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troutman · 10-16-2015, 10:31 AM

There is so much I could say about Ready Player One. I was in high school in the early 1980s, and it feels like this book was written specifically for me. Most of the pop culture references are familiar and dear to me. The book is not especially poetic, but the references are like candy for me. The concept of the Hunt is interesting. Some of the characters are cliche archetypes.

For me the book peaked in the Tomb of Horrors, not because that is the climax, but because that contained my favorite 1980s references. I learned to play AD&D in the early 1980s. Tomb of Horrors was released in 1978, so I missed playing that module. I did know about The Tomb by reputation - it was considered a death trap dungeon (TPK = total party kill) with the most kick ass Boss Acererak (a Lich!). I also had some early Atari computer that had a Joust cartridge.

I liked the future vision of the word - real and virtual. Being educated and socializing on-line. The virtual disco. The stacks of trailers where Wade lives.

I could open up any page of Ready Player One at random, and have something to say about it.

Let me start with this - is it significant that Wade is an orphan, living with relatives? This is common archetype - ex. Luke Skywalker, Peter Parker, Frodo. Wade is really striving to become a man on his own, and that is the real prize.

http://charactertherapist.blogspot.c...01-orphan.html

Orphan archetypes are down-to-earth realists, with solid virtues and a lack of pretense. They are empathetic egalitarians who believe in the inherent worth of all and highly value dignity of others, as well. Acceptance comes easily to them, as they are fair, friendly, understanding, and inviting. They are democratic, and not in the political sense, because they believe in the Three Musketeers concept of "one for all and all for one."

They learned independence and interdependence at a young age, and they pragmatically and perceptively face facts as they are, not as they wish they are. They can really rally after a set-back and have a natural resilience. They are most fulfilled when they are within a group and feel like they are "one of the gang." As a result, they relate and connect well with others, enjoying networking and camaraderie, which suits their warm, kind, outgoing and sociable personality. They have what is a called a "common touch" to motivate others to pitch in, solve problems, and just generally do and be their best.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Percival

After the death of his father, Perceval's mother takes him to the forests where she raises him ignorant to the ways of men until the age of 15. Eventually, however, a group of knights passes through his wood, and Perceval is struck by their heroic bearing. Wanting to be a knight himself, the boy leaves home to travel to King Arthur's court. In some versions his mother faints in shock upon seeing her son leave. After proving his worthiness as a warrior, he is knighted and invited to join the Knights of the Round Table.

Later, I want to return to two questions:

1. Wade's car is a Frankenstein's monster mash of cars from Back to the Future, Ghostbusters, and Knight Rider. Is this an original idea? Can you make something original when you are building things solely from others' creations?

2. How will Spielberg show the virtual world on the big screen?

10-16-2015, 10:31 AM	#89
troutman Unfrozen Caveman Lawyer Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Crowsnest Pass Exp:	There is so much I could say about Ready Player One. I was in high school in the early 1980s, and it feels like this book was written specifically for me. Most of the pop culture references are familiar and dear to me. The book is not especially poetic, but the references are like candy for me. The concept of the Hunt is interesting. Some of the characters are cliche archetypes. For me the book peaked in the Tomb of Horrors, not because that is the climax, but because that contained my favorite 1980s references. I learned to play AD&D in the early 1980s. Tomb of Horrors was released in 1978, so I missed playing that module. I did know about The Tomb by reputation - it was considered a death trap dungeon (TPK = total party kill) with the most kick ass Boss Acererak (a Lich!). I also had some early Atari computer that had a Joust cartridge. I liked the future vision of the word - real and virtual. Being educated and socializing on-line. The virtual disco. The stacks of trailers where Wade lives. I could open up any page of Ready Player One at random, and have something to say about it. Let me start with this - is it significant that Wade is an orphan, living with relatives? This is common archetype - ex. Luke Skywalker, Peter Parker, Frodo. Wade is really striving to become a man on his own, and that is the real prize. http://charactertherapist.blogspot.c...01-orphan.html Orphan archetypes are down-to-earth realists, with solid virtues and a lack of pretense. They are empathetic egalitarians who believe in the inherent worth of all and highly value dignity of others, as well. Acceptance comes easily to them, as they are fair, friendly, understanding, and inviting. They are democratic, and not in the political sense, because they believe in the Three Musketeers concept of "one for all and all for one." They learned independence and interdependence at a young age, and they pragmatically and perceptively face facts as they are, not as they wish they are. They can really rally after a set-back and have a natural resilience. They are most fulfilled when they are within a group and feel like they are "one of the gang." As a result, they relate and connect well with others, enjoying networking and camaraderie, which suits their warm, kind, outgoing and sociable personality. They have what is a called a "common touch" to motivate others to pitch in, solve problems, and just generally do and be their best. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Percival After the death of his father, Perceval's mother takes him to the forests where she raises him ignorant to the ways of men until the age of 15. Eventually, however, a group of knights passes through his wood, and Perceval is struck by their heroic bearing. Wanting to be a knight himself, the boy leaves home to travel to King Arthur's court. In some versions his mother faints in shock upon seeing her son leave. After proving his worthiness as a warrior, he is knighted and invited to join the Knights of the Round Table. Later, I want to return to two questions: 1. Wade's car is a Frankenstein's monster mash of cars from Back to the Future, Ghostbusters, and Knight Rider. Is this an original idea? Can you make something original when you are building things solely from others' creations? 2. How will Spielberg show the virtual world on the big screen? Last edited by troutman; 10-16-2015 at 11:05 AM.