READY PLAYER ONE

As narrator of this offbeat, futuristic adventure, Wil Wheaton must evoke a teen's naïveté and cynicism about real life and incorporate this veteran gaming geek's expertise of ‘80s culture. With nods to Willy Wonka, William Gibson, and Neal Stephenson, a cross-genre plot involves gaming jousts as the hero attempts to win top score on his quest to inherit a dead billionaire's control of an interactive universe of cyber-worlds. Wheaton is up to the task, presenting an engaging treasure hunt while also dramatizing the hero’s enthusiasm at playing classic games like Pac-Man. Also a twist on PILGRIM’S PROGRESS, this novel has something for everyone. J.L. © AudioFile 2011, Portland, Maine [Published: SEPTEMBER 2011]