I’m sure many people have heard of this movie coming out this March, but like most big movies, there is a book precursor. “Ready Player One” is a wild ride through a bleak, yet futuristic, ‘80s-themed future. The protagonist, Wade Watts, has access to a worldwide virtual reality simulation, The Oasis, which the entirety of humankind uses to escape the dismal real world. The creator hid a series of clues inside this virtual world, and whoever finds them and solves the accompanying puzzles will inherit his entire fortune and ownership of the Oasis.
The story details the adventures of Wade as he searches for the virtual Easter eggs and evades an evil corporation trying to beat him to the finish line. I would highly recommend reading the book before seeing the movie because the book is absolutely packed full of references. With all of the nostalgia of yesteryear, there’s a little something for everyone: references abound to anything from “Lord of the Rings” to “Donkey Kong” to “Sixteen Candles” to Pink Floyd. Obviously, there is no way they can fit all of them into the movie, so read the book to get the full experience.