate prize, a chase that soon takes on terrifying real-world dimensions – and that will leave both Wade and his world profoundly changed.
I’ve had this book for ages on my shelf, basically since I started book blogging back in 2015, but I just now decided that I truly needed to read it, and I’m so glad I did. I absolutely loved this book, and I can’t wait to see it’s movie adaptation.
I honestly don’t truly know how to review this book without spoiling it, so I’ll keep it short and on point.
I’ve seen a lot of reviews saying that their biggest issues with the book were the info dumps and the slow plot, and the expectations of lots of action, only to be disappointed with the type of “action” that actually happens. I had no issues with any of these things. I thought the setting was incredible, and to be honest, quite realistic, in a sad way. There’s just something that speaks to the human nature and the instincts of the current generations.
Furthermore, I really liked the amount of information dumped on the reader – in this case, me! I’m an 80’s and 90’s kid, so I got most references, and even those who weren’t from my time, I remember my siblings playing/listening or watching them. But in this kind of setting, these clues and tidbits had to be properly explained, in my opinion, because they’re not part of the actual reality of the characters. And there was also the way this info was given… Wade is an extremely good narrator, and funny as hell!
And then, I actually really liked the slow pacing and plot. for a moment there after the first key is found, I was actually scared that things would start going too fast, and I didn’t think that was the best thing for the story. I’m glad that the author didn’t go that route, and instead took his time to tell the story.
I liked the story, the pacing, the plot and I loved the characters! Even though they only know each other online, the connections and feelings are real, and I loved the way they were dealt with. I loved Wade, Art3mis and especially Aech :D. They were all awesome.
I just… I loved this book! If by some miracle you haven’t read it yet, do it! I did read Cline’s second book, Armada, and I have to say that I liked RPO way more…
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