Columbus, 2045. A dystopian country has emerged, where the 1980s is having a cultural renaissance and technology has never been so advanced. Like many others, Wade Watts, a poor teenage orphan,, has found solace in the OASIS, a virtual world where anyone can take on an avatar and where anything can happen.

Right after the creator of the OASIS died, a contest emerges, with the winner owning the OASIS (and therefore, most of the real world, too). Corrupt organizations and government officials are fighting to win the contest, but Wade (as his avatar Parzival) is the first to complete part one of the contest. He’s  gained worldwide fame and has millions of people wanting his head. Along with his best friend Aech and love interest Art3mis, Wade must find a way to stop the wrong people from gaining control of the world.

Cline is a product of his generation, the 1980s. Every chapter is chock-full of pop culture references, trivia facts, and easter eggs. With Wade’s first person point of view, the readers feel submerged into this dystopia, where past and future collide.

“Ready Player One” is an enigma wrapped in an anomaly. With action-packed fight sequences, thrilling reveals, and a romantic subplot, “Ready Player One”shows that the past and the future combined make a world unlike anything we’ve ever known.