OKAY, now we're talking! This book was pure fun from start to finish.
"In the year 2044, reality is an ugly place. The only time teenage Wade Watts really feels alive is when he's jacked into the virtual utopia known as the OASIS. Wade's devoted his life to studying the puzzles hidden within this world's digital confines—puzzles that are based on their creator's obsession with the pop culture of decades past and that promise massive power and fortune to whoever can unlock them.
But when Wade stumbles upon the first clue, he finds himself beset by players willing to kill to take this ultimate prize. The race is on, and if Wade's going to survive, he'll have to win—and confront the real world he's always been so desperate to escape." (Amazon)
The book is full of references to Eighties culture from games, to movies and television to music. Any geek who lived through the age of early video game evolution, including home computer and gaming systems and also coin-operated arcade games, will "get" this book. No, they will joyfully roll in it like a pig rolls in the mud.
But the cool thing about this book is the way it leaves details out. Too much information about life in the real world would be confusing. Rather than try to explain just how crappy and dangerous the real world is in the story setting, the author wisely takes us into the OASIS world, where people really find their value and self-worth.
It's actually a strong commentary on present-day social media junkies, who more and more stunt their actual real-world personality by becoming over-dependent on "friendships" and relationships that are defined by a computer screen. Just imagine the temptation to step into a virtual world where there are real people at the other end. It's like having a Facebook friend with super powers, and you come to know them on the terms they choose to reveal through their avatar. And - get this - the game allows you to ramp up your avatar's capabilities by completing various quests. Really, through the OASIS game in the story, a person's life is better in so many ways... (but not the most important ways!)
And, the book comes to a good ending, where the main character has to make some serious choices about real people in the real world. It leaves us sitting with the character at the end of a long quest, and looking to a future that is "ours" to shape. What a great story!
Think of Hunger Games. Think of The Truman Show. Think of The Matrix. Think of Charlie And The Chocolate Factory.
All of those stories take the character on an exciting quest for freedom, self-discovery, and heroism. They are all deeply rooted in values of human relationships, and the meaning of what it means to be fully human.
*****/*****
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| Ernest Cline |
