#TBT: Back to the 80’s with Ready Player One

Steven Spielberg's movie adaptation of Ernest Cline's Ready Player One comes out on March 29 and it will be totally awesome! The special effects look gnarly and the action scenes move at Warp Speed. It will be rad to see Spielberg depict the many references to 80's pop culture made by Wade, the story's brilliant and quirky protagonist, especially since so many of Spielberg's movies ARE 80's pop culture! In honor of Wade and his love for nostalgia, here are a few 80's references you should know:

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy is a must read to understand why the 80's was the perfect era for Wade. 

No movie referenced in Ready Player One captures the personality and style of the 80's as well as The Breakfast Club, a timeless story of angst and romance for high school students of any era. 

Wade references the song "Blue Monday" by 80's rock band New Order. Listen to it on their record Substance and you'll feel like battling aliens in an arcade!

If you've had enough #TBT check out these recent books sure to please any fan of Ready Player One, no 80's obsession required:

Guy in Real Life by Steve Brezenoff is about two teens who fall in love through an online role playing game and the real-life complications that follow. Guy in Real Life is available in multiple formats.

Emika is a young hacker whose computer skills lead her to a world of danger in Warcross by Marie Lu. Warcross is available in multiple formats.

Where Futures End by Parker Peevyhouse feels eerily realistic when describing the troubles of a futuristic world where social media and technology increasingly take over people's lives. Where Futures End is available in multiple formats

Have more 80's references or sci-fi suggestions? Share them in the comments!