As a fan of Ready Player One, I was interested in this book for the 90s nostalgia and references. That said, I found it hard to stick with the book and stay interested in the plot and world. Although not a terrible read, it is not something I would read again. ( )

I received a complimentary copy. I voluntarily reviewed this book. All opinions expressed are my own.

New Arcadia:Stage One initially interested me because I am a fan of video games from the 90's. Having said that, the element of nostaglia, while present, was not compelling enough to endear me to the story. Early on my interest waned, and the overall impression left upon me was one of a forgetful story. Maybe this is not the right genre for me? I am definitely not the ideal audience. ( )

Some interesting aspects to the story but overall a rather odd layout. Character development is all over the place and, in general, not all that great. The main appeal for me is the nostalgia elements, which are a little much at times. The story revolves around current real-world happenings turned up a notch, ie the pandemic. Not sure that'll be something most people will want to fondly look back on but to each his own. Overall, this was an ok read but I won't be returning for part 2. ( )

A speculative fiction using a more extreme version of the current worldwide situation, that weaves in a highly immersive version of VR. I really liked the arcade style of game world that the characters were in and want to follow what happens next. ( )

The premise involves a world-changing pandemic (it's only 2021 and I'm already yawning at this), a megalithic corporation sending out drone-delivered packages (hmmm), and a guy entering a nostalgia-driven videogame to save himself and the world (hmmmmmmmmmmmm!).

If none of this sounds original, it's because none of it is. It's a derivative plot and a badly written one to boot.

The main character enters the world of the videogame, a "punch-em-out" style fighting game world set in the year "199x," about 75 pages into the book; earlier would probably have been better. There are glimpses of something interesting as he sort of reawakens to the freedom of living without fear of a pandemic in a world of 30 years ago, and I thought some of the "leveling" aspects were satisfying in a LIT-RPG sort of way. But then the plot kind of...stalls. The author has to go get more characters because the sop he's written is too milquetoast for the simulation; he adds two new major characters in the last half of the book, and then in a bizarre narratological decision, these two get their own first-person POV chapters with tons of internalized, expository writing meant to give them "depth," when we've been riding along with the first guy the rest of the time.

In short, this book is a mess. I don't think the premise is sound, and I think even a good writer couldn't make it work.

That said, it passed the time. It was markedly worse than Ready Player One or Two, if that gives you any indication. ( )