CP-Training

Ernest Cline wowed me with an almost overwhelming amount of geeky pop-culture in his debut novel Ready Player One, which followed Wade Watts into the virtual utopia known as the OASIS in a desperate bid to save both the real and virtual worlds. Since the announcement came that Cline was writing a new novel, I’ve been looking forward to the release of Armada.

Like Ready Player One, science-fiction movies, television shows and video games are frequently referenced, though you don’t have to know the references to follow the story. And the story is quite good.

Armada centers on Zack Lightman, a teenaged boy whose father died when he was a baby, his only knowledge of him coming from his increasingly paranoid diary entries and his childhood collection of science fiction memorabilia stored away in the attic. Now a senior in high school, Zack is grappling with what to do with himself when he graduates but he is finding it difficult to care about anything but his rank in Armada, his favorite video game. Then his whole world is upended when he spies an alien craft that looks suspiciously like one from his video game flying nearby his high school.

Those who liked Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card but wish for lighter fare will enjoy this novel. Cline has a talent for creating an immersive universe and a thrilling plot, as well as a variety of unique – and geeky – characters. While written for adults, it is also great for older teens doing their own soul-searching as the new school year approaches.

Request a copy of Armada by Ernest Cline, or any of the other titles mentioned in today's post, by visiting the online catalog or calling 757-890-5100.