I've read a lot of great books so far this year, but Ernest Cline's Ready Player One tops my list for the moment. This was a fantastic adventure that I simply couldn't stop reading. Ernest Cline has created a colorful, sensory-driven world that is both unique and relatable. He's taken what we already know--80s pop culture, anyone?--and thrown it into a futuristic, technology-based vision that is unfamiliar yet readily plausible. It's not completely fun and games, though; there's just the right amount of dark themes and "what-if" scenarios that provide a deep reflection of the society we know.Fair warning about the recently released Spielberg movie: The movie is nothing like the book. And I truly mean nothing. So if you were planning to watch the movie in place of picking up this book, don't be lulled into thinking one will give you the gist of the other.
Stars: 5/5
Recommended for: Anyone who remembers anything from the 80s, and anyone interested in speculative fiction that is based around pop culture without being anachronistic.
Bonus Points: The audiobook is read by the fantastic Wil Wheaton, so this is the route for you if you want a totally immersive experience.
