Ready Player One
by Ernest Cline
Six long years into the search, Parzival has discovered the first key in James Halliday’s Easter Egg Hunt – a contest which will reward its winner with Halliday’s entire fortune. The winner will also gain control of the OASIS – a virtual reality in which most of Earth’s population spend the majority of their time.
In reality, Parzival is a 18-year-old boy named Wade Watts, with no real family, home, or money to his name. The year is 2044, and things have not gone well for humanity. So, like most people, Wade lives mostly in the OASIS, studying every aspect of 1980’s pop culture, as knowledge of Halliday’s beloved videogames, tv, movies, and music is the key to deciphering his clues.
But now the race is on, and Parzival is up against the IOI – a corporation bent on winning the hunt and seizing control over the OASIS by whatever means necessary – and he must rely on the help of three fellow gunters to win the contest, defeat the IOI, and save their virtual world.
This is a light, fun, and incredibly addictive read!