A good read. Ready Player One by Ernest Kline was first published in 2011 and was adapted for film in 2018 by none other than Steven Spielberg. While the book is aimed at young adults it is deeper on some levels than it appears to be with possible commentaries on subcultures, mass consumerism, and elitism. Also a pretty good multi-racial coming of age story or bildungsroman. Ready Player one is a book I could discuss for days.
The premise: When the world’s foremost billionaire and game designer dies and leaves his wealth up for grabs millions join his online game for a chance to crack his riddle and win his fortune. One of these hungry “Gunters” is Wade Watts. In a world beset by hunger poverty, energy crises, and dystopia, Wade Watts is just one of the many poor and struggling youths drawn to the contest as a way to support himself and his online hobbies.
One of those books that can be described as a love song for a bygone era but is “not really” a love song for a bygone era. I personally find its strongest parts to be the coming of age story of Wade Watts AKA “Percival” gunter, gamer, nerd. Perhaps the best youthful Sci-fi I’ve read in a while. These commentaries on mass culture and consumer society really get me going so I think I’ll end this post here though that does remind me of my one gripe with the book which is that it sometimes lacks thoroughness.
Recommendations for those who liked Ernest Kline’s Ready Player One : Snow Crash, Octavia Butler’s Parable Doulogy, Stand on Zanzibar.