Ready Player One is a science fiction novel written by Ernest Cline. The story takes place in a dystopian future where most of humanity spends their time in a virtual reality called the OASIS. The protagonist, Wade Watts, embarks on a quest to find an Easter egg hidden within the OASIS by its creator, James Halliday. The book is filled with references to 1980s pop culture and explores themes of escapism, virtual reality, and the power of imagination.