March 2014 - Sci-Fi: Ready Player One by Ernest Cline

[Chris , cookie guilt]

I read this awhile back and loved it. I'm looking forward to group reactions.

[Felina]

I have the audio read by Wil Wheaton. I've heard great things about it.

[colleen the convivial curmudgeon, Not a book hipster!]

Chris wrote: "I read this awhile back and loved it. I'm looking forward to group reactions."

Just not mine. ;)

[Chris , cookie guilt]

Pfft. Maybe I do enjoy your grumpy reactions, yanno.

[Emily]

I listened to this one on audio and it was great. Though I think I got frustrated and didn't finish it, as is my tendency with audio books. Not enough time to listen so they end up taking awhile. ;) I might read this if I have time this month.

[Nyssa]

I think this will be my first read for March.

[Becky]

I read this one last year and I liked it, until it had to go all "every teen/YA book ever" on me. *sigh*

[Felina]

Becky wrote: "I read this one last year and I liked it, until it had to go all "every teen/YA book ever" on me. *sigh*"

I don't like the sound of that.

[Nyssa]

That's interesting! Hubby doesn't really like YA much, but he said he really liked this book.
Then again he started on his path to becoming an iOS and software developer back in his parents Tv/VCR repair shop, building remote control cars and repairing Ataris and Nintendos ... So it could be nostalgia nirvana for him.

[Becky]

Felina wrote: "Becky wrote: "I read this one last year and I liked it, until it had to go all "every teen/YA book ever" on me. *sigh*"

I don't like the sound of that."

LOL It wasn't bad... I was just hoping that it wouldn't do it, and then it did. It's still good for everything else, I was just annoyed by that.

[Stephanie]

I listened to this one last year, read by Wil Wheaton and loved it.

[MrsJoseph *grouchy*, Bad Girls Deadlift]

I think I'm going to start this one first, too.

[puppitypup]

Right now I feel like that geeky kid in class, bouncing up and down in my seat with my hand raised as high as it will go, thinking Pick me! Pick me!

I just finished this book and loved it! What a fun read. For anyone concerned that it is typical YA, I did not find it so at all. In fact, I am sick to death of YA and haven't rated one more than 1 or 2 stars in quite awhile. I would categorize this book as solid Sci-fi Fantasy, not YA. Rest assured, the book doesn't wallow in teen angst, love triangles, lust-at-first-sight or brainless actions.

Ready Player One gets 5 fun-filled stars from me, even though I'm a good 10-15 years older than it's targeted 80's generation audience and have never played a video game in my life. Can't believe it's a first novel!

[ally ¯\(ツ)/¯]

The idea of flying to different planets for different things made me reminisce on my EVE Online MMORPG days. Le Sigh. Good times.

[Kathy]

I got the audio read by Wil Wheaton out from the library. I read this book not too long ago, and wasn't exactly ready for a re-read. But when I heard Will Wheaton was the narrator, I got very excited. I'm a very big fan of his and since I've wanted to get into audio books, it seemed like the perfect plan! I can't wait to get started! :)

[Lee]

Started. And I thought this book was going to be fun and humorous but so far I think it's a downer -

(view spoiler)[ Why must every science fiction book be, Humans are bad, they're killing the earth, and themselves, stories? That's why I stopped reading science fiction. I don't like reading depressing books. Depressing and hopeless books. (hide spoiler)]

I was too young to really enjoy the 80's first hand. But I only *just* missed it. And I have an aunt who was/is heavily into all things 80's. So I do have some nostalgia for the era.

[Kathy]

I am sorry you are feeling that way, Nienna. I am a child of the 80's and had such a blast reliving them through this book! I read a lot of dystopian fiction, so maybe that's why I wasn't phased by what you are referring to.

[Becky]

puppitypup wrote: "Rest assured, the book doesn't wallow in teen angst, love triangles, lust-at-first-sight or brainless actions."

I would disagree with this, actually. There wasn't a triangle that I recall, but there most certainly was teen angst, instalove, and brainless actions, and I was disappointed that the book went there. I liked everything about it... until it went that direction toward the end. :(

[Lee]

I'm liking the movie mentions. And Ladyhawke happens to be one of my favorite movies. I liked Krull too. Even though that movie is bad. Just bad. But I liked it. Lol.

[DavidO]

Nienna, I believe in Star Trek people actually aren't killing the earth and each other. Sadly that makes up only a tiny percentage of the genre.

[Lee]

Star Wars. But Star Wars is "technically" fantasy… runs away… ;)

[Chris , cookie guilt]

Nienna wrote: "Star Wars. But Star Wars is "technically" fantasy… runs away… ;)"

Fantasy with robots, spaceships, and laser guns.

[Lee]

Is it bad that I want to play in OASIS??

This isn't the first video game as digital life that I've read, but it is (in my opinion) the most believable. It always bugs me when an author uses this idea but you can tell they never played a video game in their life.

[Emily]

Hahaha - me too!! I also feel the same way about the VR in Under the Never Sky - I know it's supposed to be all dystopian, but it just kinda sounds fun!

[Chris , cookie guilt]

Nienna wrote: "Is it bad that I want to play in OASIS?? ..."

Is it bad that my reaction was that Noel Gallagher wasn't likely to let you in the band?

[Nyssa]

Ha!

[Lee]

:p

[Lee]

1st Gate & Wargames - (view spoiler)[ "playing" a movie as a video game??? I don't know but... me wants. Well - not Wargames. Because I've never watched the whole thing. Don't like it. But me wants. (hide spoiler)]

[Kathy]

I loved the movie Wargames! :)

[Lee]

The more I read the book the more I realize how dangerous this would be. Not in a kids need to get out more kind of way. In a everyone would turn into brainless zombies kind of way. Seriously. Look how much we (generally speaking) spend online anyway. Though this is a very cool idea (I especially love the online school and chat rooms) its actually a scary thought.

[Kathy]

Nienna wrote: "The more I read the book the more I realize how dangerous this would be. Not in a kids need to get out more kind of way. In a everyone would turn into brainless zombies kind of way. Seriously. Look..."

I agree. In real life, so many people are dangerously close to having that life...to a point. I remember after my divorce, I spent a lot of time on the computer and in chat rooms. Since I couldn't go out, that got me "out" in a way.

[Dawn, Dawnerys, Mother of Modding]

Read this when it first came out, really enjoyed it. Have since pushed it on my fiance and all of our friends.. They love it too. I'm not going to re-read, but I'm looking forward to hearing what new readers think!

[Lee]

Finished.

This was really different than I was expecting. I thought it was going to be a Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy kind of thing. A satirical comedy. And it took me awhile to adjust. But once I did I enjoyed it.

I don't consider myself a child of the 80's but I was old enough to remember the decade with some fondness. And I did enjoy all the little easter eggs in it.

But I actually liked the story too.

[ally ¯\(ツ)/¯]

Really excited about Ernest Cline's Armada coming out in October :)

[Chris , cookie guilt]

Me too, Ally

[Nyssa]

Level One: Complete!

I understand his motivation, but I'd like to know how our hero will survive... Or was that last line, in Level One, simply figurative?

What a shift. Although, I can't say that I am very surprised. I had feared something, like what happened at IOI, would happen from the minute Parzival walked out of that cave.

[MrsJoseph *grouchy*, Bad Girls Deadlift]

I've just finished chapter 1. Sounds like life sucks so far...

[Nyssa]

Level Two:Complete!

Just finished Level 3: Chapter 29.
I have one question... WTF are you doing!?!

I'm having a love/hate relationship with this book at the moment.

It is clear that P has a plan; it is clear that said plan includes insanity; I just can't quite figure out what this plan is. Plus, I'm not too crazy about his motivation *cue rant about insta-love-stupidity-here*, but whatever. I am still very much rooting for him.

(view spoiler)[ I understand infiltrating the enemy..putting yourself in a position to take them down from the inside. BUT he's basically under house corporate arrest; all of his snazzy Real World stuff is gone, and I can't see him gaining access to Oasis without triggering every single alarm in the building! So again, I ask, WTF is he doing!?! (hide spoiler)]

I fear it's going to be some major Deus ex machina, suspend your belief within an inch of its life, type thing. Which just might suck, because I'm actually really enjoying this story right now.


I hate to say it but (view spoiler)[Daito's death (hide spoiler)] seemed to breath some life into the story and make it really interesting again. I like the decision made by Shoto and I really hope we get to see what he does.
I can't quite decide if (view spoiler)[Sorrento's rise (hide spoiler)] is/was cliche or good storytelling; I'm just glad it didn't last long.

I am assuming based on the clue that (view spoiler)[ Aech and Art3mis (hide spoiler)] are going to have to help regardless, (view spoiler)[because it says something about not being able to open the gate with just one (hide spoiler)].

[Jake]

Yeah it's weird how the plan just happens without the reader really knowing what the hell is going on. We have to find out as he does it and its crazy and genius. The atmosphere definitely changes from there on out.

[Nyssa]

Jake wrote: "Yeah it's weird how the plan just happens without the reader really knowing what the hell is going on. We have to find out as he does it and its crazy and genius. The atmosphere definitely change..."

Crazy genius is good! I'm looking forward to it.

[Nyssa]

Nyssa wrote: "
Just finished Level 3: Chapter 29.
I have one question... WTF are you doing!?!

I'm having a love/hate relationship with this book at the moment.

It is clear that P has a plan; it is clear that said plan includes insanity; I just can't quite figure out what this plan is."


Ooohhh!

[MrsJoseph *grouchy*, Bad Girls Deadlift]

I guess I'll try to read some more. The worldbuilding is kinda killing me so far.

[Nyssa]

Chapter 32: Art3mis is getting on my nerves!



O.o Seriously!?! I think I just found the Deus ex machina!!

[Nyssa]

Alright! With all of the angst and worry I expressed yesterday, I ended up loving this book! Don't beleive me, just read my fangirl-ish " reveiw " ( I use the term loosly).

By the end it just --- got me. And yes, Jake, there was some crazy genius at play. I'm very happy I finally read this book!

[Tracy]

I'm on chapter 18 of the audiobook. I've been enjoying it. As a child of the 80's I find some of the nostalgia funny (ex: Family Ties not that great). There have been times I've dreamed in EQ though :-)

[Tracy]

OMG finally The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy references! I read The Restaurant at the End of the Universe first when I found it on a book swap shelf when I was in high school. I stumble onto Stephen King the same way. Some people don't appreciate good literature.

I am loving this book!! Why did it get so...so... reviews? Loved when (view spoiler)[ Wil Wheaton referenced Wil Wheaton (hide spoiler)], awesome!!! (yes I broke taboo and put 3 exclamation points there)

[Jackie]

I finished this one last night. Wild ride! I'm totally not a gamer, but I got most of the references and enjoyed it.

I knocked one star though for the (view spoiler)[ insta-love with Arty. While, I understood Wade falling for her I hated that he was throwing around the L-word and started doing things to prove himself to Arty rather than for the good of OASIS. Blech! I also didn't really like Arty in the end. I thought she was a bit condescending.

I did like that Aech turned out to be a black girl. I thought it was hilarious, but her reasoning made sense. (hide spoiler)]

[Dan]

☆αlly☆ (litєrαry єscαpist) wrote: "Really excited about Ernest Cline's Armada coming out in October :)"

Armada sounds a lot like The Last Starfighter.

[Becky]

Jackie, completely agree with you.

[Lee]

Regarding Aech-

(view spoiler)[ Its funny because as a female player I have played games online as both female and male avatars and I do find that I play different depending on "who" I'm playing. As a male I'm more confident around other players. I know most (or all) of it is in my head but it is true for me. (hide spoiler)]