Days after Oasis founder James Halliday's contest, Wade Watts makes a discovery that changes everything. Hidden within Halliday's vault, waiting for his heir to find, lies a technological advancement that will once again change the world and make the Oasis a thousand times more wondrous, and addictive, than even Wade dreamed possible. With it comes a new riddle and a new quest. A last Easter egg from Halliday, hinting at a mysterious prize. And an unexpected, impossibly powerful, and dangerous new rival awaits, one who will kill millions to get what he wants. Wade's life and the future of the Oasis are again at stake, but this time the fate of humanity also hangs in the balance.

I've always felt pretty secure in my nerdy identity, but even I would not want to face off against Ernest Cline in pop culture trivia. But despite my limited knowledge of obscure video games and John Hughes movies, I found myself tearing through Ready Player Two at warp speed, gleefully geeking out on the immersive worlds of iconic 20th-century classics.

After becoming the heir to game maker James Halliday’s vast estate, Wade Watts finds that fame and wealth have, shockingly, not solved all his problems. As his personal relationships begin to crumble, Wade discovers a revolutionary new technology that Halliday left behind, a device that makes the alluring escapism of the digital world more potent—and more dangerous—than ever.

As with its predecessor, Ready Player Two is filled with heart and action and ‘80s references galore. Best of all, you don’t need to be a Tolkien or D&D fanatic to enjoy the novel’s faceted characters, thrilling quest narrative, or focus on human resilience. You don’t need to be a nerd to fall in love with the world Ernest Cline has built—but it certainly helps.