Listen free for 30 days

  • Ready Player One

  • Written by: Ernest Cline
  • Narrated by: Wil Wheaton
  • Length: 15 hrs and 40 mins
  • 4.8 out of 5 stars (6,404 ratings)

Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo + applicable taxes after 30 days. Cancel anytime.
Ready Player One cover art

Ready Player One

Written by: Ernest Cline
Narrated by: Wil Wheaton
Try for $0.00

$14.95 a month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy Now for $29.14

Buy Now for $29.14

Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Tax where applicable.

Publisher's Summary

#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

©2011 Ernest Cline (P)2011 Random House Audio

What the critics say

2017, Laura Hillenbrand Outstanding Literary Award, Winner

“The science-fiction writer John Scalzi has aptly referred to Ready Player One as a ‘nerdgasm’ [and] there can be no better one-word description of this ardent fantasy artifact about fantasy culture. . . . But Mr. Cline is able to incorporate his favorite toys and games into a perfectly accessible narrative.” (Janet Maslin, The New York Times)

“This non-gamer loved every page of Ready Player One.” (Charlaine Harris, #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Sookie Stackhouse series)

Editorial Review

In a high-stakes game, do you have what it takes to triumph over millions of other gamers and Nolan Sorrento? Find out how to gain the ultimate prize in the sci-fi adventure novel Ready Player One.

This epic sci-fi story details the opportunity of a lifetime for gamers looking to find the lottery ticket that will bring them not only riches but fame and glory - if the gunters don’t get there first. A series of clues weave together in an epic puzzle within the virtual reality of OASIS, a seemingly perfect virtual world. Ready Player One by Ernest Cline follows the main character Wade Watts aka Parzival, on an intense and exciting mystery adventure, using aspects of suspense, science fiction, and mystery to create a truly engaging listen.

Ready Player One is the perfect audiobook for fans of video games and old-school geek culture, as Cline leaves easter eggs and subtle pop culture references to real-world nerd-dom throughout the story. Fans of gaming culture will love the way he mixes classic tropes with engaging storytelling for a must-listen experience. This dystopian story is imaginative and inventive, and Cline’s world-building skills will have the story coming to life around you.

Will Wheaton lends his familiar voice to the narration, bringing a wealth of former reading experience to this audio experience. As a celebrated actor, author, and sci-fi icon, he is the perfect choice for this science fiction epic. Just as characters like Art3mis, best friend Aech, and Anorak escape into the first-person virtual world and try to gain control of the OASIS, Ready Player One will have you feeling as though you left your real life behind and plunged into this fantasy world yourself.

Featured Article: 20 Best Celebrity Audiobooks for Storytelling by the Stars

What do you get when you pair literary classics with expert narrative talents? A listening experience like none other. Enjoy your favourite titles brought to you by top A list actors and actresses. From expert narration to full-cast readings, these celebrity Audible titles pull out all the stops. We’ve compiled a list of some of the 20 best celebrity audiobooks narrated by some of your most beloved famous actors. Enjoy the tales you know and love read by acclaimed celebrity audiobook narrators that put their own personal spin on these classic tales.

What listeners say about Ready Player One

Average Customer Ratings
Overall
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    5,326
  • 4 Stars
    819
  • 3 Stars
    167
  • 2 Stars
    61
  • 1 Stars
    31
Performance
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    4,962
  • 4 Stars
    697
  • 3 Stars
    129
  • 2 Stars
    29
  • 1 Stars
    22
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    4,692
  • 4 Stars
    829
  • 3 Stars
    196
  • 2 Stars
    71
  • 1 Stars
    44

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Will wheaton's mispronunciation of words...

I found myself in a cringe like state for certain words Will wheaton mispronunced. Words such as Captian, internet, and poser.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

home run!

Ready player one, you win!
you cant loose with this book choice.
top notch!
Yeti

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Wil Wheaton

Loved Wil Wheaton's performance here. I'll definitely look for more where he is narrating, perhaps Armada.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
  • mk
  • 2018-09-15

captivating, couldn't put it down

Wil Wheaton is amazing in this. The story really made me reflect on the imminent reality of what the world could become in a few decades.
Was rushing to my car, looking forward to the drive to/from work, because it meant I got to listen to the book!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Once you start you can't stop listening

amazing 100% recommend Mr Wheaton did a fantastic job with this title.
Anyone who has spent any amount of time playing classic video games will enjoy this book.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Wil Wheaton is brilliant!

Great book and Wil Wheaton’s interpretation is absolutely brilliant!

The first part of the book is fascinating, with the description of the technology and lifestyle around it.

The middle part is a bit slow and grueling with the internal struggles and heartbreak.

But the last part of the book (level 3) is riveting. Could not stop listening.

Highly recommended.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Great story, better than the movie!

#audible1
So many details were left out of the movie. Everyone always says the book is better...this is true!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Fanatic #Audible1

The story is very engaging, So much better than the move! #Audible1
good character building and storytelling, Man I love the 80s

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Amazing

The story and narrator are perfect. Great action, details, references to everything in our world. It's pretty cool. I'd absolutely recommend to anyone who enjoys Sci-Fi and Fantasy, gaming, or technology in general.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Fantastic!

Pretty awesome storyline, I couldn't stop listening to it! It's a great twist on the fantasy realm and has some great 80's pop culture Incorporated into it with amazing skill. Must read for any geek or game console fan!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!