Blog set 13

Reader’s Choice

Lucky thirteen, hehe. For this weeks blog set and my reader’s choice presentation I chose a novel by Ernest Cline called Ready Player 1. This novel was published 2011 of August and adds a whole new element of science fiction we didn’t dig into during the semester. The most common tropes identified throughout this sci-fi piece of literature include dystopia, utopia, and the blurred line between reality and fantasy.  There are also modifications of the typical sci-fi elements that the author adds to the Megatext himself. With the use of videogames the characters explore all elements of science fiction, dealing with a parallel universe, heroes, villains, intergalactic battles, immortality and more.  Humanity is clearly reflected back on itself because the novels shows how much of an impact technology has had on our lives, specifically computers and online gaming. How engrossed human kind has become with social networking, video games, and etc. The setting is about thirty years into the future and it’s crazy to think most of us will still be in our 50s.

The main character starts off as your typical angst-y teen that would rather travel to space with only the company of his videogames than have to face real people and become a part of reality. Most of civilization feels the same way, they’d rather chat online through their avatars then face real every day problems. Who wouldn’t though?  I don’t think I would but the point is you HAVE to. Virtual reality is exactly that, “Not physically existing as such but made by software to appear to do so.”    

As much as you want to deny the truth it’ll always find a way to resurface.

This all connects back to humanity because in today’s day and age we can for the most part get everything we need online with few exceptions but as every day passes so does the need to go out of one’s way to get something. You can even have your groceries delivered to your house.  So the future Ernest predicts doesn’t seem impractical at all. It’s only a matter of time so I think it’s time that we all take a step back from our computers, cell phones, televisions and appreciate those physically around us.