by Ernest Cline
First published 2015
Zack Lightman is a video game-obsessed teen who suddenly sees a real-life alien ship from his favorite game, Armada. Turns out the game is training millions of players to defend Earth from an impending alien attack. Zack and his fellow gamers must put their skills to the ultimate test, blasting into space for a high-stakes battle to save humanity.
Genres: science-fiction, adventure, action, young-adult, aliens, video-games
Vibes: fast-paced, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: chosen-one, fish-out-of-water
Setting: His Home Town, Planets, Moons
Period: Modern-SiFi
384 pages · Paperback · Ballantine Books