Ready Player One Allusions and Cultural References

Literary and Philosophical References

• Neal Stephenson, Snow Crash (4.13)
• J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings trilogy (4.13) (8.72)
• Anne McCaffrey, The Dragonriders of Pern (4.13)
• Arrakis is a planet in Frank Herbert's Dune (4.13)
• Magrathea is a planet in Douglas Adams's The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (4.13)
• Terry Pratchett's Discworld series (4.13)
• Mid-World is from Stephen King's Dark Tower series (4.13)
• Riverworld is from a series of books by Philip Jose Farmer (4.13)
• Larry Niven's Ringworld (4.13)
• Douglas Adams (6.6)
• Kurt Vonnegut (6.6)
• Neal Stephenson (6.6)
• Richard K. Morgan (6.6)
• Stephen King (6.6)
• Orson Scott Card (6.6)
• Terry Pratchett (6.6)
• Terry Brooks (6.6)
• Ray Bradbury (6.6)
• Joe Haldeman (6.6)
• Robert Heinlein (6.6)
• J.R.R. Tolkien (6.6)
• Jack Vance (6.6)
• William Gibson (6.6)
• Neil Gaiman (6.6)
• Bruce Sterling (6.6)
• Michael Moorcock (6.6)
• John Scalzi (6.6)
• Roger Zelazny (6.6)
• William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet (17.147)
• IOI-655321 (14.5, 16.2, 21.14, 24.7, 29.20), Nolan's ID number, matches Alex's prisoner ID in A Clockwork Orange 
• The "DON'T PANIC" sticker (18.3) is a reference to The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
• William Gibson, Neuromancer (18.9)
• The Pan-Galactic Gargle Blaster (18.19) is a drink from The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
• Odin (19.7)
• Bifrost (19.43) (19.44)
• Cory Doctorow (20.5)
• Parzival's ship is named after Kurt Vonnegut, referenced throughout, esp. Chapter 21
• A Vorpal sword (21.30) is from Lewis Carroll's "Jabberwocky"
• The Bible (32.52)
• William Shakespeare, The Tempest (37.5)

Historical References

• Wade's avatar, Parzival, is named after Percival, the Arthurian Knight
• The Zapruder film is part of the John F. Kennedy assassination conspiracy (0.9) 
• The Discovery of Tutankhamen's tomb (4.5) 
• Joan of Arc (9.2)
• Albert Einstein (12.14)

Pop Culture References

This massive list of pop culture references is what the book is all about. Stumped on an obscure reference from the '80s? Or born after 1990 and have no clue what's going on? Don't worry; we've got you covered. 

• "Dogs and cats living together… mass hysteria!" (0.3) is a quote from Ghostbusters
• "Dead Man's Party" by Oingo Boingo (0.10) (0.13) 
• Space Invaders, referenced throughout 
• Time magazine (0.11) (2.3)
• Halliday is described as "dancing with himself," which is likely a reference to the Billy Idol song, "Dancing with Myself" (0.12) 
• John Hughes (0.12) (2.44)
• Heathers (0.16)
• Winona Ryder (0.17)
• Christian Slater (0.17)
• The Muppet Show (0.22) (6.19)
• Atari, especially the Atari 2600, referenced throughout
• Adventure for Atari, referenced throughout
• Warren Robinett, programmer of Adventure (0.24)
• Apple IIe (0.33) (5.12)
• Commodore 64 (0.33) (5.10) (5.12)
• Atari 800XL (0.33)
• TRS-80 Color Computer 2 (0.33)
• Dungeons and Dragons, referenced throughout
• Galaga (1.2) (11.3) (11.11) (22.25)
• Defender (1.2) (6.50) (22.23)
• Asteroids (1.2)
• Robotron: 2084 (1.7) (22.24)
• Family Ties (1.10) (1.12) (1.41) (25.6)
• The Amazing Spider-Man (1.12)
• The X-Men (1.12)
• Green Lantern (1.12)
• Peter Parker (1.12) (13.3)
• Clark Kent (1.12) (13.3)
• Sesame Street (1.15)
• Muppets (1.15)
• Cosmos (1.57)
• Donkey Kong (1.59) (22.21)
• BurgerTime (1.59) (9.101)
• Star Wars, including Princess Leia, X-Wings, Tie Fighters, Ewoks, etc., referenced throughout
• Pitfall (1.59)
• Spider-Man (1.65)
• The Batcave (1.76)
• Superman's Fortress of Solitude (1.76)
• Star Trek in general, including Vulcans, referenced throughout
• Wade's passphrase, "You have been recruited by the Star League to defend the Frontier against Xur and the Ko-Dan Armada" is from The Last Starfighter (1.81)
• Monty Python and the Holy Grail (2.3) referenced throughout chapter 37
• The T-1000 is from Terminator 2: Judgment Day (2.21)
• Sixteen Candles (2.44)
• Pretty in Pink (2.44)
• Some Kind of Wonderful (2.44)
• The Breakfast Club (2.44)
• Weird Science (2.44)
• Ferris Bueller's Day Off (2.44)
• Dragon magazine (3.2)
• Betamax (3.2)
• LaserDisc (3.2)
• "The Wild Boys" by Duran Duran (3.5)
• The Cheshire Cat from Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, referenced throughout as part of Aech's ubiquitous "trademark Cheshire grin."
• Contra (3.10)
• Golden Axe (3.10)
• Heavy Barrel (3.10)
• Smash TV (3.10) (26.39)
• Ikari Warriors (3.10)
• Gary Gygax, creator of Dungeons and Dragons (3.15) (5.3) (6.70)
• Tron: Deadly Discs (3.16)
• Starlog magazine (3.16) (3.17)
• Ladyhawke, referenced throughout chapter 3, (7.48) (10.40) 
• Ewoks: The Battle for Endor (3.18) 
• Caravan of Courage: An Ewok Adventure (3.18)
• Intellivision (3.28) (3.47)
• Astrosmash (3.28)
• "And don't call me Shirley" is a quote from Airplane! (3.31)
• Howard the Duck (3.36)
• Krull (3.36)
• Alan Parsons Project (3.38)
• Highlander II (3.38)
• John Wood (3.39)
• Matthew Broderick referenced throughout, especially chapter 11
• WarGames referenced throughout, especially chapter 11
• Richard Donner (3.41)
• The Goonies (3.41, 17.168)
• Superman: The Movie (3.41)
• Steven Spielberg (3.42)
• Legend (3.42) (3.43)
• Planet Greyhawk is a reference to Dungeons and Dragons (3.55) 
• Swordquest Series, including Earthworld (3.63) (3.66) (3.71) (3.75) (3.77) 
• Dan Hitchens and Tod Frye, developers of the Swordquest series (3.73)
• Wikipedia (3.84)
• Spaced (3.98) (7.48)
• Fantastic Voyage (4.6)
• Battlestar Galactica (4.10)
• Everquest (4.13)
• World of Warcraft (4.13)
• Firefly/Serenity (4.13) (21.32)
• The Matrix (4.13) (6.9)
• Rubik's Cube (4.4) (10.6)
• Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (5.2)
• Garriott is likely Richard Garriot, the creator of Ultima and not his more business-minded brother Robert Garriott or their astronaut father Owen Garriott (5.3)
• Bill Gates (5.3)
• Steve Jobs (5.9)
• Steve Wozniak (5.9) (21.20)
• John Lennon (5.9)
• Paul McCartney (5.9)
• Chthonia, Halliday's fantasy world, referenced throughout, might be a reference to H.P. Lovecraft's Cthulu mythos 
• Back to the Future (5.22) (6.9) (18.11) (18.21) (18.22) (21.32)
• Ghostbusters (6.8) (18.11)
• Real Genius (6.8) (9.54) (10.27) (11.28)
• Better Off Dead (6.8) (11.28)
• Revenge of the Nerds (6.8)
• Lord of the Rings (movies) (6.9) (33.88) (33.89
• Mad Max (6.9)
• Indiana Jones (whole series) (6.9)
• James Cameron (6.10)
• Terry Gilliam (6.10)
• Peter Jackson (6.10)
• David Fincher (6.10)
• Stanley Kubrick (6.10)
• George Lucas (6.10)
• Steven Spielberg (6.10)
• Guillermo Del Toro (6.10)
• Quentin Tarantino (6.10)
• Kevin Smith (6.10)
• John Hughes (6.11)
• "Only the meek get pinched. The bold survive," is a quote from Ferris Bueller's Day Off (6.12)
• Monty Python (6.14) (12.40)
• The Greatest American Hero (6.19)
• Airworlf (6.19)
• The A-Team (6.19)
• Knight Rider (6.19) (18.11)
• Misfits of Science (6.19)
• The Simpsons (6.20)
• Star Trek
• Star Trek: The Next Generation (6.22) (18.27)
• Star Trek: Deep Space 9 (6.22)
• Star Trek: Voyager (6.22)
• Star Trek: Enterprise (6.22)
• Transformers (6.24)
• Gobots (6.24)
• Land of the Lost (6.25)
• Thundarr the Barbarian (6.25)
• He-Man (6.25)
• Schoolhouse Rock! (6.25)
• G.I. Joe (6.25)
• H.R. Pufnstuf (6.26)
• Godzilla (6.28)
• Gamera (6.28)
• Star Blazers (6.28)
• The Space Giants (6.28) (20.10)
• G-Force (6.28)
• Speed Racer (6.28)
• Bill Hicks (6.31)
• The Police (6.34)
• Journey (6.34)
• R.E.M. (6.34)
• The Clash (6.34)
• They Might Be Giants (6.35)
• Devo (6.35) (10.27)
• Van Halen (6.37)
• Bon Jovi (6.37)
• Def Leppard (6.37)
• Pink Floyd (6.37) (10.27)
• "Beds Are Burning," Midnight Oil (6.40)
• Jeopardy! (6.47)
• Akalabeth (6.48)
• Zaxxon (6.48) (11.3)
• "Verb, That's What's Happenin'" from Schoolhouse Rock! (7.1)
• Quidditch is from Harry Potter, of course (7.38)
• Doctor Who (7.43)
• Hawk the Slayer (8.4)
• The Beastmaster (8.4)
• Excalibur (8.7) (27.28)
• Super Friends (8.27)
• Joust, referenced throughout, especially chapter 8
• Street Fighter II (8.37)
• Heavy Metal magazine (8.45)
• Dragon magazine (8.45)
• Dungeons of Daggorath, referenced throughout, especially chapter 10
• Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior (9.4)
• Ray-Bans  (9.4)
• Highlander (9.9) (9.11) (17.143)
• She-Ra (9.35)
• "Get to Know You Well" by Howard Jones from the Better Off Dead soundtrack (9.43) 
• Rain Man (9.100)
• Centipede (9.101)
• Ms. Pac-Man (9.101)
• The Smurfs (9.138)
• Member's Only jackets (10.6)
• Riptide (10.6) (20.10)
• Footloose (10.12)
• John "Cougar" Mellencamp (10.12)
• Combat (10.25)
• Space Invaders (10.25)
• Pitfall (10.25) 
• Kaboom! (10.25)
• Star Raiders (10.25)
• The Empire Strikes Back (the Atari game) (10.25)
• Starmaster (10.25)
• Yars' Revenge (10.25
• E.T. (the Atari game) (10.25)
• Tron (10.27)
• Rush (10.27)
• Raaka-tu (10.32)
• Bedlan (10.32)
• Pyramid (10.32)
• Madness and the Minotaur (10.32) (10.40)
• Conan the Barbarian (10.36)
• 2010 (10.46)
• "Also Sprach Zarathustra" musical arrangement by Richard Strauss (10.46)
• Dig Dug (11.3) (11.24) (22.25)
• "Video Fever" by the Beepers (11.7) 
• Ally Sheedy (11.31)
• Tom Cruise, Risky Business (11.57)
• The Dark Crystal (12.40)
• Captain Kangaroo (13.9)
• Captain America (13.9)
• Buck Rogers (13.9)
• Revenge of the Nerds (13.11)
• Aquafresh toothpaste (13.12)
• Phantasm (14.12)
• Wonder Twins (15.164)
• The Wizard of Oz (16.24)
• Saturday Night Live (17.23)
• "Clouseau" is a reference to Peter Sellers's character in the Pink Panther series of films (17.31) (17.38)
• "Answer the question, Claire" (17.58) is a quote from The Breakfast Club
• "No time for love, Dr. Jones" (17.77) is a misquote from Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom
• "Quid pro quo, Dr. Lecter" (17.93) is a reference to The Silence of the Lambs
• The Kurgan (17.145) is a character from Highlander
• Martha Plimpton (17.168)
• Sean Astin (17.168)
• The Space Giants (17.170)
• Cap'n Crunch (17.171)
• John Draper, the hacker, not Don Draper, the misogynist from Mad Men (17.172) (21.20)
• The Addams Family (17.177) (21.20)
• Evil Dead (17.177)
• Fight Club (17.177)
• Rocky Horror Picture Show (17.188)
• Simon & Simon (18.1)
• "We Can Dance If We Want To" (18.1) is a lyric from "The Safety Dance" by Men Without Hats
• Buckaroo Banzai (18.8): Parzival dresses like the guy 4th from the left in this photo
• Max Rockatansky (18.13) is the role played by Mel Gibson in the Mad Max series of films
• Superman (18.15)
• "Blue Monday" by New Order (18.17)
• "Union of the Snake" by Duran Duran (18.19) 
• "Rebel Yell" by Billy Idol (18.27) 
• Parzival's dance software, Travoltra, is obviously a reference to John Travolta (18.35)
• Plastic Man (18.37)
• "Time After Time" by Cyndi Lauper (18.38) (18.74) 
• "James Brown Is Dead" by L.A. Style (18.74) 
• "Atomic" by Blondie (18.89) 
• "Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go" by Wham! (19.2) 
• Max Headroom, referenced throughout, especially chapter 19
• The Pleasuredome (19.16) is aptly named, but is also the name of the debut album by Frankie Goes to Hollywood in 1984, whose song "Relax" is about masturbation
• Erin Gray (19.24)
• Buck Rogers, including Wilma Deering (19.24) (19.32)
• Silver Spoons (19.24) (20.10)
• Majel Barrett (19.32)
• "A Million Miles Away" by the Plimsouls (19.45) 
• "Change" by John Waite from the Vision Quest soundtrack (19.45) 
• The quote "No one in the world ever gets what they want and that is beautiful" (19.54) is from the song "Don't Let's Start" by They Might Be Giants. 
• Austrian rap "star" Falco, referenced throughout, especially chapter 20
• Wil Wheaton (20.5)
• Kikaider (20.10)
• Spectreman (20.10)
• Supaidaman and his robot, Leopardon, referenced throughout
• Misfits of Science (20.11)
• Gamera (20.11)
• Silver Spoons (20.11)
• Square Pegs (20.12)
• ElectraWoman and DynaGirl (20.12)
• Isis (20.12)
• Wonder Woman (20.12)
• Art3mis's planet, Benatar, referenced throughout, esp. chapter 20, is clearly named after rock goddess Pat Benatar
• Parzival standing outside Art3mis's palace gates and blasting "In Your Eyes" by Peter Gabriel (20.14) is an imitation of the classic John Cusack scene from Say Anything
• Hulk Hogan (10.20)
• Andre the Giant (10.20)
• WWF, the World Wrestling Federation (10.20) not the World Wildlife Fund
• Ultraman, mentioned throughout 
• "Time to make the doughnuts" (10.31) is a reference to a classic Dunkin Donuts commercial
• Ken, Barbie's beau (10.35)
• Hacker Kevin Mitnick (21.21) 
• Pac-Man, referenced throughout chapter 22
• The Whedonverse (21.33) is a reference to Joss Whedon, creator of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Firefly, and more
• Battlezone (22.4)
• "Pour Some Sugar on Me" by Def Leppard (22.6) 
• The very first video game, Tennis for Two, by William Higinbotham (22.11) (22.12) 
• Spacewar! (22.11) (22.12)
• "Kids Wanna Rock" by Bryan Adams (22.23)
• The graffiti on the Robotron machine "Rooney eats it!" (22.24) is a reference to Ferris Bueller's Day Off  
• Dokken (22.43)
• "I had the glow" is a reference to the 1985 movie The Last Dragon
• "Pac-Man Fever" (22.46) 
• Zork, referenced throughout, esp. chapters 22 & 23
• Colossal Cave (23.3)
• The Ring of Teleportation's command word, "Brundell" (23.11) is likely a reference to Jeff Goldblum's character Seth Brundle in The Fly
• Froot Loops (23.20)
• Honeycombs (23.20)
• Lucky Charms (23.20)
• Count Chocula (23.20)
• Quisp (23.20)
• Frosted Flakes (23.20)
• Parzival takes his ship to Joe's Garage for repair (23.45). Joe's Garage is also an album by Frank Zappa.
• The Kobayashi Maru (24.11) is a test from Star Trek
• The Pepsi Challenge (24.11)
• Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (24.13)
• Play-doh (24.33)
• Cowboy Bebop (25.2)
• Blade Runner, including Sean Young and Harrison Ford, referenced throughout chapter 26
• Chow Yun Fat (26.27)
• John Woo (26.27)
• Hard Boiled (26.27)
• The Killer (26.27)
• Crime Fighters (26.39) 
• Heavy Barrel (26.39)
• Vigilante (26.39)
• Black Tiger, referenced throughout chapter 26
• Time Pilot (26.41) (26.48)
• Tranzor Z (26.66)
• The Iron Giant (26.66)
• Jet Jaguar (26.66)
• Johnny Sokko and his Flying robot (26.66)
• Shogun Warriors (26.66)
• A variety of songs by Rush, referenced throughout chapter 27
• Explorers (28.1)
• "Crom, strong in his mountain" (28.4) is a quote from Conan the Barbarian
• THX1138 (29.6)
• All of Wade's aliases at IOI, Sam Lowery (30.54) and Harry Tuttle (31.11) are characters from the movie Brazil
• Big Trouble in Little China (30.70)
• Aech says that Parzival has "balls of solid adamantium" (32.15), adamantium being the same material that composes Wolverine's indestructible claws.
• "Three is a Magic Number" by Schoolhouse Rock! referenced throughout chapter 32
• Quake (33.86)
• Wade's password "Reindeer Flotilla Setec Astronomy" is a reference to both Tron and Sneakers, in which "Setec Astronomy" is an anagram of "Too Many Secrets." (33.138)
• "Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap" by AC/DC (34.9) 
• Woodstock (34.14)
• Mazinger Z (34.16) (35.9)
• Mobile Suit Gundam (34.17) (34.23)
• Brave Raideen (34.18)
• If you don't know the quote "Han will have that shield down […] We've got to give him more time!" (34.27) is from Star Wars, you're reading the wrong book.
• Mechagodzilla, referenced throughout chapter 34 & 35
• Voltron (34.42)
• Robotech (34.42)
• Neon Genesis Evangelion (34.42)
• Short Circuit (34.48)
• Red Dawn (35.9)
• Wile E. Coyote and Roadrunner (36.12)
• Chuck Taylor All Stars (36.61)
• Twilight Zone (36.64)
• Q*Bert (37.1)
• Gorf (37.1)
• Tempest, the arcade game, referenced throughout chapter 37
• Nintendo (37.119)
• Sega (37.119)
• PlayStation (37.119)
• Xbox (37.119)