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[GDJustin]

See, I can't buy this because Ernest Cline has now written two books where the protagonists have been immensely rewarded for being deep into nerd culture. If Ernest Cline was actually interested in providing meaningful commentary on how becoming obsessed with pop culture is a waste of time and can be "off putting" he wouldn't have made his two protagonists parley their knowledge of The Last Starfighter into scoring with hot babes.

I don't think so. RPO plays it totally straight. The characters are badasses of the OASIS because they know all these references and uncovered all these puzzles. There is no insight about how sad and pathetic it is to live in a world where the fucking 1980s are the pinnacle of culture. I mean, Cline says as much in the AMA.

There's nothing on the page that makes it sad or pathetic to the people living in that world. But it came off that way to me, sometimes. And presumably lots of other people. I found it interesting. It's almost like a barometer for the reader - how nerdy are you? I know Pac-Man really well - so all those bits make me smile. But some of the other stuff in the book? That's too far - those guys are too into their hobby.

I'm not entirely sure what your exact comparison is in Fight Club (and haven't read it in maybe a decade or so), but to the extent that anything was cloying about the prose or the world constructed in Fight Club, it's in service of the themes: anticonsumerism, conspicuous consumption, identity as performance, ego-death, masculinity in modernity, resistance, anarchy, sincerity, psychosis and the nature of reality, therapy. I'm not going to say Palahniuk is highly literary or high-brow, but he is clearly grappling with ideas that matter.

The Fight Club comparison is for the audience of people that think Tyler Durden is cool or right.

 

[Haly]

There was some subtext of "too much of this crap is bad for you", particularly in the ending where Wade puts down the VR set and goes out on a date (with his hot girlfriend). So, he tried. It might've been a halfhearted effort that's meant to do little more than wrap things up in a pretty bow but it was there.

Armada though... Well, I'll comment on it when I read it.

 

[Fmal]

Sounds like fun might give it a read. Never read RPO. Man some people really get their signals cut over some Tomb of Horrors D&D module (or whatever) references in a story that seems to have about exactly that much to say.

What does this mean?

 

[Ape Gone Insane]

At work this morning, the only copy of this I sold was to a man that looked like Ernest Cline's cousin or something. The t-shirt, the hair, the beard...all of it. It just seemed surreal.

And, just for a joke, I flipped to random pages in the book to see if I could find any page without a pop culture reference. Of the six or seven times I tried, I always found one.

I really need to punish myself and read this to see if it is as bad as it seems to be.

http://www.shmoop.com/ready-player-one/allusions.html

You're welcome.

 

[FO-totality]

This picture guys. This picture.

wow

fucking

wow

 

[PhoncipleBone]

http://www.shmoop.com/ready-player-one/allusions.html

You're welcome.

LOL. Thank you.

wow

fucking

wow

He didn't modify the interior or exterior to perfectly match Back to the Future. Pffft. Poser.

 

[styl3s]

Sounds like fun might give it a read. Never read RPO. Man some people really get their signals cut over some Tomb of Horrors D&D module (or whatever) references in a story that seems to have about exactly that much to say.

I had a blast both listening to and reading RPO (now listening to Armada). I prefer the audiobooks but i also have a hard time focusing while reading and i love to lay back, close my eyes and just let my imagination take over while listening and both RPO and Armada are great detailed book and add the enthusiasm to Wil Wheaton i just love it.

 

[Haly]

Oh my goooooooooooooooooood...

“When I was thinking about what the prize should be for this contest, I couldn’t think of a better prize than a DeLorean, but I didn’t want to give away my DeLorean,” Cline said. “It’s like the most iconic car of the 1980s, and since my book is all wrapped up in 1980s pop culture, it’s the most perfect mobile emblem of my book and the most perfect grand prize.”

When Cline spoke with Wired, he hadn’t yet taken the second DeLorean out on the road. He was, however, still searching for that perfect speeding ticket.

As much of a completist as any nerd, Cline wants to get written up for driving 88 mph. He came close once, in Michigan, when he got pulled over doing 76 in a 65 mph zone. But the officer wouldn’t boost the speed on his citation (which had to be one of the geekier requests in the history of law enforcement).

 

[Delicious Waffles]

I had a blast both listening to and reading RPO (now listening to Armada). I prefer the audiobooks but i also have a hard time focusing while reading and i love to lay back, close my eyes and just let my imagination take over while listening and both RPO and Armada are great detailed book and add the enthusiasm to Wil Wheaton i just love it.

This is how I'm trying to "read" RPO. I read the first chapter of RPO and never went back to it. I have the audiobook on reserve at my local library after hearing a sample by Wheaton. It held my interest longer than the chapter I read. Hopefully, I can snag a copy before I head on vacation in about a month but there's 7 people in front of me.

 

[PhoncipleBone]

Oh my goooooooooooooooooood...

 

[Haly]

He wanted to give away a Delorean to promote RPO but he didn't want to give away his Delorean so he bought another to give away!

 

[xxracerxx]

He wanted to give away a Delorean to promote RPO but he didn't want to give away his Delorean so he bought another to give away!

I take more issue with him trying to intentionally get a speeding ticket for going 88mph.

 

[PepsimanVsJoe]

He wanted to give away a Delorean to promote RPO but he didn't want to give away his Delorean so he bought another to give away!

I'm more worried about him purposefully speeding.

Dude's going to get somebody hurt (or worse).

 

[styl3s]

This is how I'm trying to "read" RPO. I read the first chapter of RPO and never went back to it. I have the audiobook on reserve at my local library after hearing a sample by Wheaton. It held my interest longer than the chapter I read. Hopefully, I can snag a copy before I head on vacation in about a month but there's 7 people in front of me.

You can always do a free audible trial and use it as your first free book.

It's what i do when there is a book i am interested in but don't want to spend $15-20.

 

[Tatsumaki Senpuukyaku!]

I take more issue with him trying to intentionally get a speeding ticket for going 88mph.

The cop should have just written him up for 88 so he wouldn't continue to endanger other people on the road.

 

[Delicious Waffles]

You can always do a free audible trial and use it as your first free book.

It's what i do when there is a book i am interested in but don't want to spend $15-20.

Could you download the book onto an iPhone and take it with you?

 

[LegatoB]

The cop should have just written him up for 88 so he wouldn't continue to endanger other people on the road.

Yeah, I mean, I'm pretty sure if you do over 25mph over the speed limit, they automatically take away your license in most states for being a menace, and that seems deserved here.

 

[diffusionx]

There's nothing on the page that makes it sad or pathetic to the people living in that world. But it came off that way to me, sometimes. And presumably lots of other people. I found it interesting. It's almost like a barometer for the reader - how nerdy are you? I know Pac-Man really well - so all those bits make me smile. But some of the other stuff in the book? That's too far - those guys are too into their hobby.

Right, that's what I mean. In the internal logic of the book, and hence, I have to believe, the author, this stuff is actually very cool. That's why I said that the book plays it straight. There is no commentary on this. In the book, it's not even a hobby - learning about this 80s shit is the Most Important Thing. Thing is, pop culture is ephemeral by it's nature. It's garbage. Cline never grapples with this.

Fight Club spent a fair amount of time grappling with these themes. I'm no fan of CP but comparing him to Cline is deeply unfair IMO.

 

[dead souls]

Just got an email from my library that an e-copy of Armada has been checked out to me. Wish me luck, my fellow GAF members.

If hate-reading wasn't a thing before, it will be now.

 

[Pilgrimzero]

I am about 2/3rds through Armada and, I'm let down.

It's the tropiest book and if you don't see the plot points coming from a mile away you must be blind.

I LOVE Ready Player One, but this... good lord.

RPO makes since in it's universe. Armada does not. Sure, the best humanity has to offer vs the aliens are 15-18 year olds who spend to much time playing video games, sure whatever.

But even the military guys who have spent YEARS in a secret base play D&D and smoke "Yoda Koosh" their own special blend of weed.

So far the best thing about the novel is that Whedon (in the audiobook) makes the Asian officer (who created Yoda Koosh) sound like George Takei.

This seems more like fan fiction based on Cline's work than Cline himself. It's a downgrade from RPO.

Hopefully Ready Player Two will be back to the awesome-ness.

 

[Haly]

Portal reference.

 

[Cyan]

Portal reference.

This can't be real, can it?

 

[Gobias]

Portal reference.

Gross. Waiting for that gamer comic.

 

[Tatsumaki Senpuukyaku!]

I don't understand what that portal reference is supposed to contribute to the book aside from "Hey guys remember portal we all played that right?"

 

[Cyan]

Gross. Waiting for that gamer comic.

.

 

[orthodoxy1095]

Alright, I really enjoyed Ready Player One when I read it early last year. Maybe it was because I was getting back into gaming and stuff that the book harped on, but I liked it.

But reading some of these excerpts y'all are posting of the new book, they seem damn cringe-worthy. Are they actually worse or is my brain not letting me remember how bad RPO might have been?

 

[Dresden]

Alright, I really enjoyed Ready Player One when I read it early last year. Maybe it was because I was getting back into gaming and stuff that the book harped on, but I liked it.

But reading some of these excerpts y'all are posting of the new book, they seem damn cringe-worthy. Are they actually worse or is my brain not letting me remember how bad RPO might have been?

Consensus seems to be that it's worse, but RPO sounds terrible anyway, so it's probably a bit of both.

 

[Haly]

RPO seems better than this book. In my mind, Armada must be his first attempt at writing a book consisting almost entirely of 80s references, except he had a moment of clarity and realized it was a steaming pile of dogshit. Instead, he scrapped it and wrote RPO.

But it turns out this kind of stuff sells well, so he dug out that draft of Armada he never posted onto fanfiction.net, dusted it off, threw in some newer, topical references, and handed it off to his agent.

Cline makes a crutch of pop culture
It fills his first book to the brim
Somehow he's selling another
My God how the money rolls in

Rolls in, rolls in, rolls in,
My God how the money rolls in.

 

[Dresden]

But it turns out this kind of stuff sells well, so he dug out that draft of Armada he never posted onto fanfiction.net, dusted it off, threw in some newer, topical references, and handed it off to his agent.

worldbuilding imo:

 

[Haly]

I'm trying to figure out if that Yu Suzuki thing was him being prophetic, a last minute addition to the kindle version, or if they literally recalled all the shipped books and reprinted them with Yu Suzuki's name inserted.

 

[Sibersk Esto]

Those aren't even sentences anymore, just vaguely interconnected name drops.

 

[The Technomancer]

worldbuilding imo:

 

[Cyan]

worldbuilding imo:

"Plagiaristic," "Frankenstein-like." Well at least the dude is self-aware.

 

[The Technomancer]

"Plagiaristic," "Frankenstein-like." Well at least the dude is self-aware.

but he goes on to...praise it in what seems like the next sentence?

 

[bearythebear]

worldbuilding imo:

Jesus, this can't be real.... He's just listing a bunch of shit.

"Battlefield, Call of Duty, and Modern Warfare". At least get the fucking references right.

 

[xxracerxx]

Portal reference.

worldbuilding imo:

 

[banefirelord]

worldbuilding imo:

Holy what the namedropping-of-game-that-hasn't-actually-been-released-and-is-apparently-having-some-measure-of-dev-problems fuck?

EDIT: Just saw the COD/Modern Warfare double up. If you can't even get your fucking pop culture references straight, why, how...UGHHHHHHHH
EDIT 2: Isn't the Star Citizen engine just fucking CryEngine? Why would they need to license it from Roberts and not just get it off the shelf from Crytech like everyone else? Why is my nose bleeding?

 

[Haly]

Once he told me all of that, I suddenly began to see evidence of sci-fi design theft everywhere I looked inside the base. Everything was sleek, ergonomic, and vaguely retro-futuristic in its design, which often appeared to favor form over function.

This plagiaristic, Frankenstein-like development strategy proved wildly successful. Terra Firma and Armada were two of the bestselling multiplayer videogames in the world, and with good reason. Their stripped-down arcade-style gameplay made both titles easy to learn and fun for casual players,

Alright guys. Party is over. Cline is clearly aware of himself and he's just having a giggle. No one could possibly be this tone deaf.

 

[Not]

Ready Player One is one of those books that I absolutely hated at first-- then kinda got into as there was a clue-solving aspect that held your attention-- and then hated again when I realized that no human being would be prepared to do any of the shit he does to solve the clues.

I tweeted these comments upon my first readthrough:

"Why do most gamers appear to be mysoginistic atheists hmmmm"

"Its chapter 2 and already we got a Mary Sue for the main male character to fawn over"

By the end of the book, he was still an asshole (that now everyone loved) and he magnanimously forgave the Mary Sue for being slightly more ugly than her in-game avatar.

If this new book is more of the same, it just means this guy's the next Chris Paolini/Pat Rothfuss etc. etc. et fuckin' cetera

 

[FluxWaveZ]

Call of Duty and Modern Warfare? Hell of a game.

 

[orthodoxy1095]

Consensus seems to be that it's worse, but RPO sounds terrible anyway, so it's probably a bit of both.

Fair enough, maybe I should go re-read it to see how it sits with me.

worldbuilding imo:

WTF is this. Those sentences make my brain hurt.

 

[Not]

Call of Duty and Modern Warfare? Hell of a game.

Maybe he meant the WWII versions? Either way, it's clear the Best Gamer In The World protagonist knows a lot about current video games

 

[firehawk12]

Someone keeps spamming me with pages from this horrible book and it makes me hate life a little more every time he does it.

 

[Cowlick]

Someone keeps spamming me with pages from this horrible book and it makes me hate life a little more every time he does it.

But do you hate it like Luke Skywalker hates the Empire?

 

[firehawk12]

But do you hate it like Luke Skywalker hates the Empire?

I hate it the way that GI Joe hates Cobra!

 

[xxracerxx]

But do you hate it like Luke Skywalker hates the Empire?

More like the hate between the Rylan Star League and the Ko-Dan Empire.

 

[Tinfoilhatsron]

My god I thought I was the only one who thought the protaginist of RPO was a fucking loser obsessed with a bygone age. Glad to see I'm not alone.

 

[HORRORSHØW]

basura, flaming

 

[Ape Gone Insane]

lmao, it's like he's making money of Wikipedia entries.

 

[aku:jiki]

Oh, come on, there's no way that "Call of Duty and Modern Warfare" line is actually in the book! Dresden is trolling with an edited screenshot, right? You can't be telling me that Cline can't even do the single thing he does as an author.