Welcome to part four of the Ready Player One Book Club. This is the final installment of a four-part series. Be sure to read parts one, two and three first. Also, this contains heavy spoilers. You have been warned. Now, without further ado, the thrilling conclusion.
After clearing the second gate, finding out Sorrento/IOI has already reached the third gate and learning of a friend’s death, Wade decides to take action. He hatches a scheme to infiltrate IOI and dismantle it from the inside. This is best summed up in the novel, so we won’t go into it much here.
Sometime prior to this, Wade obtains the third key by playing a note-for-note rendition of Rush’s 2112 and finding an additional clue that leads him to the location and way to enter the third gate.
The third gate is revealed to be at Anorak’s Castle, which is, unfortunately, being used as a home base for the Sixers. They’ve placed a barrier over the castle, preventing other Gunters from entering. There’s a giant robot battle, followed by the third gate itself.
The third gate turns out to be another “flicksync,” this time Monty Python & the Holy Grail. Our hero clears the challenge and comes face to face with Anorak himself, leading to the conclusion of the story.
The novel is fun, engaging and filled with nostalgia, worth reading several times.
If you plan to recreate the third gate, listen to 2112 by Rush, watch some classic Schoolhouse Rock, some Ultraman, a bit of Godzilla or giant-robot flavored anime of your choice and wrap it up with a viewing of Monty Python & the Holy Grail.
Oh, and don’t forget to play Adventure.
More entries in the Ready Player One Book Club series:
Ready Player One Book Club, Part 3 – Opening the second gate
