
By Ernest Cline
Book #1 in the Ready Player One series
In 2045, a virtual treasure hunt turns deadly as rivals vie for control of a digital empire.
In 2045, Wade Watts escapes his grim reality by immersing himself in the OASIS, a vast virtual world. When its creator dies, he leaves behind a series of puzzles promising immense wealth and control of the OASIS to the first solver. Wade cracks the initial clue, igniting a fierce competition with ruthless adversaries willing to kill for the prize. As the stakes rise, Wade must navigate a perilous quest filled with pop culture riddles and deadly rivals. Can he outsmart them and claim the ultimate prize, or will he become another casualty in this high-stakes game?
#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER - Now a major motion picture directed by Steven Spielberg. “Enchanting . . . Willy Wonka meets The Matrix.”–USA Today - “As one adventure leads expertly to the next, time simply evaporates.”–Entertainment Weekly A world at stake. A quest for the ultimate prize. Are you ready? In the year 2045, reality is an ugly place. The only time Wade Watts really feels alive is when he’s jacked into the OASIS, a vast virtual world where most of humanity spends their days. When the eccentric creator of the OASIS dies, he leaves behind a series of fiendish puzzles, based on his obsession with the pop culture of decades past. Whoever is first to solve them will inherit his vast fortune–and control of the OASIS itself. Then Wade cracks the first clue. Suddenly he’s beset by rivals who’ll kill to take this prize. The race is on–and the only way to survive is to win. NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY Entertainment Weekly - San Francisco Chronicle - Village Voice - Chicago Sun-Times - iO9 - The AV Club “Delightful . . . the grown-up’s Harry Potter.”–HuffPost “An addictive read . . . part intergalactic scavenger hunt, part romance, and all heart.”–CNN “A most excellent ride . . . Cline stuffs his novel with a cornucopia of pop culture, as if to wink to the reader.”–Boston Globe “Ridiculously fun and large-hearted . . . Cline is that rare writer who can translate his own dorky enthusiasms into prose that’s both hilarious and compassionate.”–NPR “[A] fantastic page-turner . . . starts out like a simple bit of fun and winds up feeling like a rich and plausible picture of future friendships in a world not too distant from our own.”–iO9
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