Ready Player One

Ready Player One is a science fiction novel by Ernest Cline that is set in a dystopian future where most of the world's population spends their time in a virtual reality called the OASIS. The story follows the main character, Wade Watts, as he competes in a virtual treasure hunt to find the hidden Easter Egg left behind by the creator of the OASIS, James Halliday.

The book takes place in the year 2045, where the world is suffering from economic collapse, environmental degradation, and overpopulation. The only escape for most people is the OASIS, a virtual reality world where people can do almost anything they want. When Halliday dies, he leaves behind a challenge to find three keys hidden within the OASIS, which will lead to the Easter Egg and control of the entire OASIS.

Wade is a poor teenager living in a stacked trailer park, who has spent years studying Halliday's life in order to find the hidden keys. Along the way, he makes friends with other "gunters" (egg hunters) and enemies with a powerful corporation called IOI that will stop at nothing to find the egg and take control of the OASIS.

The book is filled with references to 1980s pop culture, particularly video games, music, and movies, which were Halliday's obsessions. Wade and his friends must use their knowledge of 1980s pop culture to solve the puzzles and challenges that Halliday has left behind.

Overall, Ready Player One is a thrilling adventure story that combines action, humor, and nostalgia in a unique and engaging way. The book has become a popular cultural phenomenon, inspiring a film adaptation directed by Steven Spielberg.