Ready Player One by Ernest Cline

Finally finished Ready Player One by Ernest Cline. Fantasy/sci-fi...it's 2044, earth has used up all the energy & basically gone to crap. The most famous video game inventor, Halliday, has died and will leave his billions to the person who beats his last game. We find out from the start that the young main character, an online high schooler, has won the game but the media's coverage got it all wrong. So he's telling his story. No one actually meets in person anymore...gasoline is way too expensive, cars rot on the side of roads, everyone lives their lives online. Not too hard to imagine, eh? But the fun part of this book is all the prolific references to the '80's. From video games, movies, music, television...it's all here. As we read, we find ourselves wanting to go back and watch all of these movies, hear all the songs, play all the games. But it's the characters that make this book. Rooting for the underdogs is what will keep you enthralled! 4 Stars! Audio by Will Wheaton is superb. Spielberg to direct movie! We have hope.