From the Bookshelf of Apocalypse Whenever…

Ready Player One (Ready Player One, #1)

Ernest Cline

Start date: June 20, 2013

Finish date: July 1, 2013

Discussion: AW BOOK CLUB (spoilers)

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AW BOOK CLUB (spoilers)

* What is a good book for AW discussion? (Nominations pool)
By Gertie , Read "Fever 1793" now, discussion opens Dec 1st. · 69 posts · 223 views

last updated Nov 14, 2025 01:48PM

* AW Book Club: what we've read
By Gertie , Read "Fever 1793" now, discussion opens Dec 1st. · 16 posts · 1830 views

last updated Dec 10, 2019 09:01AM

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What Members Thought

Jan 24, 2013 Casey rated it it was amazing

Shelves: the-not-so-serious-lit, dear-ones, audiobook

Does this book deserve five stars? Objectively, maybe not. Does it deserve to be in my "dear ones" shelf, along with the most perfect book of all time, Anna Karenina? Objectively, probably not. But it's my rating system, and I can do whatever I want, so I'm giving this book five stars and put in on my favorites shelf because it's so freaking awesome.

This is filled with 80's references, which didn't feel too obscure to me (caveat: I pretty much watch an insane amount of movies, listen to an insan ...more

11 likes · Like · see review

Sep 18, 2017 Amy rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: 2017-books-read

This book takes '80s fandom to an extreme degree, but you surely don't have to be an expert on '80s music, video games, movies, rpgs, and tv shows to enjoy the storyline.

The book is set in a futuristic USA that has become overcrowded and dangerous. Most people spend their lives in a virtual reality called OASIS rather than in the real world. The co-creator of OASIS was reclusive and obsessed with pop and geek culture of the 1980s. Without an heir to his fortune, he decides to create the ultimat This book takes '80s fandom to an extreme degree, but you surely don't have to be an expert on '80s music, video games, movies, rpgs, and tv shows to enjoy the storyline.

The book is set in a futuristic USA that has become overcrowded and dangerous. Most people spend their lives in a virtual reality called OASIS rather than in the real world. The co-creator of OASIS was reclusive and obsessed with pop and geek culture of the 1980s. Without an heir to his fortune, he decides to create the ultimate game within OASIS to find a worthy heir. Once he dies and the contest is announced, a large portion of the entire world makes it their primary goal to become an expert on everything '80s. They obsessively memorize movies and songs and try to master every vintage video game they can. Literally anything could be important. The book follows our hero and his new best friends who are leaders in this contest as they get to know each other, battle a corporate entity trying to cheat their way to to top, and have lots of fun along the way. The book contains many new worlds to explore, a mysterious adventure, thrilling and tense moments, danger, down-to-earth characters, and a love story.

Based on the movie trailer, I'm afraid that the movie version isn't going to live up to my imagination, but we'll see. I was, however, elated to find out that my favorite villain, Ben Mendelsohn, is playing the villain here. The casting, at least, will be good.

I grew up in the '80s, but other than the music and a couple of movies, the majority of the 200ish pieces of pop and geek culture mentioned here were beyond my personal realm of experience. I found myself getting sidetracked catching up on some of the movies I missed (including Heathers and Adventures in Babysitting) and making a Spotify playlist with all the songs mentioned in the book (except for one featured in the movie War Games). I went into this book wondering if it had been overhyped, but it truly is an enjoyable read and a page-turner in spots. A 4.31-star rating on GoodReads isn't shabby, and it's well-deserved. ...more

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Jul 20, 2014 Rift Vegan rated it really liked it

Shelves: 2014

Ha! Fun read, I am right in this book's demographic: born 1973, grew up playing Atari and all my favorite movies are from that era (yes: LadyHawke and Legend, Aech totally called me a bona fide pussy!!). Yeah, the writing is flat and the story is a bit predictable, and I can't imagine this book being interesting to anyone who isn't Gen X. And yet, here I am, thinking about what my avatar is going to look like in the OASIS (can we have non-human avatars? I want to be a mouse!) and the tardis I'm ...more

3 likes · Like · see review

Mar 07, 2012 Angie rated it it was amazing

Shelves: 2012-books, 2018-books, signed-copy-owned

Over half way through, and I am in love with this books so far. Someone called it 80s nostalgia porn, lol. I think it is fantastic. Hopefully, the rest lives up to that!

Updated: It was so fantastic! It was a great escapist book, and light and humorous at the same time.

1 like · Like · see review

Mar 12, 2016 Ami E. Bowen rated it it was amazing

Shelves: 2016-reading-challenge

It was awesome. If you enjoy video games, eighties' teen flicks, old cartoons and anime and tabletop RPGs then do yourself a huge service and read this book! The upcoming movie is never going to be as good I can tell you that right now. ...more

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Mar 11, 2012 Rebecca rated it it was amazing

This takes place in exactly the right time-frame for me to get about 75% of the pop culture/geek references (my Japanese TV show knowledge is shaky) and to feel completely nostalgic. It was an engaging adventure game in book form - kind of like watching someone else play a video game, which I love.

It takes place in 2044 after the world has gradually gone to sh*t and the creator of the virtual reality most of the world escapes to has just died and left his legacy to whoever can solve the easter ...more

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Apr 14, 2015 Belinda rated it liked it · review of another edition

it was an entertaining read, not the best read ever, but good. I felt like the author spent a lot of time world building and reminiscing on 80s nerd culture. sigh. I am glad i read it and do think others would enjoy the story.

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