Hello Bookworms!
Remember when Ready Player One (review) got me hooked on audio books? It was an AWESOME book and Wil Wheaton as narrator SLAYED. I’ve been waiting on baited breath for Ernest Cline’s followup novel and keeping my fingers and toes crossed that Wil Wheaton would be narrating again. I can’t tell you how excited I was to find out that Armada was being released WITH Wil Wheaton narrating AND it was available on Scribd. The “Hallelujah Chorus” sang, y’all.
Armada begins with high school senior Zack Lightman. He’s a video game geek to the core and constantly pines for more adventure in his mundane suburban life… And then a flying saucer shows up outside the window of his math class.
As it turns out, the Earth is being invaded by aliens, and the government has been slowly conditioning the world’s population to defend itself through science fiction culture and video game simulations. Giant conspiracy. Dun dun duuuuuuuuuun!
Because Ready Player One was so utterly fantastic, it was inevitable that Ernest Cline’s followup wouldn’t live up to everyone’s expectations. I read several reviews that were disappointed in Armada, so I went in with my expectations tempered. I’m not sure they really needed tempering, though, because I thought Armada was great fun! I mean, Wil Wheaton does a Carl Sagan impression that is spot freaking on. I cannot recommend the audio book highly enough. My word. Wil Wheaton needs to read all the things. Well. All the things that Neil Gaiman isn’t reading, anyway.
If you liked Ready Player One I recommend giving Armada a try. It’s not the same, but that doesn’t mean it’s not a darn good time. Video games and aliens and conspiracies, y’all. It’s a whole lot of fun. And you can totally make “pew pew pew” noises the whole time you’re reading it. Because lasers.
Talk to me Bookworms! Do you think it’s detrimental to have your debut novel be TOO good?
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Jancee @ Jancee's Reading Journal
I agree. It’s not RPO, but that’s the point. It’s a different novel, and it’s still SO good! Also, I like to think that my video game playing could be useful someday, so novels like this give me hope!
Words For Worms
I don’t play video games (mostly because I am terrible at them) so I felt like I’d be worthless to the war effort. If, however, the aliens are interested in a hula hooping contest or a game of trivial pursuit to decide earth’s fate, I might be helpful.
Leah @ Books Speak Volumes
Scribd <3 <3 <3
I think I need to read/listen to Ready Player One before I try this one, but I'm glad you enjoyed it!
Words For Worms
RPO is really fantastic, I can’t recommend it highly enough.
Michelle
I really enjoyed this one. No, it isn’t Ready Player One, but I can and do like both. I read this one instead of having Wil read it to me, but I will probably listen to it one day. I got a kick out of all of the sci-fi movie references; I still don’t know whether I should be ashamed or proud that I knew every single one of the references without having to Google them. Apparently, I watched a lot of sci-fi movies when I was younger and scarily enough still remember them. Overall, like you, I thought the book was a ton of fun.
Words For Worms
I think you should be PROUD of that geekery! I got most of the references, but I’m sure I missed a few. Ernie Cline would OWN 80s Trivial Pursuit. I would not challenge him, as I do not like losing.
Monika @ Lovely Bookshelf
Ohhhh Wil Wheaton reads this, too? Score!!!
Words For Worms
Yeah!
Katie @ Doing Dewey
I really enjoyed listening to Wil Wheaton read Lock In, so Ready Player One is definitely a book I plan to listen too đŸ™‚
Words For Worms
He is a fantastic narrator!
Quirky Chrissy
Ohhhh I do love Ernest and Wil. Although audio books are tough for my ADD.