Comments on: Ready Player One and The Freedom Maze win the Prometheus Award for best novel http://boingboing.net/2012/07/14/ready-player-one-and-the-freed.html Brain candy for Happy Mutants Wed, 22 May 2013 00:26:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: coderlion http://boingboing.net/2012/07/14/ready-player-one-and-the-freed.html#comment-1481216 coderlion Thu, 19 Jul 2012 02:34:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=171227#comment-1481216 That's not a fair complaint. Have you been president of the United States?  No?  So you're not allowed to criticize any president or their policies, ever, since you never did better. That’s not a fair complaint.

Have you been president of the United States?  No?  So you’re not allowed to criticize any president or their policies, ever, since you never did better.

]]> By: Listener43 http://boingboing.net/2012/07/14/ready-player-one-and-the-freed.html#comment-1478937 Listener43 Mon, 16 Jul 2012 20:32:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=171227#comment-1478937 Hmm. "RPO sucked. It's not nearly as good as my own first novel." Oh wait, let me guess how many of the complainers have first novels that are better .... Never mind. Hmm.
“RPO sucked. It’s not nearly as good as my own first novel.”
Oh wait, let me guess how many of the complainers have first novels that are better ….
Never mind.

]]> By: pupdog http://boingboing.net/2012/07/14/ready-player-one-and-the-freed.html#comment-1478688 pupdog Mon, 16 Jul 2012 17:09:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=171227#comment-1478688 Holy crap people, It's a fun book about video games as life. The whole point of Aich is that the online persona isn't the same as her real-world 'person' but, in the end, it's the same identity and it doesn't matter. Sure, it may not be the best written literary work ever, but - newsflash! - it's a book about a kid that plays the world's biggest video game. Literary criticism can wait outside the arcade... Holy crap people, It’s a fun book about video games as life. The whole point of Aich is that the online persona isn’t the same as her real-world ‘person’ but, in the end, it’s the same identity and it doesn’t matter. Sure, it may not be the best written literary work ever, but – newsflash! – it’s a book about a kid that plays the world’s biggest video game. Literary criticism can wait outside the arcade…

]]> By: teapot http://boingboing.net/2012/07/14/ready-player-one-and-the-freed.html#comment-1478493 teapot Mon, 16 Jul 2012 12:58:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=171227#comment-1478493 Thankyou.  I have not read the book but it struck me that people should keep in mind it's a work of fiction set in a fictional future. The idea that somehow an author should presume that any future is rid of racism is an incredible restriction to expect of authors. It's <b>fiction</b>. Plus I saw an extensive interview with Cline on NSFW 134 and he didn't come across at all bigoted. Thankyou. 

I have not read the book but it struck me that people should keep in mind it’s a work of fiction set in a fictional future. The idea that somehow an author should presume that any future is rid of racism is an incredible restriction to expect of authors. It’s fiction. Plus I saw an extensive interview with Cline on NSFW 134 and he didn’t come across at all bigoted.

]]> By: Michael Birch http://boingboing.net/2012/07/14/ready-player-one-and-the-freed.html#comment-1478245 Michael Birch Sun, 15 Jul 2012 23:42:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=171227#comment-1478245 I enjoyed RPO. Some people just want a little fluff or nostalgia sometimes. I usually read scifi's to get away from the heavier stuff I'm reading. RPO was meant to channel your inner kid (amongst other things)... that's all. It had it's flaws, but overall it achieved it's objective.  Simplicity. Congrats to both authors. I enjoyed RPO. Some people just want a little fluff or nostalgia sometimes. I usually read scifi’s to get away from the heavier stuff I’m reading. RPO was meant to channel your inner kid (amongst other things)… that’s all. It had it’s flaws, but overall it achieved it’s objective.  Simplicity. Congrats to both authors.

]]> By: Brett Myers http://boingboing.net/2012/07/14/ready-player-one-and-the-freed.html#comment-1478147 Brett Myers Sun, 15 Jul 2012 20:26:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=171227#comment-1478147 As an 80s kid who grew up NOT playing video games, I can tell you I got nearly no enjoyment from this book. Ugh. The part that epitomizes my dislike of the story is where the main character comments about the other giant robot pilot guys having unoriginal giant robot designs. In this world. In this book. As an 80s kid who grew up NOT playing video games, I can tell you I got nearly no enjoyment from this book. Ugh. The part that epitomizes my dislike of the story is where the main character comments about the other giant robot pilot guys having unoriginal giant robot designs. In this world. In this book.

]]> By: Enki http://boingboing.net/2012/07/14/ready-player-one-and-the-freed.html#comment-1478113 Enki Sun, 15 Jul 2012 18:20:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=171227#comment-1478113  Have we lived and fought in vain? Seriously, I think the criticisms of RPO here are largely justified, but I'm surprised at their intensity.  I thought it was somewhat flawed, but enormously enjoyable, book, and I'm pretty sure only 50-60% of my enjoyment was due to having so much in common with the author w/r/t 80s nostalgia. And I'm gonna win that Delorean.  Have we lived and fought in vain?

Seriously, I think the criticisms of RPO here are largely justified, but I’m surprised at their intensity.  I thought it was somewhat flawed, but enormously enjoyable, book, and I’m pretty sure only 50-60% of my enjoyment was due to having so much in common with the author w/r/t 80s nostalgia.

And I’m gonna win that Delorean.

]]> By: e http://boingboing.net/2012/07/14/ready-player-one-and-the-freed.html#comment-1478108 e Sun, 15 Jul 2012 17:52:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=171227#comment-1478108 RPO was, frankly, pretty bad. It can be enjoyed as a sort of masturbatory homage to the '80s  or a slightly punched up kids book. But it is a seriously flawed book on many levels. Self-indulgent, sloppy pacing, spotty originality, schlocky plot devices, glossed over key points, patch work narrative, over reliant on wish fulfillment. To me it read like someone got stoned and started a "hey dude what if.. right.. what if playing video games and watching movies turned out to be really important.. and fuck the corporations!  dude" conversation, AND THEN WROTE ABOUT IT. There is no defense to the "oh, but it was just a fun light book." And that is true. You want to spend a few hours on complete fluff you could do worse than RPO. But giving it an award? That really says more against the Prometheus Award then anything for RPO RPO was, frankly, pretty bad. It can be enjoyed as a sort of masturbatory homage to the ’80s  or a slightly punched up kids book. But it is a seriously flawed book on many levels. Self-indulgent, sloppy pacing, spotty originality, schlocky plot devices, glossed over key points, patch work narrative, over reliant on wish fulfillment. To me it read like someone got stoned and started a “hey dude what if.. right.. what if playing video games and watching movies turned out to be really important.. and fuck the corporations!  dude” conversation, AND THEN WROTE ABOUT IT.

There is no defense to the “oh, but it was just a fun light book.” And that is true. You want to spend a few hours on complete fluff you could do worse than RPO. But giving it an award? That really says more against the Prometheus Award then anything for RPO

]]> By: Ev K http://boingboing.net/2012/07/14/ready-player-one-and-the-freed.html#comment-1478007 Ev K Sun, 15 Jul 2012 10:51:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=171227#comment-1478007 I've never disliked a book like I disliked Ready Player One.  The pacing is either 70+ pages of information dump, endless 80's trivia or a summary of action. The main character is ridiculously immature, illustrated by the  stupid internet argument in his friend's basement and the wannabe badass act in the meeting with the antagonist. The other characters are painfully unbelievable, especially the antagonists. (Wouldn't an assassin be much simpler than wiring up explosives?)  It was like reading one long reddit comment that wanted to be Snow Crash.  I’ve never disliked a book like I disliked Ready Player One.  The pacing is either 70+ pages of information dump, endless 80′s trivia or a summary of action. The main character is ridiculously immature, illustrated by the  stupid internet argument in his friend’s basement and the wannabe badass act in the meeting with the antagonist. The other characters are painfully unbelievable, especially the antagonists. (Wouldn’t an assassin be much simpler than wiring up explosives?) 

It was like reading one long reddit comment that wanted to be Snow Crash. 

]]> By: Tynam http://boingboing.net/2012/07/14/ready-player-one-and-the-freed.html#comment-1477982 Tynam Sun, 15 Jul 2012 08:52:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=171227#comment-1477982 I'm not a great fan either, it has structural flaws, but I don't see why the lead is a problem.  I <i>did</i> most of that between 1986 and 1992.  If I'd had modern computing and been four years older, I'd have done all of it. I’m not a great fan either, it has structural flaws, but I don’t see why the lead is a problem.  I did most of that between 1986 and 1992.  If I’d had modern computing and been four years older, I’d have done all of it.

]]> By: Amphigorey http://boingboing.net/2012/07/14/ready-player-one-and-the-freed.html#comment-1477975 Amphigorey Sun, 15 Jul 2012 07:27:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=171227#comment-1477975 So was I! Except less gritty, since it's YA. So was I! Except less gritty, since it’s YA.

]]> By: ujin http://boingboing.net/2012/07/14/ready-player-one-and-the-freed.html#comment-1477971 ujin Sun, 15 Jul 2012 07:15:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=171227#comment-1477971 Hold on.  The Ready Player One universe is an alternate, post apocalyptic, future timeline.  In this universe indentured servitude is commonplace and (I think) legalized, A single corporation basically runs everything and makes all the rules, the environment is trashed, and humans cannot find any form of contentment unless they are signed on. This is a universe where you think racism/sexism should no longer exist?  Nearly every other modern day failing has been exacerbated in this future but the longest lasting somehow misses the cut!?  If this universe were free from racism/sexism it would be out of sync with the whole story. Go finish the book. Hold on.  The Ready Player One universe is an alternate, post apocalyptic, future timeline.  In this universe indentured servitude is commonplace and (I think) legalized, A single corporation basically runs everything and makes all the rules, the environment is trashed, and humans cannot find any form of contentment unless they are signed on.

This is a universe where you think racism/sexism should no longer exist?  Nearly every other modern day failing has been exacerbated in this future but the longest lasting somehow misses the cut!?  If this universe were free from racism/sexism it would be out of sync with the whole story.

Go finish the book.

]]> By: Jens Reuterberg http://boingboing.net/2012/07/14/ready-player-one-and-the-freed.html#comment-1477969 Jens Reuterberg Sun, 15 Jul 2012 06:23:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=171227#comment-1477969 When a subgenres top example of literary exellence is "Atlas Shrugged" you kinda wonder who would actually WANT to be part of it. (I mean I bet the books are great (haven't read them) and that it rocks to be given an award... even if its handed out by "liberterian futurists" (liberterian in the wierdest Randian sense of the word). I thought all the futurists died out during WWI?  When a subgenres top example of literary exellence is “Atlas Shrugged” you kinda wonder who would actually WANT to be part of it.
(I mean I bet the books are great (haven’t read them) and that it rocks to be given an award… even if its handed out by “liberterian futurists” (liberterian in the wierdest Randian sense of the word). I thought all the futurists died out during WWI? 

]]> By: coderlion http://boingboing.net/2012/07/14/ready-player-one-and-the-freed.html#comment-1477965 coderlion Sun, 15 Jul 2012 06:05:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=171227#comment-1477965 Here's another spoiler alert: The black girl is, I believe, a lesbian as well.  SURPRISE.  Ohhh...edgy.  I say, as a gay male. :P Here’s another spoiler alert:

The black girl is, I believe, a lesbian as well.  SURPRISE.  Ohhh…edgy.  I say, as a gay male. :P

]]> By: beslayed http://boingboing.net/2012/07/14/ready-player-one-and-the-freed.html#comment-1477953 beslayed Sun, 15 Jul 2012 05:18:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=171227#comment-1477953 I was thinking the same thing. I was thinking the same thing.

]]> By: Stryx Varia http://boingboing.net/2012/07/14/ready-player-one-and-the-freed.html#comment-1477929 Stryx Varia Sun, 15 Jul 2012 03:18:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=171227#comment-1477929 You know what was an excellent first novel? "The sky above the port was the color of television, tuned to a dead channel." An implausible mush of console game porn sluiced though a patched-up narrative full of plot holes is not an excellent first novel. My point is that I seriously question why someone would put RPO in the group as Stephenson, Gibson and Doctorow.  I did like the shtetl of stacked up mobile homes, so there's that. You know what was an excellent first novel? “The sky above the port was the color of television, tuned to a dead channel.” An implausible mush of console game porn sluiced though a patched-up narrative full of plot holes is not an excellent first novel. My point is that I seriously question why someone would put RPO in the group as Stephenson, Gibson and Doctorow.  I did like the shtetl of stacked up mobile homes, so there’s that.

]]> By: Zadaz http://boingboing.net/2012/07/14/ready-player-one-and-the-freed.html#comment-1477915 Zadaz Sun, 15 Jul 2012 02:42:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=171227#comment-1477915 I read Ready Player One at the same time as REAMDE, and all I could think was that  Ready Player One was the book I hoped I was getting when I opened REAMDE. Ready Player One was a lot of fun, especially when it spent time in the real world, and is an excellent first novel.  Perfect? No. But much better than the paperweight of disappoint that was REAMDE. I read Ready Player One at the same time as REAMDE, and all I could think was that  Ready Player One was the book I hoped I was getting when I opened REAMDE. Ready Player One was a lot of fun, especially when it spent time in the real world, and is an excellent first novel.  Perfect? No. But much better than the paperweight of disappoint that was REAMDE.

]]> By: William Ventura http://boingboing.net/2012/07/14/ready-player-one-and-the-freed.html#comment-1477901 William Ventura Sun, 15 Jul 2012 02:09:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=171227#comment-1477901 Was there not a line in there about the mother specifically choosing a white avatar to make her clients comfortable?  This wasn't something that I was checking for. It's the only 2 times race is mentioned in the book and I felt it was written poorly. I'm from Spain and grew up in New York City. So when I'm reading the book I can imagine the lead to be me. Aech can be a Asian friend I grew up with the other people in the game room I can put different faces from my youth as well. I was really lost in the story from all the nostalgia. Then  race is tagged to the story and in a way that suddenly took me out of the story. I'm not hinting that Cline is a closet racist. It's a decent book. Just that final bit showed some limitations in writing from my point of view anyway.  Was there not a line in there about the mother specifically choosing a white avatar to make her clients comfortable? 

This wasn’t something that I was checking for. It’s the only 2 times race is mentioned in the book and I felt it was written poorly. I’m from Spain and grew up in New York City. So when I’m reading the book I can imagine the lead to be me. Aech can be a Asian friend I grew up with the other people in the game room I can put different faces from my youth as well. I was really lost in the story from all the nostalgia. Then  race is tagged to the story and in a way that suddenly took me out of the story. I’m not hinting that Cline is a closet racist. It’s a decent book. Just that final bit showed some limitations in writing from my point of view anyway. 

]]> By: Stryx Varia http://boingboing.net/2012/07/14/ready-player-one-and-the-freed.html#comment-1477898 Stryx Varia Sun, 15 Jul 2012 02:01:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=171227#comment-1477898 Mark's original mash note about this novel put it in the same class as Snow Crash, Neuromancer, and Down and Out in the Magic Kingdom. I think it should be obvious that one of these things is not like the others. Of course it won't win a Nebula or a Hugo or a PKD award since it won't be nominated because it's not that good. http://boingboing.net/2011/08/15/ready-player-one-the-best-science-fiction-book-ive-read-in-a-decade.html  Mark’s original mash note about this novel put it in the same class as Snow Crash, Neuromancer, and Down and Out in the Magic Kingdom. I think it should be obvious that one of these things is not like the others. Of course it won’t win a Nebula or a Hugo or a PKD award since it won’t be nominated because it’s not that good.

http://boingboing.net/2011/08/15/ready-player-one-the-best-science-fiction-book-ive-read-in-a-decade.html 

]]> By: Sparky005 http://boingboing.net/2012/07/14/ready-player-one-and-the-freed.html#comment-1477877 Sparky005 Sun, 15 Jul 2012 01:21:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=171227#comment-1477877  Thanks for the heads up on these. I'll check them out.  Thanks for the heads up on these. I’ll check them out.

]]> By: chellberty http://boingboing.net/2012/07/14/ready-player-one-and-the-freed.html#comment-1477871 chellberty Sun, 15 Jul 2012 00:55:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=171227#comment-1477871 You should have had a ready player one SPOILERS!!!! in your post. Spoilers !!!You missed the point,yes Aech had the trifecta trope but it was not that she was ashamed but that was her Identity that is who she was. she saw herself as a  male and their is no reason to believe that she was ashamed of her race. Ernest cline's spoken word stuff disproves your theory about his experience in multiculturalism. lookup you'll be dead soon. You should have had a ready player one SPOILERS!!!! in your post. Spoilers !!!You missed the point,yes Aech had the trifecta trope but it was not that she was ashamed but that was her Identity that is who she was. she saw herself as a  male and their is no reason to believe that she was ashamed of her race. Ernest cline’s spoken word stuff disproves your theory about his experience in multiculturalism. lookup you’ll be dead soon.

]]> By: Stuart_in_Austin http://boingboing.net/2012/07/14/ready-player-one-and-the-freed.html#comment-1477868 Stuart_in_Austin Sun, 15 Jul 2012 00:52:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=171227#comment-1477868  Pretty tough to manage since it wasn't nominated for either award and the Nebula has already been awarded to "Among Others" by Jo Walton.  Pretty tough to manage since it wasn’t nominated for either award and the Nebula has already been awarded to “Among Others” by Jo Walton.

]]> By: Stryx Varia http://boingboing.net/2012/07/14/ready-player-one-and-the-freed.html#comment-1477822 Stryx Varia Sat, 14 Jul 2012 23:17:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=171227#comment-1477822 More proof that RPO is *just like* Snow Crash. I'm pretty sure the Nebula and Hugo are next.  More proof that RPO is *just like* Snow Crash. I’m pretty sure the Nebula and Hugo are next. 

]]> By: Silicon Scherazade http://boingboing.net/2012/07/14/ready-player-one-and-the-freed.html#comment-1477813 Silicon Scherazade Sat, 14 Jul 2012 22:54:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=171227#comment-1477813 Haven't read the Freedom Maze, but the description reads exactly like Octavia Butler's Kindred. Haven’t read the Freedom Maze, but the description reads exactly like Octavia Butler’s Kindred.

]]> By: coderlion http://boingboing.net/2012/07/14/ready-player-one-and-the-freed.html#comment-1477807 coderlion Sat, 14 Jul 2012 22:42:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=171227#comment-1477807 Also not a fan of Ready Player One.  All it seemed to do was throw 80s nostalgia at the reader in a vain attempt to get the "oooh and aaah" response, while having a mediocre story, and several Deus Ex Machina situations. We're to believe that the lead character had watched over 30 different 80s TV series multiple times, read numerus 80s novels, played DND extensively enough to memorize certain modules, listen to the entire discography of the 80s at least twelve times (if not 400 times), and watch every movie that made the 80s "the 80s" at least 100 to 200 times each. All while going to school in his little virtual land.  Also not a fan of Ready Player One.  All it seemed to do was throw 80s nostalgia at the reader in a vain attempt to get the “oooh and aaah” response, while having a mediocre story, and several Deus Ex Machina situations.

We’re to believe that the lead character had watched over 30 different 80s TV series multiple times, read numerus 80s novels, played DND extensively enough to memorize certain modules, listen to the entire discography of the 80s at least twelve times (if not 400 times), and watch every movie that made the 80s “the 80s” at least 100 to 200 times each.

All while going to school in his little virtual land. 

]]> By: JohnQPublic http://boingboing.net/2012/07/14/ready-player-one-and-the-freed.html#comment-1477799 JohnQPublic Sat, 14 Jul 2012 22:26:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=171227#comment-1477799 I checked out another sci fi book titled "Player One" by mistake.  I ended up enjoying it a great deal - it was a short and quick read but really nicely paced and with some good character development and narration.  I checked out another sci fi book titled “Player One” by mistake.  I ended up enjoying it a great deal – it was a short and quick read but really nicely paced and with some good character development and narration. 

]]> By: foobar http://boingboing.net/2012/07/14/ready-player-one-and-the-freed.html#comment-1477790 foobar Sat, 14 Jul 2012 22:02:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=171227#comment-1477790 Yeah, didn't anyone tell him that all racism stopped in 2008? Sheesh, how out of touch can you be? Yeah, didn’t anyone tell him that all racism stopped in 2008? Sheesh, how out of touch can you be?

]]> By: Pope Ratzo http://boingboing.net/2012/07/14/ready-player-one-and-the-freed.html#comment-1477779 Pope Ratzo Sat, 14 Jul 2012 21:37:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=171227#comment-1477779 Wouldn't it be more appropriate that the "Libertarian Futurist Society" give out one-ounce coins made of Reardon Metal instead of gold?  Since Reardon metal doesn't really exist, it's the perfect basis for money in Libertarian society. Wouldn’t it be more appropriate that the “Libertarian Futurist Society” give out one-ounce coins made of Reardon Metal instead of gold? 

Since Reardon metal doesn’t really exist, it’s the perfect basis for money in Libertarian society.

]]> By: René Walter http://boingboing.net/2012/07/14/ready-player-one-and-the-freed.html#comment-1477777 René Walter Sat, 14 Jul 2012 21:26:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=171227#comment-1477777 You def have a point there, I'd like to add the weak structure of the book and the cliché-driven plot. However, I enjoyed it on quite some levels, like: Montypythonwargamespacman, fuck yeah ;) You def have a point there, I’d like to add the weak structure of the book and the cliché-driven plot. However, I enjoyed it on quite some levels, like: Montypythonwargamespacman, fuck yeah ;)

]]> By: William Ventura http://boingboing.net/2012/07/14/ready-player-one-and-the-freed.html#comment-1477766 William Ventura Sat, 14 Jul 2012 21:09:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=171227#comment-1477766 I am surprised it won anything. I almost stopped reading when it's revealed that the main characters friend is black and the friends mom also disguises herself as white. This written today with a Black President, with the story set 50 years in the future.  This gave me the impression that Cline has very little exposure to today's multicultural society. Yeah, I'm reading a lot into that. I would have preferred that they were white and not Black ashamed of being Black.  It seems to me Cline's imagination of Black people as well as his knowledge of pop culture is stuck in 1985. I am surprised it won anything.
I almost stopped reading when it’s revealed that the main characters friend is black and the friends mom also disguises herself as white. This written today with a Black President, with the story set 50 years in the future. 

This gave me the impression that Cline has very little exposure to today’s multicultural society. Yeah, I’m reading a lot into that. I would have preferred that they were white and not Black ashamed of being Black. 

It seems to me Cline’s imagination of Black people as well as his knowledge of pop culture is stuck in 1985.

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