Roman discovery in the fascinating fun world but a little low in character

This book is a form of declaration of love for several subcultures, SF, video games, Fantasy, Role Play or popular movies and TV series from the 70s and 90s.
But the way this tribute is paid is quite unusual since as a kind of back to the future (so eventually it back to the past).

Our hero, Wade lives in effect in 2044 and the various environmental and sociological disasters foreshadowed today came true. The majority of the US population lives in crowded trailer on one another with limited access to water, electricity, let alone any future.

Fortunately an American named James Halliday, almost autistic superhero creator of the best games in the world, has created OASIS.
OASIS is better than hope, it is the opportunity to live in the world of your choice, to be whoever you want and do what you want.

You guessed it, OASIS is the promise made virtual worlds that are accessed through a computer, a viewfinder field and sensory gloves (or even what lure your senses ... if you can afford them) .
Paradoxically, OASIS was originally a gaming platform, its possibilities and qualities led him to become globalized Internet of that time (actually not that surprising when you think it is the game video which "pushes" as computer technology).

Wade even goes to school through OASIS, his best buddies live thousands of kilometers away and it never really seen them since, through avatars.
It goes without saying that James Halliday was the richest man who ever lived. Unless he's dead. Five years ago. Without heirs. His fortune will go to the one who will solve the ultimate mystery.

Five years already and display high score table is still desperately empty.

Of course Wade seeks a solution, like millions of other people without future or hope. Wade, however, is part of those who have tackled the problem as systematically as possible. The enigma left by Halliday probably being heavily cross-referenced with the cultural elements of the years 70-90, Wade and other Gunters (short for 'egg hunter', because it is a research easter egg) went greedily absorb all the culture of the era, creating a sort of permanent revival.

And when you have almost nothing to do with your life, it makes them available hours.
That is the background of this story. Of course this novel narrates the discovery of the puzzle and imagine that Wade will be one of the main players (surprised?), With the charming Art3mis blogger and Aech old buddy Parzival (Wade's avatar ).

Of course there will be obstacles in the way of our hero, not just his poverty which prevents the free world to leave the school and to level their avatar (yes like in Dungeon & Dragon), but especially the very evil corporation-has-almost around-the-world-and-who-would-en-even more ...

Thus, readers will sail puzzles puzzles in cultural (or subcultural, depending on your definition), in forgotten legendary games but reinterpreted by Halliday in which the contenders will have more than shine. There is wealth of the book but also its limits, despite my age consistent with these cultural references and a relatively strong exposure to role play and arcade video games and computer, I did feel a very wide share of references used widely passed me over the head.

This is all the more surprising that this book aims youthjeunesse, which will have little chance to enter all these references.

Is it because of the narrative weaknesses of the book we owe this ambition youth? You understand that the evil corporation is portrayed ultra-caricature, and unfortunately none of the characters showed a lot of empathy, even during dramatic family events, and frankly do not burst from the screen.

This is a book that keeps you guessing until the end, but that leaves you a bit unsatisfied. Very difficult to rate.

Read American.