From the author of Ready Player One, a rollicking alien invasion thriller that embraces and subverts science-fiction conventions as only Ernest Cline can.
Zack Lightman has never much cared for reality. He vastly prefers the countless science-fiction movies, books, and videogames he's spent his life consuming. And too often, he catches himself wishing that some fantastic, impossible, world-altering event could arrive to whisk him off on a grand spacefaring adventure.
So when he sees the flying saucer, he's sure his years of escapism have finally tipped over into madness.
Especially because the alien ship he's staring at is straight out of his favorite videogame, a flight simulator callled Armada--in which gamers just happen to be protecting Earth from alien invaders.
As impossible as it seems, what Zack's seeing is all too real. And it's just the first in a blur of revlations that will force him to question everything he thought he knew about Earth's history, its future, even his own life--and to play the hero for real, with humanity's life in the balance.
But even through the terror and exhilaration, he can't help thinking: Doesn't something about this scenario feel a little bit like...well...fiction?
At once reinventing and paying homage to science-fiction classics, Armada is a rollicking, surprising thriller, a coming-of-age adventure, and an alien invasion tale like nothing you've ever read before.
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"I really enjoyed this from Ernest Cline. I started with Ready Player One, then this as a follow up. Being a Kid of the 80's, a lot of the references in Clines books bring back a lot of fun memories and I like his writing style. The Narration form Wil Wheaton is also excellent, always gives a chuckle when he is reading references to himself or Star Trek TNG."
— JKinPA (5 out of 5 stars)
A thrilling coming-of-age story.
— Entertainment WeeklyNerd-gasmic…another science fiction tale with a Comic-Con's worth of pop-culture shout-outs.
— Rolling StoneAn amazing novel [that] proves Cline has the ability to blend popular culture with exciting stories that appeal to everyone.
— Associated PressMixes Star Wars, The Last Starfighter, Independence Day and a really gnarly round of Space Invaders into a tasty sci-fi stew.
— USA TodayA fantastic second novel…fans of Ready Player One, it is time to rejoice.
— Huffington PostA joyous, rollicking read…will garner Cline an even larger group of fans than the formidable crew he’s already assembled.
— Boing BoingA great romp…Cline (ever the fanboy) is both reverent of and referential to the books and movies and games of his childhood.
— Mother JonesVideo games come to life in this witty, extraterrestrial thriller.
— New York PostBuilt like a summer blockbuster…Cline recombines the DNA of Ender’s Game, Star Wars, The Last Starfighter, and old-school arcade games like Asteroids into something that’s both familiar and unpredictable. It’s a mutant homage to sci-fi tropes past.
— GawkerHugely entertaining…a paean to the videogames of a bygone era, and like Ready Player One it is a tremendous amount of fun for anyone who remembers that time and played those games.
— George R.R. Martin, New York Times bestselling author of Game of ThronesA novel so fun, you'll want to reboot it and read it again…the best novel this gamer geek has read in a long, long time.
— Hugh Howey, New York Times bestselling author of WoolThose conspiracies you imagined when you were fourteen turn out to be true in this masterful tale of Earth's desperate struggle against a powerful alien foe.
— Andy Weir, New York Times bestselling author of The MartianArmada proves Ernie Cline is the modern master of wish fulfillment literature - and of reminding us to be careful what we wish for.
— John Scalzi, New York Times bestselling author of Old Man’s WarWith another winning teen protagonist in Zach, Cline mines the nostalgia and geek spheres just as successfully as he did in his acclaimed debut, Ready Player One. The works that obviously influenced the story line, such as Orson Scott Card’s Ender’s Game and the films The Last Starfighter and Star Wars, feel like homages rather than borrowings- a rap artist sampling the best beats our there to create an irresistible jam.
— Library Journal, starred reviewCline once again brings crackling humor and fanboy knowledge to a zesty, crowd-pleasing, countdown-clock, save-the-planet tale featuring an unlikely hero, adrenaline-pumping action, gawky romance, and touching family moments.…Cline’s sly, mind-twisting premise and energetically depicted and electrifying high-tech battles make for smart, frenetic, and satisfying entertainment.
— Booklist, starred reviewEnchanting…Willy Wonka meets the Matrix. Its geeky characters are geeky cool. And its action is imaginative, always cinematic.[Cline] even weaves a sweet romance into this hero-vs.-villain tale.
— USA TodayThe grown-up's 'Harry Potter’…the mystery and fantasy in this novel weaves itself in the most delightful way, and the details that make up Mr. Cline's world are simply astounding. Ready Player One has it all.
— Huffington PostA rollicking, surprise-laden, potboiling, thrilling adventure story...the best science-fiction novel I’ve read in a decade.
— BoingBoing.comRidiculously fun and large-hearted… Cline is that rare writer who can translate his own dorky enthusiasms into prose that's both hilarious and compassionate. You'll wish you could make it go on and on.
— NPR.orgA smart, funny thriller that both celebrates and critiques online culture... layered with inside jokes and sly references.
— San Francisco ChronicleAn addictive read… part intergalactic scavenger hunt, part romance and all heart.
— CNN.comIncredibly entertaining…a geek fantasia, ‘80s culture memoir and commentary on the future of online behavior all at once.
— Austin American-Statesman“Full of nods to pop culture and sci-fi classics, it’s a thrilling coming-of-age story.”
— Entertainment Weekly“Mixes Star Wars, The Last Starfighter, Independence Day, and a really gnarly round of Space Invaders into a tasty sci-fi stew.”
— USA Today“Nerd-gasmic…another science fiction tale with a Comic-Con’s worth of pop-culture shout-outs.”
— Rolling Stone“Video games come to life in this witty, extraterrestrial thriller.”
— New York Post“A great romp…Cline is both reverent of and referential to the books and movies and games of his childhood.”
— Mother Jones“With pop culture references, action, and a relatable main character, the appeal for all ages was already there.”
— Library Journal“Cline’s gaming-centric story, chock-full of pop references, is keenly executed by Wil Wheaton…Wheaton’s skill as a narrator continues to grow, and it’s clear he enjoys once more finding himself in a sci-fi world. Overall, the production offers an engaging story with a narrator who hits the marks for the varied quirky characters.”
— AudioFileErnest Cline is a novelist, screenwriter, father, and full-time geek. His first novel, Ready Player One, was a New York Times and USA Today bestseller, was named to many “best of the year” lists, and was made into a major motion picture.
Wil Wheaton is an award–winning actor, voice artist, author, and audiobook narrator. Among his movie credits are Stand by Me and Toy Soldiers. His many television credits include Star Trek: The Next Generation, The Big Bang Theory, and Generator Rex. As a narrator of more than a dozen audiobooks, he has twice won the prestigious Audie Award, twice been a finalist for the Audie, and earned an Earphones Award from AudioFile magazine.