Hardcover, 384 pages
English language
Published Nov. 23, 2020 by Ballantine Books.
An unexpected quest. Two worlds at stake. Are you ready?
Days after Oasis founder James Halliday's contest, Wade Watts makes a discovery that changes everything. Hidden within Halliday's vault, 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 will 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.
Content warning ☢️ Spoiler ahead!
In summary: Sword Art Online plot plus San Jupinero
Isn't as fun to read as Ready Player One.
More dead-on 80's nostalgia packaged in an entertaining story that pays homage by name to darker predecessors like Strange Days and Brainstorm.
So gut der erste Teil war so schlecht ist der zweite. Spannung fehlt, viel Blabla und die Handlung ist naja. Man hätte mehr aus der Grundidee des Buches machen können. Es wirkt sehr erzwungen.
Started in the morning, finished in the evening. We didn't need this sequel, which was just okay. It felt like the target audience was Hollywood, not me.
The first third of the story covered years, the last two thirds covered hours. Cline dials down the pop culture references from his previous two books, and yet here they often feel forced. At least they range wider than the first book. But enough about that - to the story!
I "fit the profile" for the first book, computer geek heavily involved in RPGs in the early 80s. One thing I really liked about that story were the clues - I could try to solve the mysteries before the characters did. This book has none of that. Wade takes no part in solving the first mystery, so we the reader are also locked out. After that, the ticking clock reduces the other mysteries …
Started in the morning, finished in the evening. We didn't need this sequel, which was just okay. It felt like the target audience was Hollywood, not me.
The first third of the story covered years, the last two thirds covered hours. Cline dials down the pop culture references from his previous two books, and yet here they often feel forced. At least they range wider than the first book. But enough about that - to the story!
I "fit the profile" for the first book, computer geek heavily involved in RPGs in the early 80s. One thing I really liked about that story were the clues - I could try to solve the mysteries before the characters did. This book has none of that. Wade takes no part in solving the first mystery, so we the reader are also locked out. After that, the ticking clock reduces the other mysteries to narrative. Conveniently, a character with fore-knowledge of that universe or mystery is available to lead us through the solution. Another reviewer likened it to playing a game by reading the walkthrough - less satisfying. The least fun (and quickest) was Tolkien's Arda.
I'm fine with the bad guy, and exploring the creepier side of Halliday. Wade idolized the guy, so knocking him down a peg makes sense. The climactic battle seemed too quick, but worked for me.
I didn't like Wade much in the first book, and I like him less here. Many who liked the first book speculated that a sequel would have a different perspective - Sam or Aech primarily. This story could have worked with that.
Stepping back, we know that Cline wrote the majority of this after working on the screenplay for the RP1 movie. I wonder how much of this was written for Hollywood instead of the readers. The characters decide to embrace their real appearance, replacing their avatars? Loving adoration of Prince, and Pretty in Pink? Halliday's quests were a challenge, these feel scattered.
Overall rating - 2 stars. A friend said "If you liked the first book, you'll find something to like here" and I did - but barely enough to cover the investment of time. Back to the library you go!
