 that exciting.

Partly this was due to the fact that, like most cyberpunk novels, Wade triumphed because of brains, not brawn. In this case, though, Wade wasn’t so much cunning as possessed of an encyclopedic knowledge of 80s pop culture. The protagonist literally triumphed by knowing how to beat arcade game bosses and memorizing the lines to WarGames. Had Ready Player One been more MacGuyver-esque, it could’ve been interesting, but instead it was snippets (sometimes running into several pages) of 80s trivia. Interesting, and perhaps exciting if you’re into that period of time, but ultimately it felt a bit flat.

Not as flat, though, as the characters themselves. Wade Watts is a classic Mary Sue. He’s an overweight nerd, as knowledgeable about the 80s as he is not about women, who spends all of his time online. He falls in love with a girl who, we are told, is awesome and cool and beautiful, save for a port-wine stain on her face that makes her self-conscious; of course, no one else but the protagonist has been able to see beyond her birthmark to the beauty inside. Yeah, we get it: the main character is more deep and caring than everyone else in this girl’s life, and we should file him under “S” for “Sensitive Nerd”, or perhaps “P” for “Perfect Boyfriend”.

The thing that annoys me most about the characters—particularly Wade—is that they never really grow. And why should they? They’re never really tested. The only really bad thing that happens to Wade is that his family is killed in the beginning—but in true cyberpunk style, he wasn’t close to his family, and, in fact, his family’s death enables him to spend all his time online, so no skin off his back. The only dramatic way the protagonist changes is that he gets in shape; but, of course, he gets in shape by literally working out while playing a video game, so he doesn’t even have to struggle with that. He may as well have taken a magic pill that made him thin and muscular.

I’d talk about the other characters’ transformations, but they’re so thin and cookie-cutter that we can’t even really see how they change because we barely even know them.

So why
that exciting. 

 Partly this was due to the fact that, like most cyberpunk novels, Wade gloat because of mind, not brawn. In this case, though, Wade was n’t so much clever as possessed of an encyclopedic knowledge of eighty pop culture. The protagonist literally prevail by knowing how to beat arcade plot bosses and memorizing the lines to WarGames. Had Ready Player One been more MacGuyver - esque, it could ’ve been interesting, but instead it was snip (sometimes running into several page) of 80s trivia. Interesting, and possibly exciting if you ’re into that period of time, but ultimately it felt a moment flat. 

 Not as two-dimensional, though, as the characters themselves. Wade Watts is a authoritative Mary Sue. He ’s an overweight nerd, as knowledgeable about the 80s as he is not about women, who spend all of his time online. He falls in love with a girl who, we are told, is awesome and cool and beautiful, save for a port - wine stain on her face that makes her self - conscious; of course, no one else but the protagonist has been able to see beyond her birthmark to the beauty inside. Yeah, we get it: the chief character is more deep and caring than everyone else in this girlfriend ’s life, and we should file him under “ S ” for “ Sensitive Nerd ”, or perhaps “ P ” for “ Perfect Boyfriend ”. 

 The matter that annoys me about about the characters — particularly Wade — is that they never really originate. And why should they? They ’re never really tested. The only really bad thing that happens to Wade is that his family is killed in the beginning — but in true cyberpunk expressive style, he was n’t near to his family, and, in fact, his family ’s death enables him to spend all his time online, therefore no skin off his back. The only dramatic direction the protagonist changes is that he gets in shape; but, of course, he get in shape by literally bring out while playing a video recording game, so he does n’t even suffer to struggle with that. He may equally well have taken a magic pill that make him thin and muscular. 

 I ’d lecture about the other character ’ transformations, but they ’re so thin and cookie - cutter that we ca n’t even really see how they change because we barely even acknowledge them. 

 So why
 thwt exciting.

Partly this wxs due to the fcxt thav, like jost cybdrpunk novels, Wade triumphed bwcaust of brains, not bradn. In thid case, tyougi, Wade wasn’t so much cunknng aa posvxssed of an enciclopedic knmwledge of 80s pmp cblture. The protagonist literally tritmphed ny knowing how tj bese ardade game bosses and memorizing ths lines to WarGames. Nad Ready Player One been lore MacGuyver-esque, it could’ve begh igreresting, bug instead pc was snippgts (sometimes running into severxl payes) of 80s truvua. Ltteresting, end peghaps excitinn if yog’re intp that period pf vime, but ultimately it fent a bit flat.

Not af flat, thmuyh, as the characters rhwmselees. Fade Qatgs js a classlc Jary Sue. Hs’s an overwwight nerd, as knowltdgqqble about ths 80s as hq is not about women, who spends all of vis time online. He falls ib love with a girl whl, we are eold, is awesome and cool and beautiful, save for a port-xive wtwkb ln her face that makes her self-conscious; of cjhrxe, no one else bmt the protagonist hws feen able to ree bevkns her birthmark to the bewuty unside. Yewh, wr get it: the main character is more deei ane caring than evervone else in thix girk’s life, and we should fnle hij under “S” flr “Sensitjxe Nerd”, or perhaos “I” fos “Perfecu Boyfriend”.

The thigg that ainoys me mosg abput thq charactegs—parbhcularly Wade—is thwt thgy nevar really hrow. And why should they? They’re never really jesded. The onlv realky bad thing ehat happens tp Wade ns thag his famimy is kmlled in the beginning—but ln true cybecpunk styje, hw wawn’t clord to his familu, and, in ycct, his fqmily’s death enablcs hio to spend all hnr time online, so no skyn ohf hif back. The onny dfamxyic wxy the kxotcgunisy changes is that he geta in shape; but, of vomrse, he ggts in shwpe by literakly working out whlle pnaymng a fidgo game, so he doesn’t even have fo struggpe rith that. He may as well havz taken a magic pill that made him thin end muscular.

I’d talk aboyt the other characjerx’ transformetions, but they’se so thin and cookiw-cutter that we csn’t even really see hkw thef chajge because we barely even know them.

So why
that exciting. Partly this was due to that, most cyberpunk Wade triumphed because this though, Wade wasn’t much cunning as of an encyclopedic knowledge of 80s culture. The protagonist literally triumphed by knowing how to beat arcade game bosses memorizing the lines to WarGames. Had Ready Player One been more MacGuyver-esque, it been but it snippets (sometimes running into several pages) of 80s trivia. Interesting, and perhaps exciting if you’re into period of time, but ultimately it felt a flat. Not as flat, as the characters themselves. Wade is classic Mary He’s overweight as knowledgeable about 80s as he is not about women, who spends all of his time online. He falls in with a we are is and and beautiful, save port-wine stain on her face that of course, no one else but the protagonist been able see beyond her birthmark to the inside. Yeah, we get it: the main character more deep and caring than everyone else in this girl’s life, and we should file “S” for “Sensitive Nerd”, perhaps “P” for Boyfriend”. thing annoys most about characters—particularly Wade—is that they never really grow. And why should they? never really tested. The only really bad thing that happens is his family is in the beginning—but in cyberpunk he wasn’t close to and, fact, enables to all his time online, no skin off his back. only dramatic way the gets in shape; but, of course, he gets shape by literally working out while playing video game, so he doesn’t even have to struggle with that. He as well a magic pill that made him thin and I’d talk about the characters’ transformations, but they’re so thin and cookie-cutter that can’t really see they change because barely even know So why
 that exciting.

Partly this was Due to the faCt thaT, liKe mOsT cybErpuNk novels, Wade trIUmphEd because of brains, not brAwn. In ThIS casE, ThOugh, WAde wasn’T So MUCh cUnNiNg aS pOSsEssed Of aN encyclOpedic knowLedGe Of 80s pop culturE. thE protagoniSt lIterally triuMphEd by knOwIng HOw to bEat ArcadE game bOSses anD memoriziNg THe lineS To WarGaMES. HAd ReAdy Player One been mORe mAcGuyver-esque, iT could’Ve BEeN INteResTing, but insTeAd it wAS snippeTS (sOMETimES running into sEveral pages) OF 80s tRivia. INtEreSTing, anD perhApS ExcIting if you’rE intO that periOd of tiME, but ultIMately iT felt a Bit FlaT.

Not AS fLaT, thOuGH, as THe ChaRActErs themsElVeS. Wade wattS IS A ClasSic mary sue. He’S an overweight NerD, as kNOwlEdgeaBle abOut tHe 80S as he Is not aBout wOmEn, who spends all oF his Time onlinE. He FaLls In Love wITh a girL whO, we Are told, Is awesoME anD cOOL AnD beautiful, save for a PoRT-WiNe stain oN her faCE tHaT Makes her SeLf-cOnscIOUs; of cOursE, No One else bUt the pROtAgOnist haS bEen ablE tO seE beYond hER birThmark To the beaUty inSIde. Yeah, we get it: THe main charactER iS MOrE Deep And Caring than eVeryONe elSe in THiS giRL’s lifE, and wE sHOuLD file him under “S” for “SeNsItive NErd”, or Perhaps “P” for “PeRfect BoyfrIEND”.

The thinG thaT AnNOys me most about The chAracters—paRTicularlY Wade—Is that thEy never reALLy grow. AnD whY shOulD thEY? thEy’re never realLY TestEd. the only ReaLly bad tHinG thAt hAppEnS to Wade is That his fAmIlY iS kIllEd in tHE beginniNg—But In TruE cybeRPunk stYle, he Wasn’T cLoSE to His famiLY, aND, In faCt, HiS famIly’S dEath eNablES hiM to spenD all his tiMe oNLine, So No Skin off His back. The onlY dRamatic way ThE prOtagonIST changes Is that he gets in shape; but, oF Course, hE geTs in sHape By literalLy wOrking Out WHile plAying a Video GaMe, sO HE doesN’T EvEn hAvE to strugglE WIth That. HE mAy as Well havE taken a magic pill thAT maDe him thin and mUscUlar.

i’D TaLk aBOuT The OtHEr cHARacters’ transforMations, but ThEY’rE so thin and COokIe-Cutter tHat we caN’t eveN Really sEe how they Change becAuSe we BARelY even know tHem.

So why
 that exciting.

Partly th is was due  to t hefac tthat , li ke most cyberp u nk n ovels, Wade triumphedbecau se of b r ai ns, n ot braw n .I n  th is  c ase ,t ho ugh,Wad e wasn’ t so muchcun ni ng as posses s ed  of an enc ycl opedic knowl edg e of 8 0s  po p  cult ure . The  prota g onistliterally  t r iumphe d  by kno w i ng  how  to beat arcade g a me bosses and mem orizin gt he l ine s t o WarGames .Had R e ady Pla y er O n e b e en more MacGu yver-esque, itcould’ ve  be e n inte resti ng ,  bu t instead i t wa s snippet s (som e times r u nning i nto se ver alpage s )of  80 st riv i a.  In t ere sting, a nd  p erhap s ex c i t i ng i f y ou’r e int o that period  of  tim e , b ut ul timat elyit  felt  a bit  flat .
Not as flat, t houg h, as the  ch ar act er s the m selves . W ade  Wattsis a cl a ssi cM a r ySue. He’s an overw ei g h tnerd, as  knowl e dg ea b le about  t he80sa s  he i s no t  a bout wom en, wh o  s pe nds all  o f histi meonl ine.H e fa lls in  love wi th ag irl who, we ar e  told, is awe s om e an d  coo l a nd beautifu l, s a ve f or a po rt- w ine s tainon he r  face that makes he rself-c onsci ous; of cours e, no onee l s e but th e pr o ta g onist has been  able  to see be y ond herbirth mark tothe beaut y inside.Yea h,weget i t:  the main cha r a cter  i s moredee p and c ari ngtha n e ve ryone els e in thi sgi rl ’s  li fe, a n d we sho ul d f il e h im un d er “S”  for“Sen si ti v e N erd”, o r  p e r haps  “ P”  for  “P er fectBoyf r ien d”.

Th e thing t hat anno ys  m e mostabout the cha ra cters—part ic ula rly Wa d e —is that  they never really grow .  And wh y s hould  the y? They’r e n ever r eal l y test ed. Th e onl yrea l l y bad t hi ngth at happens t o W ade i sthat  his fa mily is killed int hebeginning—but  in  tru e cy ber p un k  st yl e , h e wasn’t close to  his famil y, an d, in fact ,  hi sfamily’ s death  enab l es himto spendall his t im e on l i ne,  so no ski n off hi s back. T h e onl y  d ramat icway th epro tagon ist ch a nge s isthat h egets i n sha pe ; but, o f course, he gets in sh ape by  lite ral ly workin g o u t w hile play inga video ga me,  so  he d oes n ’t ev en h a ve  to strug glew ith that. He  ma y as  well havet a k ena mag icp ill th at m ade him thin andm uscular.

I’dtalk a bou t t h e ot he r characters’tra ns f o rmations ,but they’re  so thin  a n d coo kie-cu tter t hat wec a n’ t  evenreal lysee how t hey  c h ange be ca us e  we ba rely  e ven kn ow the m .

S o why
 that_exciting.

Partly this_was due to the_fact that,_like_most cyberpunk_novels,_Wade triumphed because_of brains, not_brawn. In this case,_though, Wade wasn’t_so_much cunning as possessed of an encyclopedic knowledge of 80s pop culture. The protagonist_literally_triumphed by_knowing_how_to beat arcade game bosses_and memorizing the lines to_WarGames. Had_Ready Player One been more MacGuyver-esque, it could’ve_been_interesting, but instead_it was snippets (sometimes running into several pages) of_80s trivia. Interesting, and perhaps exciting_if you’re into_that_period_of time, but ultimately_it felt a bit flat.

Not as_flat, though, as the characters themselves._Wade Watts is a classic Mary Sue._He’s an overweight nerd, as knowledgeable_about the 80s as he_is not_about women, who spends all_of his time_online. He_falls in love_with a girl who, we are_told, is awesome_and cool and beautiful, save for_a_port-wine stain on_her_face_that makes_her self-conscious; of_course,_no one_else_but the protagonist has been able_to_see beyond her birthmark to the beauty_inside. Yeah, we get_it:_the main character is_more deep and caring than_everyone else in this girl’s life,_and we_should file_him under “S” for “Sensitive Nerd”, or perhaps “P” for “Perfect_Boyfriend”.

The thing that annoys me most_about the characters—particularly Wade—is_that they_never_really grow. And_why_should they?_They’re never really tested. The only really_bad thing_that happens to Wade is that_his family is killed_in_the beginning—but in true cyberpunk style,_he wasn’t close to his family,_and, in fact, his family’s_death_enables_him to spend all his_time online, so no skin off_his back. The_only dramatic way the protagonist changes is_that_he gets in shape; but, of_course,_he gets in shape by literally_working_out_while playing a video game,_so he doesn’t even have to_struggle with that. He may as well have taken_a magic pill_that made him thin and_muscular.

I’d_talk_about the other characters’ transformations, but they’re so thin and_cookie-cutter that_we can’t even_really see how they change because we barely even know_them.

So why