Ernest Cline - Armada

[RickR]

Anyone else read the follow up to "Ready Player One"?  What'd you think?

 

 

[StormSurge]

I did. It was fine but I didn't find it nearly as good as Ready Player One.

[Starbuck66]

I agree with StormSurge, good but not as good as RPO. It kind of felt like it was borrowing too heavily from Ender's Game to me, but it was still a very enjoyable listen with Wil Wheaton narrating the Audible version I picked up.

[StormSurge]

I agree with StormSurge, good but not as good as RPO. It kind of felt like it was borrowing too heavily from Ender's Game to me, but it was still a very enjoyable listen with Wil Wheaton narrating the Audible version I picked up.

 

I never read Ender's Game  but while the story was good, it seemed fairly predictable. It's worth reading for sure.

[RickR]

I agree with you both, but it also pointed out some issues with Ready Player One too....the story is too predictable, the hero can do more than is logical, the hero will get the girl, there WILL be a happy ending. Maybe too much emphasis on 80's references.

 

I also listened to the Wil Wheaton audiobook version, and he does a great job.

 

I liked it...just a little too much of the same for me I guess.

[Starbuck66]

I agree with you both, but it also pointed out some issues with Ready Player One too....the story is too predictable, the hero can do more than is logical, the hero will get the girl, there WILL be a happy ending. Maybe too much emphasis on 80's references.

 

I also listened to the Wil Wheaton audiobook version, and he does a great job.

 

I liked it...just a little too much of the same for me I guess.

 

For me it just worked better with RPO though.... I was much more willing to forgive the excessive 80 references and predictable plot because it felt right, it was what made the book so great for me. With Armada it felt more cliche for some reason. I'm honestly hoping I don't get that same feeling when EC finally writes the RPO sequel. 

[RickR]

For me it just worked better with RPO though.... I was much more willing to forgive the excessive 80 references and predictable plot because it felt right, it was what made the book so great for me. With Armada it felt more cliche for some reason. I'm honestly hoping I don't get that same feeling when EC finally writes the RPO sequel. 

Perfect summary right there. 

 

For me, it made me rethink RPO a little.  Without all the 80's references, would it have been any good?  Is that all it was? 

 

Maybe I'm just overthinking it.  Armada is just too unbelievable.  EC had to compress down the timeline to make the story believable (the father being 19 when he died, for example).  And then there are points like the Zach playlist ONLY having 80's songs on it.  Puh-lease.  You mean to tell me he wouldn't sprinkle in a little Eminem or other modern music?  I must have said "Pfft" a dozen times when listening. 

Edited April 5, 2017 by RickR

[Starbuck66]

 And then there are points like the Zach playlist ONLY having 80's songs on it.  Puh-lease.  You mean to tell me he wouldn't sprinkle in a little Eminem or other modern music?  I must have said "Pfft" a dozen times when listening. 

 

This I'm not sure on... I think he would have listened to other modern music, but that playlist might have been treated like an artifact from his father's past. Its like a Guardians of the Galaxy cassette thing to me. Heck when I listen to that "album" I only listen to those songs, I don't mix in other stuff. I might sprinkle those songs into another playlist, but its definitely kind of its own thing.

 

I think you're on to something too about believable vs unbelievable... something RPO has going for it is the Oasis itself. Anything is possible because most of the book takes place in a VR video game. With Armada its all happening in the real world, which puts the reader into disbelief right away.