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Ready Player Two

Book 2 in the series:Ready Player One

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Ready Player Two continues the story of Wade Watts as he embarks on a new quest, the Seven Shards of the Siren's Soul, in a race against time to save the people he loves. The book is filled with pop culture references, a mix of old friends and new allies, and an imaginative storyline that takes unexpected turns, culminating in a unique ending that delves into themes of immortality and the consequences of seeking it out.

The plot of Ready Player Two unfolds in the OASIS, where Wade and his friends must combine their knowledge of obscure pop culture to solve the quest and prevent unimaginable dangers from befalling the world they know. The book is described as fun, over-the-top, and entertaining, with a mix of light-hearted moments and deeper reflections on the future of humanity and the impact of technology.

Characters:

Characters are largely criticized for their lack of development, with Wade being particularly unlikable.

Writing/Prose:

The writing style features excessive pop culture references and lacks engaging character development.

Plot/Storyline:

The plot revolves around Wade's new quest in the OASIS involving technological advancements and themes of addiction.

Setting:

The setting shifts between the immersive OASIS and the real-world consequences of technological advancements.

Pacing:

Pacing is uneven, with a slow setup followed by a rush into quest sequences.
When I finally logged back in to my OASIS account, I was sitting in my new corner office on the top floor of the GSS skyscraper in downtown Columbus, Ohio, preparing to start my gig as one of the comp...

Notes:

The sequel, Ready Player Two, continues the adventures of Wade Watts shortly after his victory in the first book.
Wade discovers new technology called ONI that allows for a highly immersive virtual reality experience.
The story features another Easter egg quest, this time involving Seven Shards of the Siren's Soul.
A significant theme in the sequel involves the dangers of excessive escapism and addiction to virtual reality.
Wade's character changes from a relatable underdog to a more self-centered billionaire, which disappointed some readers.
The narrative is filled with heavy references to pop culture, particularly from the 1980s, which some critics found overwhelming.
Critics noted a lack of character growth in Wade and some beloved side characters like Aech and Shoto felt underdeveloped in the sequel.
The book touches on social issues like digital privacy and the consequences of a virtual existence in the context of a deteriorating society.
Cline includes characters from multiple pop culture backgrounds, though some readers felt it lacked diversity and depth in storytelling.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

Triggers/content warnings for 'Ready Player Two' may include themes of mental health issues, cyberstalking, corporate greed, and complex identity issues, particularly related to gender.

From The Publisher:

#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

The highly anticipated sequel to the beloved worldwide bestseller Ready Player One, the near-future adventure that inspired the blockbuster Steven Spielberg film.

NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY THE WASHINGTON POST

"The game is on again. . . . A great mix of exciting fantasy and threatening fact."-The Wall Street Journal

AN UNEXPECTED QUEST. TWO WORLDS AT STAKE. ARE YOU READY?

Days after winning OASIS founder James Halliday's contest, Wade Watts makes a discovery that changes everything.

Hidden within Halliday's vaults, waiting for his heir to find, lies a technological advancement that will once again change the world and make the OASIS a thousand times more wondrous-and addictive-than even Wade dreamed possible.

With it comes a new riddle, and a new quest-a last Easter egg from Halliday, hinting at a mysterious prize.

And an unexpected, impossibly powerful, and dangerous new rival awaits, one who'll kill millions to get what he wants.

Wade's life and the future of the OASIS are again at stake, but this time the fate of humanity also hangs in the balance.

Lovingly nostalgic and wildly original as only Ernest Cline could conceive it, Ready Player Two takes us on another imaginative, fun, action-packed adventure through his beloved virtual universe, and jolts us thrillingly into the future once again.

Ratings (61)

Incredible (7)
Loved It (15)
Liked It (13)
It Was OK (13)
Did Not Like (9)
Hated It (4)

Reader Stats (92):

Read It (64)
Want To Read (18)
Did Not Finish (1)
Not Interested (9)

5 comment(s)

Did Not Like
1 month

Después de un primer tercio que me ha parecido horrendo, le sigue una historia que lo más que me ha llegado a parecer ha sido normalucha.

No puedo decir que sea previsible, porque no he llegado a entrar en la historia lo suficiente como para pensar en lo que fuera a pasar.

 
Hated It
2 months

I try to give a book 100 pages before giving up on it, but this info-dumping masturbatory piece of trash is not worth 100 pages. Fifty two pages in, there has been barely any dialogue because all Cline is doing is exposition. This is a cash grab.

 
Did Not Like
3 months

This one was a bit of a slag at times. At many times, actually. The info dumps seemed even longer and more plentiful than in the first book. The “plucky hero” of the first book became really unlikeable through much of this one. I had to keep taking breaks while reading this because my eyes would glaze and I’d find myself skimming instead of reading. Just when I was ready to put it down for good, it would pick up ever so slightly and reignite my curiosity just to end up slammed into another info dump or quest world that I could not have cared less about. I could get into some of the plot points or sudden and convenient new features the OASIS gains or even the Final Chapter (

 
Loved It
5 months

Very good sequel, that did not seem less than the first.

 
Did Not Like
5 months

Oh no. I really wanted to like this one. Ready Player One had its faults, but the story was so fun that those faults were easy to overlook. The sequel has significantly more faults and significantly less fun with which to hide them. The opening act is extremely weak and quickly makes you dislike the characters you used to root for. The middle act plods along and places the protagonist on a significantly less cool quest than the previous book. The final act almost captures some of the greatness from the first book, but just when everything seems to be heading in the right direction the author throws in a goofy ending that feels super out of place.

All in all, I think that Ernest Cline is a much better dreamer and storyteller than he is an author. The writing feels clunky, and the book often reads like a rough draft.

 

About the Author:

Ernest Cline is a #1 New York Times bestselling novelist, screenwriter, father, and full-time geek. He is the author of the novels Ready Player One and Armada and co-screenwriter of the film adaptation of Ready Player One, directed by Steven Spielberg. His books have been published in over fifty countries…

 
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