Ready Player One, Ernest Cline's intriguing book about a teenager seeking Easter eggs in the virtual OASIS to escape his own almost inhabitable world, became an instant success when it came out in 2011.
As is the case with many sequels of beloved fantasy and sci-fi series, such as The Winds of Winterand Doors of Stone, book two came out much later, in 2020. This is where things became a little more complicated.
Is Ready Player Two Worth Reading?
From the Goodreads' blurb, we read:
This description, while intriguing, doesn't seem much different from the premise of book one. While still liked by many fans of the series, Ready Player Two received mixed reviews. With a rating of 3.51/5 on Goodreads and 4/10 on IGN, it's safe to assume that book 2 failed to live up to the high standard set by its predecessor, a New York Times bestseller with a rating of 4.25/5.
So, is Ready Player Two worth reading? This question is not easy to answer, given that many readers and reviewers feel very strongly about it either way.
Unlike the generally well-liked Ready Player One, book two is more polarising, with 4-star and 3-star reviews being the majority – but many 1 or 2-star reviews are also there, and they're vocal:
The pacing seems to be an issue even for those who were more forgiving about the book's shortcomings.
The stereotypical representation of Wade's friends, a Japanese boy, and a Black girl were also negatively criticized.
Another reader pointed out that Ready Player Two was an unsatisfying sequel because it didn't significantly expand on the world Cline built in the first book, nor did it try to do something new and unique with the plot:
Of course, this is not to say that there are no positive reviews whatsoever. Several fans said they did enjoy Ready Player Two, although most agreed that it was not as mind-blowing as Ready Player One – the familiar formula Cline created simply worked for them.
"If you liked Ready Player One as I did, you may like this," says another fan. "But, be aware that I am seeing many Ready Player One fan give it one or two stars. So, proceed with caution and expect anything!"
At the end of the day, then, it's hard to give a one-size-fits-all answer regarding whether or not you should read Ready Player Two. If you want a ground-breaking work of science fiction with great pacing and plot, you might not find it in this one. If you are still curious, or just invested in the world and eager to see where the story will go, you might want to give it a try, but it's better not to expect too much.
Ready Player Two: Will There Be a Movie?
In 2018, Ready Player One was adapted into a film (dir. Steven Spielberg). According to author Ernest Cline – who confirmed there won't be a Ready Player Three, but a Ready Player Zero prequel might be on the cards– the film actually motivated him to finish writing Ready Player Two on time. After all, if the first film turned out to be a success, a sequel would likely be made whether or not his next book was out.
Indeed, Cline has confirmed that a Ready Player Two film is in the early stage of its production. Given the liberties the first film took with the source material, as well as the lack of conclusive information, we can't be sure what the new film is going to look like but the author expects the experience to be as fun as the production of Ready Player One.
Here's a short synopsis of Ready Player Two:
In the meantime, if you are interested in other fantasy and sci-fi sequels, you might want to check out A Court of Silver Flamesand Chain of Ironwhich both have early 2021 release dates.
Related: Ready Player Two Author Confirms Movie Adaptation For the Sequel is Underway