From the author of Ready Player One, a rollicking alien invasion thriller that embraces and subverts science-fiction conventions as only Ernest Cline could. Zack Lightman has never much cared for reality. He vastly prefers the countless science-fiction movies, books, and videogames he’s spent his life consuming. And too often, he catches himself wishing that some fantastic, impossible, … fantastic, impossible, world-altering event could arrive to whisk him off on a grand spacefaring adventure.
So when he sees the flying saucer, he’s sure his years of escapism have finally tipped over into madness.
Especially because the alien ship he’s staring at is straight out of his favorite videogame, a flight simulator callled Armada–in which gamers just happen to be protecting Earth from alien invaders.
As impossible as it seems, what Zack’s seeing is all too real. And it’s just the first in a blur of revlations that will force him to question everything he thought he knew about Earth’s history, its future, even his own life–and to play the hero for real, with humanity’s life in the balance.
But even through the terror and exhilaration, he can’t help thinking: Doesn’t something about this scenario feel a little bit like…well…fiction?
At once reinventing and paying homage to science-fiction classics as only Ernest Cline can, Armada is a rollicking, surprising thriller, a coming-of-age adventure, and an alien invasion tale like nothing you’ve ever read before.
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While Ready Player One is still my preferred book from Cline, Armada was a great read. If you are looking for a book filled 80’s nostalgia, alien invasions, and great characters, this is the one for you. A fun read.
A disappointing follow up to Ready Player One.
Great book! Loved all the real life references and music it had. If you find it hard to pick up a book you won’t have that problem with this one.
Great story
Another great read from Ernest. I loved the concept and often related the book to the 80s classic “The Last Starfighter”. I totally recommend this one as well, especially if you loved Ready Player One.
This book is by the same author as Ready Player 1. I enjoy the premise. The government has been secretly training the world to become fighters to defend the Earth against an alien attack. The world is being unconsciously trained because of the video games and the arcade games. Gamers fight in unmanned drones. The top gamers are rated and ready in case of an attack.
A race to save the world! Who hasn’t thrown around the idea that video games just may be training us for combat as well as desensitizing us to ideas or things that might scare us? This book is a fabulous read and an even better Listen! For the audible buffs, Wil Wheaton narrates and is absolutely Fantastic!!! With witty, humorous characters this is great pick for an exciting vacation read or just for around the house, no matter your age! I sure hope Cline continues with this story. And I’d love to see a movie made out of this book!!
This is one of the most enjoyable books I’ve read in a long time. Geeks and gamers will love it! I actually listened to the audio by Wil Wheaton, which is also one of the best audio performances I’ve heard in a long time. Seriously, read this book!
Pushing the 80s thing bit a good book not a ready player one but good
Ernest Cline has done it again! Armada is Cline’s sophomoric novel and kissing cousin to his instant classic, Ready Player One. Armada is it’s own story, separate from that of Cline’s first novel, but they share many commonalities. Most notably, Cline yet again sends a rallying cry to geeks everywhere to come and wax poetic about all things awesomely 80s. A whole generation of music, television, movies, and video games take center stage amid a story wrought with action and adventure.