Is your student a science fiction and virtual reality fan? If so, they probably loved the phenomenal science fiction book Ready Player One, written by Ernest Cline. Although this book is a difficult one to beat, we have diligently searched the internet and found 30 of the best book recommendations that are very similar to Ready Player One.
We feel certain that these books will keep you entertained, and they will not disappoint. Add the following to your list of books to read after reading Ready Player One!
1. Otherworld by Jason Segel and Kirsten Miller
This is the first book in the Last Reality series, and it is action-filled. Simon, the main character, is drawn into a game called Otherworld, which is an alternate reality video game. Simon soon learns that this game is not exactly what he thought it was.
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2. Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card
This popular book is very similar to Ernest Cline's Ready Player One. Ender, the main character, is one of several military child geniuses that believes he is playing a computer-simulated war game. In reality, he is fighting aliens that are attempting to destroy humans. Will Ender help save human life?
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3. Warcross by Marie Lu
Warcross is more than just a virtual game; for many people, it is their way of life. For Emika Chen, a teenage hacker, her job is cyber bounty hunting. She is responsible for hunting down illegal players. Soon, she becomes an overnight sensation, and the creator of Warcross makes her a deal she cannot refuse. Emika finds herself in a dangerous situation. Can she overcome it?
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4. Flex by Ferrett Steinmetz
Paul Tsabo's daughter has been burned horribly, and he will do anything to save her. Therefore, he turns to a forbidden magic, Flex, for help. He enters the Flex dealing world trying to save his beautiful daughter. This world is extremely dangerous and the punishment, if caught, is severe. Will he save his daughter or die trying?
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5. Snow Crash by Neal Stephenson
In this captivating book, Hiro works as a pizza delivery boy for his uncle's pizza restaurant, but he also portrays a warrior prince in the computer game he plays. However, his world quickly changes when one of his fellow hackers is brain-damaged after looking at a computer image that contains a dangerous virus.
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6. The Running Man by Stephen King
The Running Man is a novel that takes place in 2025 in the U.S.A. The economy is horrific and violence is increasing immensely. Ben Richards loses his job, and his daughter becomes very sick and needs medication. Therefore, he becomes a contestant in a violent game show that is run by the government.
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7. Feed by Matthew Tobin Anderson
Titus and his friends were enjoying a trip to the moon, and a hacker made their feeds malfunction. They were sent to the hospital with nothing in their heads for many days. Violet, an intelligent teenage girl decides to fight the feed as well as its ability to affect human thoughts and desires.
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8. Otherlife by Jason Segel and Kristen Miller
Closely compared to Ready Player One, this is a must-read book. Kat is paralyzed in an accident and becomes an experimental patient for a virtual reality beta test therapy. Simon begins investigating the program and discovers a conspiracy. Will Simon and Kat solve the mystery or suffer?
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9. Nyxia by Scott Reintgen
Ready Player One included greed, completion, and space, and Nyxia offers more of the same. Emmet and ten other teenagers are chosen by Babel Communications to mine Nyxia on the planet of Eden. Will they be able to peacefully mine Nyxia, or will they be killed?
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10. Armada by Ernest Cline
Ernest Cline's Armada is very similar to his Ready Player One. The story is centered around Zack Lightman. He is a high school senior who is one of the best players of the biggest internet game Armada which is actually a simulation game preparing Earth for an alien invasion. Will Zack be able to help the military save Earth from the aliens?
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11. Agent to the Stars by John Scalzi
This book is similar to Ernest Cline's Ready Player One in that it is a combination of sci-fi and pop culture themes. In this story, an alien wishes to interact with humans, so he hires a successful Hollywood agent to help him. Will they be successful and blend the alternate worlds?
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12. Moxyland by Lauren Beukes
In this dystopian book, the forces from online games control all entertainment. The four main characters bond together and begin a disturbing journey in this alarming representation of a dystopian society.
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13. Only You Can Save Mankind by Terry Pratchett
This is the first book in The Johnny Maxwell trilogy. Johnny is simply playing a game and sets a world record. Then, he gets an interestingly strange message. Is he really playing a game, or is all of this real? Add this to your science fiction list.
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14. Red Rising by Pierce Brown
This science fiction-themed book involves a world that is segregated by colors. Darrow, the main character, is red which is the lower caste. The reds work all day and are controlled by the Gold Class. Ultimately, Darrow has to compete for his life as well as the future of civilization. Will it end badly?
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15. Neuromancer by William Gibson
This book takes a look into the digital future as Case, a data thief, gets caught stealing from Matrix. As a punishment, his central nervous system is damaged. Molly repairs it and saves his life. Are they ready for the journey on which they must embark?
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16. Altered Carbon by Richard Morgan
This story is set in a futuristic world. It is about a time when humans can be digitally stored. The life of a human can literally be downloaded and installed into the body of somebody else. When an officer's life is installed into someone else's body, he begins his search to find out who murdered him.
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17. The Maze Runner by James Dashner
This is another book you will enjoy if you like Ready Player One. Thomas has an erased memory, and he is trapped with other boys who have lost theirs. The only way to escape their capture is to make it through an ever-changing maze that no one has ever exited alive. Will they survive, or will this be their demise?
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18. Dark Matter by Blake Crouch
What if you could not determine reality from a dream? Would you choose to stay in the dream or the real world? Jason Dessen is a professor of physics and finds himself in this situation. What will he do? Enjoy this cool science fiction story.
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19. Autonomous by Annalee Newitz
This book is set in a time when everything on Earth is considered to be a product that can be purchased. The story focuses on Jack, a pharmaceutical pirate, who makes medicine available to people who can't afford them. Unfortunately, her most recent drug is having horrific effects on people.
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20. Gnomon by Nick Harkaway
If you are a Ready Player One fan, you will enjoy reading this book about a democracy that is taken too far. In Gnomon, the people are under constant surveillance by the government. Everything is recorded! After a murder, Mielikki Neith must determine what went wrong.
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21. Infomocracy by Malka Older
This science fiction story is about the future world where the entire world is a micro-democracy government. Every 10 years, 100,000 people get to participate in voting for the government. Is there a sabotage incident about to take place?
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22. Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell
This book is about six lives and one extraordinary adventure around the globe. This adventure starts in the 19th century and ends in the post-apocalyptic future. This is an unforgettable story!
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23. Oasis by Dima Zales
Oasis is part of a post-apocalyptic series that revolves around Oasis, the only land on Earth conducive to living. Theo begins to hear a voice in his head from Phoe. Is she a figment of his imagination, or does she truly exist?
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24. Divergent by Veronica Roth
Taking place in the dystopian world, Beatrice is faced with a choice in this book. It is the kind of choice where she will lose regardless of what she chooses. She must choose where to spend the rest of her life. She finds herself in a new world now known as Tris. She will receive a valuable lesson as she learns who her true friends are.
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25. Crypt Quest/Space Battles: A Play-Your-Way Adventure by Gabe Soria
In an abandoned mall, there is an arcade. You will receive a token to play one of two 80's era arcade games. Once you put the token in the game, the choices you make will determine whether you continue to advance in the game, or you die!
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26. Genius: The Game by Leopoldo Gout
In this book, three teenagers join a diverse group of 200 geniuses from all over the world. They are supposed to participate in a game that was created by one of India’s brightest young minds. If you enjoyed the competition and hunt in Ready Player One, you will love this book as well!
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27. The Automatic Detective by A. Lee Martinex
The Automatic Detective is a story about a detective named Mack Megatron who just so happens to be a robot. He desires to become a citizen and prove himself to others. This book focuses on world-building and government conspiracies.
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28. Insignia by S.J. Kincaid
This book focuses on Tom Raines, the 14-year-old main character. It is set in a world that is under attack by aliens, and the planet’s resources have ended. The world is losing this battle, and Tom is its last chance for human life to be saved. He has excellent reality gaming skills which help him control the battle drones in this humans-versus-alien race.
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29. Scott Pilgrim’s Precious Little Life by Bryan Lee O’Malley
This book is considered a comic book, and it focuses on Scott Pilgrim, a 23-year-old boy living in Canada. He meets an awesome girl, Ramona Flowers, and to win her heart, he will be faced with fighting off seven of her ex-boyfriends. Will this end up being detrimental to him?
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30. He, She, and It by Marge Piercy
This book allows you to explore characters as they shift between the physical and virtual worlds. Shira is a cyber socialization expert who loses her son in a custody battle. She begins working on the cyborg Yod, and to save her hometown, You will be the defender.
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