Movies and video games are notorious for large battle scenes in densely populated areas without accounting for actual damage or loss of human life. This concept has been in the media recently with respect to Zach Snyder’s Man of Steel movie, which has been estimated to have killed approximately 129,000 people.

One of the interesting features of the Armada video games lies in the fact that the players are penalized significantly for destroying public property, such as homes or infrastructure.

Specifically, Zach is drawn to the videogame, Armada, which involves humans remote controlling drones while defending earth from alien invaders. His father, who was killed when Zach was an infant, left behind boxes of his belongings, particularly movies, videogames, and music, all from the 70s and 80s. Zach, for the majority of his life, has been obsessed with video games and his late father. He laments various times about the boring, monotony of his hometown, similar to the extent of Ethan Wate in Beautiful Creatures. I found myself getting the stories confused and worry that I have short changed Armada by not allowing a little more distance between to two novels.Īrmada starts out with a small town boy, Zach, finishing out his last few weeks before high school graduation. I do have a few regrets about reading Ready Player One and Armada back to back due to similar references and writing styles. Of course, I spent the next few morning relaxing on Au Train Beach immersed in Cline’s action filled world. Having been on vacation in the rural, Upper Peninsula of Michigan, it took an hour drive to Marquette to procure the book from a cute little bookstore, which, lucky for me had preordered a few copies. Warning: Following text could contain spoilers.Īfter reading Ready Player One and proceeding to rave about it anyone that would listen, coworkers, friends, and family, needless to say I was excited to get Ernest Cline’s next novel, Armada, when it was released Tuesday. Overall, Armada‘s, story will keep you glued to the book, however the plot twists, for the most part are cheesy and predictable. Within an instant, Zach’s reality, as he knows it, is shattered while simultaneously, delighting conspiracy theorists everywhere. Zach, is your stereotypical geeky teenage boy, just weeks from graduating high school, struggling to accept the fear/dread of growing up and what future holds. Overview: Cline again does a wonderful job interlacing 70s and 80s pop culture throughout Armada’s, fast paced, edge of your seat journey.

Armada 2 ernest cline