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  • Ready Player One

  • Written by: Ernest Cline
  • Narrated by: Wil Wheaton
  • Length: 15 hrs and 40 mins
  • 4.8 out of 5 stars (6,400 ratings)

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Ready Player One cover art

Ready Player One

Written by: Ernest Cline
Narrated by: Wil Wheaton
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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

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So much Fun!!

This book is so much fun to listen to!! I absolutely loved it! In fact, it was difficult to stop listening until I'd reached the end. So good!!

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16 people found this helpful

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amazing really good I loved any 13+ would love it.

it was surprising at some point and super good I would read.this book over again

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8 people found this helpful

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Perfect!

This book was the perfect geeky book, exactly as I thought it would be. It is full of so much history and all woven together in a futuristic world so fantastically!

The narration was amazing! Wil Wheaton did a great job bringing the story to life with his reading and varying voices for the characters!

I will definitely be listening to this again soon!

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5 people found this helpful

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great story, great performance.

Great book with such a realistic story. You connect with the characters and have a great sense of nostalgia throughout. One of my most favorite books.

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5 people found this helpful

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Nostalgia at its best

The references in this book will definitely bring back memories (in addition to revealing your age). Wil Wheaton definitely brings this story to life and delivers an amazing performance.

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5 people found this helpful

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Fantastic!!!

I just loved this story, will Wheaton really made it all that much better, as a fellow geek.

Will recommend to everyone!

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4 people found this helpful

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excellent book

excellent book, great Reid once I started it I couldn't stop. wonderful job by will Wheaton

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3 people found this helpful

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Awesome

Very well performed and well written book. Highly recommend. This was my first audiobook and am very glad to have chosen it

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  • JM
  • 2017-12-23

Fun Story, OK Writing

The story is fun. Wil Wheaton performs well. I did not enjoy the writing style because it is very repetitive and most explanations were analogies referring to 80s sci-fi rather than a crafted description. Chapters 21-33 were a struggle to get through because I felt myself asking "why does any of this matter?" Overall I'd say it's an OK book.

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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.

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2 people found this helpful