Ready Player One, a book review by The Dom

Funnily, that sort of research is something fanfic often has and pro works don't. Probably due to time constraints, which might make it understandable but no less frustrating.

Gerda Strobl

I enjoyed the book a lot (Born in 81) Hated Armada though.

Zachery Egan

As someone born in the latter half of 1988, I am slightly surprised at just how much 80s residue I grew up with. I'm still not really that nostalgic about most of it, though, for some reason. What I just realised and am somewhat dreading now is just what will happen when or if 90s nostalgia becomes as big and...masturbatory, for lack of a better word, as 80s nostalgia has been. Question, though, since you mentioned audible – do you often ‘read’ or ‘re-read’ your books that way? I do, so I’m just curious :)

Therese Knøs

I didn't like Ready Player One, and I was born in 1984, and I am a huge nerd. I didn't get all the references, but I liked the ones I got, and I felt compelled to go looking into stuff I didn't know about. After a while, of course, it became an impossible task. Actually, I liked the beginning. I was quite invested by how the story started (even if it lacked tension. I mean... it's narrated by Wade, so of course Wade is going to win everything). But then, I started getting bored, and more bored, and it has been months since I'm stuck at a few pages from the ending. Wede is just unbearable, and it's a power player. He can do everything, he is so good, he is so knowledgeable, he is so lucky, he is so this and so that. I liked him more when he was a poor, obsessed boy at the beginning than the rich prick he turned into after the first part of the book. I didn't even like the author's writing. He wastes pages and pages on useless stuff, and then he quickly passes over things I would have loved knowing more about. I didn't like the story, I didn't like the characters, and it just bored me. A lot. Luckily I never had a Wade in my life, but I can understand why people think he is an asshole. He is.

Silvia Letizia

I'm with you with being very annoyed with the actual practical mechanics of the OASIS. That description made my eyes twitch. Different media getting video games wrong (Which happens particularly much with MMOs) is a major pet peeve of mine. Like, I get that you have to make concessions for narrative, but how hard is it to, say beta-read a book with an actual player of such games? /peeved

I think I enjoyed that book so much because I listened to the audiobook. The german version unfortunately because for some stupid reason I couldn't get the english version (I need to ask audible about that). I really enjoyed the game refences and not all went over my head. I love point and click stuff so I was aware of zork for example. I also liked everyone else than the main character. I really liked the voice actor and therefore ignored everything I didn't like. The same happened with maze runner, I enjoyed the audiobook and when I tried to read it I absolutly hated it. It made no sense to me and was super boring.

Thanks for the explanation on the book. I haven't read the book and have considered reading it, but I honestly don't mind spoilers as much as other people do. Personally, I've been single since forever, though not by choice. Still, I can understand how having feelings for someone who doesn't feel that way about you can mess you up a bit. After all, I had feelings for a girl who was never available and who said I was like a brother to her.

I appreciate you explaining why the 80s nostalgia / pop culture fascination didn't resonate with you. It was a bit jarring at first, since I joined the Army in 1987. After a repeat listen to that section, I realized that I'd also missed out on ~5 years of (then contemporary) 80s-90s pop culture and have no real resonance for most movies, shows, music, and even some books from that period. I hadn't appreciated that 'gap' until now. So, thanks.

Keil Hubert

Dom, the other way to say MMORPG without using all those letters (can be tricky if you don't play them and are used to spewing them out at high speed) is mamorpaga, pronounced "ma-mor-pa-ga." I'm not sure if he was the first to coin the term, but Yahtzee Croshaw uses it quite a bit, and many of my friends who are into WoW and FFXIV have used it as well, so it is catching on. Just thought I'd give you an alternative. And incidentally, Rush is my favorite band, and the only one that I find myself liking nearly every song on an album instead of just the one or two the album is known for. They can sometimes get preachy, though, so I get people not liking them. I'm willing to bet, though, that the author (and people who made the movie) only focus on the song "Tom Sawyer," and maybe "Spirit of the Radio," and not much else, which is irksome to an actual Rush fan who knows more of their songs. If you have the time, I suggest the songs "Red Barchetta," "Marathon," and "Grand Designs." Thank you for another great review!

Courtney Rayle

Eeehhh I just don't really do music ya'know?

Dominic Noble

Ok Dom, you must go to the Spotify or something and listen to Rush. Please.

Brenton Clark