In the year 2044, the world has been gripped by an energy crisis from the depletion* of fossil fuels* and the consequences of global warming and overpopulation, causing widespread social problems and economic stagnation*.

To escape the decline their world is facing, people turn to the OASIS, a virtual reality simulator accessible by players using visors* and haptic* technology such as gloves. It functions both as an MMORPG* and as a virtual society, with its currency being the most stable in the real world. It was created by James Halliday who, when he died, had announced in his will to the public that he had left an Easter egg inside OASIS, and the first person to find it would inherit his entire fortune and the corporation. The story follows the adventures of teenager Wade Watts, starting about five years after the announcement, when he discovers one of the three keys pointing to the treasure.

The debut novel of American author Ernest Cline was first published in 2011 and won several awards in 2012.

A film adaptation, directed by Steven Spielberg, is slated to premiere in theaters on March 29.

The book is available at online bookstores like jd.com.

(SD-Agencies)