The sequel is weird too:
https://www.mcsweeneys.net/articles/excerpts-from-my-upcoming-novel-ready-player-two-girl-stuff

I dunno. Maybe that's sexist.

It also leaves me wondering just how do you write quick cameos in book form...

Poorly. By far the worst part of the book is the deluge of pop culture reference lists. The format of film is much better suited to handling the volume of them.

Otherwise the book handles most of the storytelling better. Though, there are a lot of changed story beats from the book that I really don't think would have worked on screen. Unless they wanted to commit to Parts I, II, and III.

The film has a male protagonist. I'm describing important ways she helped him. If a male protagonist learns how to be a better person from a female, that's sexist?

I haven’t seen it, but I think his point is that she exists solely to serve the male lead. She does nothing for herself, but instead is a plot device to give the lead male character knowledge or motivation or whatever.

Nah. There’s a scene where its made clear that Will is infatuated with Sam and he makes a fool of himself. Because for him, the contest is about maybe having the chance to buy a mansion and get out of poverty and be rich. But she doesn’t fall for him. She isn’t there for him. She makes it dead clear that his little dreams are silly and worthless.

For her, it isn’t about the money or control of the virtual world. And it certainly isn’t about him. She straight up tells him that she’s there because IOI (the evil megacorp) sattled her father with debt then forced him into one of their work centers where he had to pay it off by working for months or years within the virtual world. And when he got sick and couldn’t work? They didn’t help him. They kicked him out and without income and drowning in debt, he died. Sam was there to avenge her father and to prevent the same happening to others.

This is crystal clear when he professes that he loves her and she starts with “you don’t even know me.” And from there, she end up leaving him behind mouth agape in a hallway. Why? Because for him, the whole contest was just a game. For her, it was personal, and real, and he was nothing but a distraction.

Going back further, the male lead first recognizes the girl becuase he has long heard of her skill and exploits, and because he watched her videos and acknowledges she is the best of the best. As best as I can recall, she doesn’t know who he is, because why should she? And again, the only reason they meet at all isn’t because she is drawn to him or anything like that. She is on her own quest for her own reasons. And had been for a long long time.

But seriously, if you liked the movie then definitely check out the book. It's nostalgia overload to the max, the key challenges are WAY better and the handling of the characters (of which you seem to have the biggest issue with) are handled differently.

The excerpt I've seen makes me NOT want to read it. It's basically porn:

Ooohh wwelll...my deepest apologies to the ever so holy Cody Miller. The greatest literary composer of our time. The Kanye West of the written word.

1. That paragraph was awesome and if you're telling me you wouldn't drive that car, you're either A. a millenial who's just "too cool" or B. a curmudgeon.

2. The whole point of the book is excess. Newsflash, the whole point of the 80's was excess!

I'll warn you now..I've had too many margaritas and too much time on my hands tonight. I will bury you and this thread if it's the last thing I do!!! I don't even remember what we are on about but....I've lost my train of thought.

All the same, I will come down on you like the hammer of Thor. The thunder of my vengeance will echo through these corridors like the gust of a thousand winds! I shall unleash my fury upon you like the crushing of a thousand waves! Be gone vile man! Be gone from me. I am untethered and my rage knows no bounds.

Actually, I'm pretty tired.

So... yeah, I think I may need to try the book so I can do a good compare. Obviously, the book itself would be easy to find, but you keep mentioning the audiobook version. I typically get my audio books through iTunes and I see one narrated by Will Wheaton. Is that the one you’d recommend?

Yes. We listened on Audible. Wheaton does a good job reading it too. :)

So... yeah, I think I may need to try the book so I can do a good compare. Obviously, the book itself would be easy to find, but you keep mentioning the audiobook version. I typically get my audio books through iTunes and I see one narrated by Will Wheaton. Is that the one you’d recommend?

The film has a male protagonist. I'm describing important ways she helped him. If a male protagonist learns how to be a better person from a female, that's sexist?

I haven’t seen it, but I think his point is that she exists solely to serve the male lead. She does nothing for herself, but instead is a plot device to give the lead male character knowledge or motivation or whatever.

But seriously, if you liked the movie then definitely check out the book. It's nostalgia overload to the max, the key challenges are WAY better and the handling of the characters (of which you seem to have the biggest issue with) are handled differently.

The excerpt I've seen makes me NOT want to read it. It's basically porn:

the movie was a total bastardization of the book

…which is why it's a movie and not a book. If you want exactly the same story, why not just read the book? One should judge a film on its merits, not in comparison to the book.

Shut it Miller! I'm allowed to compare a product to its origin material. And the RPO Movie STUNK in comparison to the book. Was it a good movie? I don't know! I had to leave halfway through but what I saw was (Charles Barkley impression) TURRIBLE!

I read (listened to) the book and you didn't so shushy!

But seriously, if you liked the movie then definitely check out the book. It's nostalgia overload to the max, the key challenges are WAY better and the handling of the characters (of which you seem to have the biggest issue with) are handled differently.

the movie was a total bastardization of the book

…which is why it's a movie and not a book. If you want exactly the same story, why not just read the book? One should judge a film on its merits, not in comparison to the book.