The book begins with Wade Watts explaining that he remained offline for nine days after winning Halliday’s competition. In Ready Player One, Wade participated in a video game tournament, OASIS, where he emerged the winner. Ready Player Two is a sequel to the first book. Wade discovers that James Halliday- now deceased- had a new technology that he hid from the world. The new technology involves users integrating their brains with computers. Brain-computer integration controls almost everything. However, Wade believes that the world is literally in his hands because he can interfere with the technology. Although he is a hero, Wade leads a reclusive life. Friends have isolated him due to his antisocial behaviors.
Through OASIS Neural Interface (ONI), Wade discovers that Halliday was a wicked person who had bad intentions for human civilization. For instance, Halliday had established OASIS avatar called Anorak, which would destroy users’ brains if they don’t subscribe to his orders. Halliday had also hacked Kira’s brain to lure her into getting in a relationship with him. As well, Wade is no better. Wade uses ONI technology to spy on people and file lawsuits against his critics. However, he brags about solving most of the world’s problems like police brutality, criminal activities, and disease infections.
The author uses the book to highlight the thinking of tech moguls who believe that systematic world problems will be solved through technology. For example, tech billionaire, Elon Musk, has suggested the idea of linking brains with computers to solve complex problems and compete with robots. The book ends with the author explaining how Wade and his friends have created digital selves capable of living on other planets while still maintaining contact.
