Zach Lightman takes after the father he has never known…. he is a gamer. Living alone with his mother, when he is not at school he loves to hang out on line playing war games with his friends. Escaping the reality of his own world while listening to loud 80’s jams is the ultimate way to complete a day.
Then, one day while looking out the window of his classroom he sees it. “It” being a space ship. Actually it looks a lot like a war ship much like the ones that he flies when playing the game Armada with his buddies. But that can’t be right. Clearly he needs to start getting more sleep.
Until… that space ship opens and the person who comes out of it calls Zach’s name.
What?
Turns out there is a very real war being battled, has been being battled for decades and now Zach is being called upon to help save the earth. Save his mothers life, his friends, and work to keep civilization going as we know it.
But Zach is just a teenager…. what can he possibly have to offer?
Full on geek on. When I first heard that Ernest Cline had a new book coming out I went coo coo for cocoa puffs. I adored his book Ready Player One. I read it and I listened to it on audio. Three times. Yes, three times. I quickly checked the audio version and had a double victory lap when I seen that it was indeed Wil Wheaton doing the narration.
Seriously, Will Wheaton could read the back of a cereal box to me and make it sound interesting.
As soon as (and I mean AS SOON AS) this book was released I downloaded the audio and began my adventure into audio. Let me say this… if you do listen to audio, even if you just dabble occasionally, audio is the way to go with this one (and Ready Player One for that matter but again I digress).
I enjoyed Armada on audio, not as much as I enjoyed Ready Player One but it was still a good listen. Armada is a much stronger war game book (not my thing) as opposed to Ready Player One being more of a strategy game… absolutely my thing. Also, Ready Player One’s awesome references to 80’s music, movies,and games made me giddy. I know, know… I really need to quit talking about Ready Player One. Did you hear it is going to be a movie? Ok, I will stop.
Armada is a good strong listen. Although as I mentioned I am not much on war games, Will Wheaton’s animated narration brought the story to life for me. What I didn’t think I would get… I got. In the end, the message is an impressive one… something I did not see coming.
I have heard mixed grumbles on this one but I for one enjoyed having Ernest Cline and Wil Wheaton match up again. Any time those two are brought together – I am in.
All in.
- Audible Audio Edition
- Listening Length: 11 hours and 58 minutes
- Program Type: Audiobook
- Version: Unabridged
- Publisher: Random House Audio
- Audible.com Release Date: July 14, 2015
Book Journey 
I love your enthusiasm for this author and his books and narrator!
I think we’ve all had our hopes up after Ready Player One – I need to temper my expectations.
That sounds like the plot for The Last Starfighter, an ’80s movie with Robert Preston. It’s a lot of fun if you can find it in the library or somewhere else.
I hadn’t heard of this one before. It sounds wonderful.
I’ve seen this around and wondered if it was any good. Glad you enjoyed it so much!
great review.
Tricia, The Last Starfighter actually comes up in the book. I think of it as Cline acknowledging the similar plot and letting us know it is an homage rather than a theft. 🙂
Sheila, thanks for putting your finger on the strategy game vs. war game issue. When I tried to describe to my teenage son why I liked RP1 better than Armada I kept saying, there’s more battle scenes and they are, well, different. You hit the nail on the head!
I’m looking forward to this, as I enjoyed Ready Player One too. I think it’s great to have that Wil Wheaton connection again!
I’m listening to this one right now – I was so excited about it (and the Wil Wheaton narration!) I preordered it! I can hardly wait for a good chunk of time to sit down and finish it.
You know, I see Ready,Player One all the time and I want to grab it but I don’t. I don’t know why I keep passing it by. I think part of the problem is that I think my son will enjoy it also but he is 12 and I’m not sure if it is appropriate for him yet. I may have to pick it up though and just go for it.
Laura 🙂
Hi Laura – if your son enjoys games and likes 80’s movies he will like this book and I hope you do too. There is nothing that I can recall as being inappropriate for his age in the book 🙂