Sound Judgment – Ready Player One
Did you know that many audiobook narrators are members of the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists?
When I first heard that, I wasn’t sure if I fully believed it. But the more I thought about it, the more it began to make sense. These narrators embody full casts of characters and tell stories that require a wide range of skills, inflection and tone. The most popular audiobook narrators have a membership through SAG-AFTRA because of the benefits they provide, but that also gives way for famous actors to narrate popular books for any number of reasons. You might be thinking back to Kathy Bates in my first article, but would you believe me if I told you that was only the tip of the iceberg?
Our next book features one of these actors-turned-narrators with a name that may be obscure to some, renowned to others and familiar to just about everybody else. “Ready Player One” by New York Times bestselling author Ernest Cline is narrated by nerd-culture icon Wil Wheaton of “Star Trek: The Next Generation” and “Stand By Me” fame. Wil Wheaton has become a de facto face of nerd culture and cemented his status through his continued work as an actor, voice actor, and author. This is especially fitting for “Ready Player One” as it references many pop culture moments and works that are guaranteed to give everybody a sense of nostalgia.
“Ready Player One” tells the story of a world plagued by overpopulation and corruption, where its inhabitants would live a dreary life if it weren’t for a fully immersive virtual reality game called the Oasis.
The Oasis was designed as the next innovation in gaming, which immerses players fully in a brand-new universe filled with worlds where they can do anything and be anyone. While originally intended as a video game, its usefulness found its way into everyday life. With corporations and governments alike conducting business through the Oasis, it’s become so ingrained in this near-future version of Earth that people spend most of their time logged into it.
The story kicks off with the death of the creator of the Oasis, social recluse and avid gamer James Halliday. He posthumously announces a contest to find a well-hidden Easter egg somewhere in the virtual world. Whoever can find and claim this egg will gain control of the Oasis and determine its future for generations to come.
Our protagonist is a Gunter (short for “Egg Hunter”) named Wade Watts, who has dedicated his life to searching for this egg. He does so by delving into the life and interests of Halliday, who modeled much of the Oasis and the contest after his favorite time in history, the ‘80s, which becomes increasingly apparent as references to the iconic decade come in full force throughout the story. Whether it’s a reference to War Games, Pac-Man or the song “The Safety Dance” by Men Without Hats, all listeners will catch something that makes them say, “I remember that!” – adding a special layer to an already fantastic experience.
I would say this story is a love letter to the ’80s set against the backdrop of modern online gaming, but it becomes much more than that. We listen as Watts fights back against corporate greed and navigates relationships of both the personal and virtual variety with an unsurprising lack of social skills. He exhibits that unsteady and nervous feeling we have all experienced at some point, and he shows us that we can do some incredible things with hard work, dedication and a little bit of luck.
“Ready Player One” has been adapted into a major motion picture directed by Steven Spielberg. Its sequel, “Ready Player Two” – also narrated by Wheaton – is available on every major audiobook platform. LL