I devoured this book. And in response to so many others reviews I'd like to start by saying I neither lived through the 80's nor am I obsessed with the 80's. I do absolutely love science fiction but I'm not restricted to specifically 80's. I did get at least 50 percent of the references, but I didn't feel like my enjoyment of the novel suffered if I didn't get one of the references.

I'll start with what I didn't like. I didn't like the neglectfulness of the real world. I'm the kind of person who wants to know everything about the world I'm shoved into. I personally would have liked more insight into the dystopian future and how it got as bad as it was. Especially the corporate takeover. I do think that in fiction these days there is a cliche of "everyone is plugged in and nobody cares about the real world anymore" that can be overdone. However the few scenes where Wade is forced to do things outside I think we're the most interesting parts. I also would love to read a novel just once or twice where there isn't a damn romantic interest. I get it. Wade is a dork virgin just like the hero in the majority of these sci-if stories who falls in love with the girl who is "out of my league." Talk about cliches.

That being said. THIS BOOK NOURISHED MY SOUL. I thought the plot was beyond creative. I was hooked from about the second chapter and I couldn't stop. I loved that the adversary was a corporation and that all of the themes of video games are touched on. I would have loved an epilogue with a little more info at the end to round out what happened at the end because I still feel attached to the characters and the world Cline created. The best novel I've read in a while and I'd probably even say one of the best newer sci-if novels I've read in a while.

Read this book if you love: dystopia, adventure, suspense, minimal romantic interest, 80's references, video games.