Ready Player One, by Ernest Cline

I thoroughly enjoyed Ready Player One while I read it. But this book is right in my wheelhouse: I grew up playing Atari 2600 games, programming early Atari computers, and hanging out in dark arcades playing Tempest, Battlezone and Donkey Kong. The book tells the story of an Easter egg hunt in an elaborate multi-player game that has become an escape for millions in a dystopian future.

Wade Watts, known as Parzival while in the game, is the main character and is well fleshed out because we get to know his inner thoughts and concerns. Unfortunately, he's the only character that comes to life. But this story is primarily driven by the hunt for the Easter egg. The style is fairly pedestrian and relies mostly on telling with very little showing.

As for theme, Cline tries to bring in the idea that escaping reality through video games is problematic and that people should face their fears and learn to deal with people in the real world. But this comes too little, too late because the theme wasn't developed throughout the novel. For instance, if Wade had chosen earlier in the book to hide from reality and it created a set-back in his quest, the theme could have been better developed. But as it stands, the theme felt tacked on at the end.

However, as a whole, I enjoyed Ready Player One and it shows that an excellent concept with a compelling plot can carry modest characterization and an unexceptional style.