Armada by Ernest Cline Published by Century on July 16th 2015
Source: Borrowed
Genres: Young Adult, Fiction, Science Fiction
Amazon | Book Depository | Publisher | Angus & Robertson
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Zack Lightman has spent his life dreaming. Dreaming that the real world could be a little more like the countless science-fiction books, movies, and videogames he’s spent his life consuming. Dreaming that one day, some fantastic, world-altering event will shatter the monotony of his humdrum existence and whisk him off on some grand space-faring adventure.
But hey, there’s nothing wrong with a little escapism, right? After all, Zack tells himself, he knows the difference between fantasy and reality. He knows that here in the real world, aimless teenage gamers with anger issues don’t get chosen to save the universe.
And then he sees the flying saucer.Even stranger, the alien ship he’s staring at is straight out of the videogame he plays every night, a hugely popular online flight simulator called Armada—in which gamers just happen to be protecting the earth from alien invaders.
No, Zack hasn’t lost his mind. As impossible as it seems, what he’s seeing is all too real. And his skills—as well as those of millions of gamers across the world—are going to be needed to save the earth from what’s about to befall it.It’s Zack’s chance, at last, to play the hero. But even through the terror and exhilaration, he can’t help thinking back to all those science-fiction stories he grew up with, and wondering: Doesn’t something about this scenario seem a little…familiar?
At once gleefully embracing and brilliantly subverting science-fiction conventions as only Ernest Cline could, Armada is a rollicking, surprising thriller, a classic coming of age adventure, and an alien invasion tale like nothing you’ve ever read before—one whose every page is infused with the pop-culture savvy that has helped make Ready Player One a phenomenon.
You know when you love a book so much that nothing could ever live up to it? That was Ready Player One. So naturally, I was highly anticipating Armada, thinking it was going to be equally as awesome.
Unfortunately, it didn’t quite live up to my expectations. While Ready Player One successfully made gaming and 80’s pop culture references accessible to anyone including non-gamers, Armada felt like it was written for an exclusive club consisting of only the most devoted space trekkies. I love Star Wars and space sims as much as the next geek, but even I struggled with the multitude of sci-fi references placed in Armada.
“I often tried to calm myself with Yoda’s voice (which sounded nothing like Fozzie Bear, damn you) during moments of distress. Obi-Wan or Qui-Gon or Mace Windu sometimes had calming movie-quote wisdom to share too.”
This wouldn’t have been so much of a problem, if the author didn’t rely on these references so heavily to use as descriptions or for the world building. Want to know what’s happening? It’s pretty much a re-enactment from a scene of Invasion of the Body Snatchers, The Edge of Tomorrow or X-Files, no further explanation needed. Want to know what the ships look like? They look like an Enterprise, Millenium Falcon, X-Wing or Y-Wing. How about the character’s appearances? Zack is like a young Clark Kent, or Luke Skywalker, his mum resembles Ellen Ripley or Sarah Connor and fellow gamer Milo is described as a Rocky Balboa.
The name-dropping of movies, games, music and characters got old after a few chapters, especially when it became apparent that no further attempt was going to be made to indoctrine the reader into fully understanding – and perhaps appreciating Armada.
Zack’s character felt shallow in a way that never gave me the opportunity to connect with him. His attributes pretty much consisted of being great at gaming, and having anger management issues that are never fully explored. Zack did lose his father while he was young, leading to his emotional instability, but why bother mentioning these problems if you’re never going to explore it further and it doesn’t have significance to the general plot of the story?
“I thought I actually looked pretty sharp, like an intrepid young space hero about to embark on an epic adventure. Then I realized – that was more or less my new job description.”
Zack’s past with his family is explored in the novel, but it felt like a side story to the main event. I felt so disconnected to Zack and his plight that I didn’t really care what happened to him in the novel, and it all felt clinically predictable. The whole book is pretty much a big build up to a rushed ending, which was disappointing.
Despite all my criticisms, Armada was an enjoyable, funky, geeky sci-fi story where gamers are rewarded with a real life chance to defend Earth from an alien invasion. There was fantastic diversity of the characters, who had different cultural backgrounds, ages, religions and from all walks of life. The alien technology and the alternate history was realistic and believable. However, the amount of sci-fi references, the flat characters, predictability and lack of emotional made it a fairly stock standard read.
Don’t get me wrong, I did enjoy it. But it didn’t meet my expectations, especially following my holy grail favourite, Ready Player One. If you’re interested in a geeky, virtual reality world filled with charming pop culture references and lots of heart, please read Ready Player One instead. You won’t regret it. Read my review here.
Rating: 3 out of 5
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Okay I'll be sure to pick up my copy of RPO soooon, and not read this first. I'm glad you enjoyed it, even with its faults 🙂
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Agree with you! Still an enjoyable read but not as awesome as I hoped. I didn't really click with Zach, but I quite adored his awkward father, haha.
Awesome review, Jeann!
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Hahah his father was actually pretty awesome XD
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So I don't think any book could ever live up to Ready Player One so I tried not to compare them. Armada was not as strong of a book but on it's own I still think it was a strong book (if that makes any sense hah). I just have so much fun reading these geek-tastic stories but I definitely get where you are coming from!
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I liked it but I think it was mostly because I was comparing to Ready Player One too, but I did manage to enjoy it in the end!
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Even though you didn't love this one, I'm glad you were still able to enjoy it overall. Great review! 🙂
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Thanks Lisa! It was a shame I was so disappointed.
Oh no! Sad this one didn't live up to your expectations. 🙁 I really enjoyed Ready Player One too, but haven't gotten around to reading Armada yet. You're the not the first to say that there was far too much name dropping in it. :/ Will definitely go in with lower expectations.
Great review, girl!
I know, I think we all have high expectations after RPO!
"Felt like it was written for an exclusive club consisting of only the most devoted space trekkies" This. That's what I am really worried about. I haven't read any of Cline's books but I guess I should start with Ready Player One rather than this one because I feel like so much of it would go over my head.
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Yeah, a lot even went over my head here too. RPO is perfection though!
I think this is why I'm always wary of sequels to books I absolutely love: you've already seen the author at their best, so that makes it even more disappointing when your expectations are let down. 🙁 Sorry to hear you felt that way Jeann. Nonetheless, thank you for still sharing your honest thoughts and, as always, fabulous review! <3
No problems Zoe, yeah it was just really frustrating not to love it as much as the first. Thanks hun!
Dang girl it's a shame you couldn't bounce into this one and LOVE it. I know how disapointing that is because the last books I've been reading have been kind of sad because I didn't get what I wanted out of them mostly. I'm def going to try out Ready Player One and give this one a try (I'm telling you now girl, I'm going to be confused because I've never watched Star Trek….)
Yayyy I hope you do love Ready Player One! It was just such a charming and geeky read. Hope got find a book that you love soon.
Oh yeah, I'm probably going to skip this one and just read Ready Player One. I'm NOT a gamer and will probably be confused as heck if I read this one! D: And shallow main characters? Heck no, please get away from me! >_< Awesome review, Jeann! Sorry this didn't live up to your expectations. 🙁
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Good choice Aimee, I wouldn't want this book to put people off one of my favourites!
Awh, I'm sorry that this one didn't live up to your expectations, Jeann. I totally understand how that's like, because it happens to me all the time 🙁 Well, at least it was still enjoyable!
Lovely review as usual, hun <33
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Thank you Mel! It was definitely a lot of fun but yeah, didn't meet my expectations
Awww, I really liked the idea of Armada, especially since it dealt with space and aliens and VIDEO GAMES (best combo ever), but I don't know much of those references, so I think that would also struggle with that.
Please tell me they mentioned Mass Effect. BECAUSE HOW CAN YOU NOT????
So did I Val, I wanted to love it so much. It was just FILLED with references, but not just references, but name dropping. It got really annoying after a while. Nope, no Mass Effect unfortunately!
Hmmmm, I don't think this one will be for me >.< Relying on other, third party objects and people to create your own world building and characters seems a little weird to me. I mean, go for it as a comparison, but also provide your own descriptions, you know?
I still do want to read Ready Player One because SO many people love it, and have recommended it, but I don't think this one is up my reading alley, unfortunately, especially since the connection with the main character isn't really there…
Great review, dear <3
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Yeah, that's pretty much what it was Chiara, it felt like a lazy way to world build or explain things without putting any additional effort in yourself. I LOVE Ready Player One, one of my favourites of all time! I hope you do pick it up and enjoy it as much as I did.
Hmmm, I think I will enjoy this one. Sorry it didn't quite work for you, I find it appealing mostly because I love the 80's and I love geeks!
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I hope you'll enjoy this one Braine! if you love the 80's I would recommend reading RPO first hehehe
Le sigh. I love this book. Sorry it didn't quite do it for you, Jeann.
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I know, I read your review Joy! Sorry I'm on the polar opposite this time!
Wonderful review! I haven't read Ready Player One yet but I hope to do so before I get to Armada. They sound like lovely books that are quite different from the usual read in terms of the fact that it centres around gaming and pop culture!
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Thanks Josie! Ready Player one is totally epic, I love it so much I want to re-read it.
I'm not really sure if this is my type of book, as I know nothing about gaming and such, but I'm glad that you could at least enjoy it despite the flaws. You suggest ten to read Ready Player One instead of Armada?
Totally, I think anyone could enjoy Ready Player One as opposed to Armada! You should read it, it\’s one of my favourites.
This book almost scared me off RPO because it was SO BORING. I just could not relate to any of the characters- they were all walking stereotypes and I felt that the book had no soul or unique characteristics of its own. It was basically just a random pop culture fact generator. Quite a disappointment!
Oh man, I'm so glad it didn't scare you off RPO because it is one of my favourites of all time! I know, it was so disappointing.
I just finished Ready Player One and LOVED it. This doesn't sound like it has that same magic though. I probably won't rush out for this one but will add to my TBR – Great review!!
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I know, it's such a shame it wasn't as good, because my expectations were pretty high. Thanks Grace!
Hmm . . . yeah, that seems a little too geeky for me. I am sure I would not get all those references either. I will probably skip this one. I am glad you did enjoy some of it though. Great review. 🙂
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Yeah such a shame because I'm geeky and I still didn't enjoy it that much!