What a funny book. It is hard to give it a fair rating, but the research alone (pure geek glory) is worth a 4-star rating. There is so much to love about the setting and the pace, but the characters are often annoying, their humor so sophomoric. It's basically a quest story, where poor Wade, who lives in a trailer park where the trailers are stacked on each other (The Stacks), seeks the all-powerful rule and riches of the deceased inventor of the Oasis. As such, the story follows the quest, and Wade becomes better for the challenges he faces, learning to live a fuller life.

It's a cool story, even though (I can't stress this enough) Wade is sometimes so incredibly annoying. You have been warned.