Are you a gamer looking to delve into literary worlds? Maybe you’re a reader looking to add a techy edge to your TBR? Or, like me, maybe you’re a little of both and are always looking for more bookish recommendations. Either way, we’re here to help! Here are five books that are sure to delight your inner gamer.
Ready Player One by Ernest Cline
What nerdy book list would be complete without mentioning Ready Player One? It’s got it all! Gaming, social commentary, all the pop culture references you could handle, and a movie adaptation that did its job. Mostly, I add this to the list because its sequel, Ready Play Two, comes out November 24th, 2020. I also highly recommend Cline’s other gamer-inclined book, Armada, for your reading pleasure.
Super Mario: How Nintendo Conquered America by Jeff Ryan
Whether you’re looking for something more like Blood, Sweat and Pixels or have a life-long love of Nintendo, Super Mario: How Nintendo Conquered America is a great read. In a true rags-to-riches tale, “Super Mario tells the story behind the Nintendo games millions of us grew up with, explaining how a Japanese trading card company rose to dominate the fiercely competitive video-game industry.” Rich with fun facts and inspiring tales, this is one non-fiction book you won’t want to miss!
The Carls Duology by Hank Green
An Absolutely Remarkable Thing and its newly released sequel, A Beautifully Foolish Endeavor, are super relevant for anyone who uses the internet. So, really, everyone should be reading these books. These books are full of wit, thought-provoking social commentary and clever writing. Getting into the details of this story would ruin some of the best parts, so I’ll keep it simple:
Roaming through New York City at three a.m., April May stumbles across a giant sculpture. Delighted by its appearance and craftsmanship—like a ten-foot-tall Transformer wearing a suit of samurai armor—April and her best friend, Andy, make a video with it, which Andy uploads to YouTube. The next day, April wakes up to a viral video and a new life. News quickly spreads that there are Carls in dozens of cities around the world, and April, as their first documentarian, finds herself at the center of an intense international media spotlight.
Skyward by Brandon SandersonÂ
Literally anything by Brandon Sanderson could be on this list because he’s amazing, but we’ll focus on a personal favorite: Skyward. I’ve never been a huge fan of sci-fi books, but this series turned it around. This gateway to the genre focuses on Spensa and her training to become a pilot. From surviving battles to her crew’s training, the way Sanderson writes feels very visual and puts you in the pilot’s seat. It’s fun, super easy to read, full of interesting characters and a deep-space mystery…. What’s not to love about these books?
Awaken Online Series by Travis Bagwell
I’ll be honest, I mostly wanted to write this article just so I could give a shout-out to these books. Bagwell’s Awaken Online series is vast, super fun to read and is full of interesting characters and fascinating world building. A part of the quasi-new genre of LitRPG, these books feel like a video game from the way they look on the page to the story itself. The series follows Jason and his friends in-and-out of the virtual-reality RPG called Awaken Online. With Side Quest novellas and spin-off series, there is plenty to get lost in here!
So, which one of these reads are going to be your first pick? Are there others that you would add to this list? Let us know in the comments below, and keep coming back to The Nerd Stash for all of your nerdy news and needs!