1. Early Life and Education
Ernest Christy Cline was born on March 29, 1972, in Ashland, Ohio, to Ernest and Faye Imogene Cline, where he was also raised. As a youth during the 1970s and 1980s, Cline developed a deep passion for video games and movies, particularly the Star Wars saga, films directed by John Hughes, and the tabletop role-playing game Dungeons & Dragons. These formative interests in popular culture would later significantly influence his creative works. In his twenties, Cline worked in information technology while dedicating his spare time to developing his screenwriting skills.
2. Career
Ernest Cline's career encompasses a diverse range of creative endeavors, from screenwriting and spoken word poetry to novel writing and ventures into new media.
2.1. Screenwriter Activities
Cline began his professional journey as a screenwriter. In 1996, he gained initial recognition by self-publishing a fanfiction sequel script to the film The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension online. This early work helped establish his presence in online creative communities.
He co-wrote the screenplay for the film Fanboys, which was based on a storyline he developed in the late 1990s. The script, which circulated online and gained popularity, caught the attention of actor Kevin Spacey, who subsequently helped produce the film. Despite facing reshoots, re-edits, and delays, Fanboys was eventually released in 2009. Cline later noted that the film was his "first real original screenplay" and "changed my whole life." The final version of the screenplay was co-written with Adam F. Goldberg and directed by Kyle Newman. Cline also contributed to the screenplay for the 2018 film adaptation of his novel Ready Player One, which was directed by Steven Spielberg.
2.2. Spoken Word and Poetry Creation
From 1997 to 2001, Cline was an active participant in the Austin Poetry Slam scene, where he performed his original spoken-word pieces. He achieved recognition as the Austin Poetry Slam Champion in both 1998 and 2001. Cline also represented Austin as a member of their teams at the 1998 Austin National Poetry Slam and the 2001 Seattle National Poetry Slam.
His most widely recognized spoken-word pieces include "Dance, Monkeys, Dance," "Nerd Porn Auteur," and "When I Was a Kid." "Dance, Monkeys, Dance" was later adapted into a faux educational filmstrip, which became a viral video translated into 29 different languages. In 2001, Cline self-published a chapbook collection of his spoken-word writings titled The Importance of Being Ernest, and released a companion album, The Geek Wants Out. A new edition of The Importance of Being Ernest was published in the fall of 2013 by Write Bloody Publishing, featuring new cover art by Gary Musgrave and interior illustrations by Len Peralta.
2.3. Novelist Activities
Cline's career as a novelist began with the release of Ready Player One in 2011. The book, set in a dystopian 2040s, became a bestseller and was acquired by the Crown Publishing Group after a competitive bidding war. The film rights were sold to Warner Bros. the following day, with Cline co-writing the screenplay. The inspiration for Ready Player One stemmed from Cline's desire for creative freedom, having experienced the limitations of film production where his original creations were subject to significant changes. He imagined a scenario where Willy Wonka from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory was a game designer who hid a golden ticket within a video game, leading to a grand competition. This concept, combined with his extensive knowledge of 1980s popular culture, formed the foundation of the novel. The title "Ready Player One" is an homage to a phrase from his favorite video game, Black Tiger.
Following the hardcover release, Cline revealed an elaborate Easter egg hidden within both the hardcover and paperback editions of Ready Player One. This clue initiated a series of staged video gaming tests, mirroring the plot of the novel, with the grand prize being a 1981 DMC DeLorean. The prize was awarded in 2012.
His second novel, Armada, a standalone work, was released on July 14, 2015, also by Crown Publishing Group. In December 2015, Universal Pictures acquired the film rights to Armada for a seven-figure sum.
Cline's third novel, Ready Player Two, a sequel to Ready Player One, was announced in August 2015 and published on November 24, 2020. As of 2020, a film adaptation of Ready Player Two was in early development.
His fourth novel, Bridge to Bat City, was announced in June 2023 and released by Little, Brown and Company on April 9, 2024. This marks Cline's first children's novel, described as a "mostly true tall tale" about an orphaned young girl named Opal B Flats who forms an unexpected friendship with a music-loving colony of bats and helps them find a new home.
2.4. Other Media and Projects
Beyond his work as a novelist and screenwriter, Cline has engaged in various other media projects. In 2014, he participated in the investigation of the urban legend of the "video game burial" in Alamogordo, New Mexico, alongside Zak Penn. This excavation, which uncovered copies of the E.T. game and other software, became the subject of the documentary film Atari: Game Over, which Cline produced and appeared in. He also contributed to the script for Mystery Science Theater 3000.
In January 2024, Cline announced a partnership with tech company Futureverse Studios to launch the Readyverse. This initiative aims to create a "multi-world, multi-IP, interoperable open metaverse experience for mass consumers." The Readyverse will feature licensed digital properties from Steven Spielberg's Ready Player One film through a deal with Warner Bros., and also holds the rights to Cline's other novels, including Ready Player Two, as well as his future works.
3. Personal Life
Ernest Cline was married to author Susan Somers-Willett from 2003 to 2013, and they have one daughter. In 2016, he married poet and nonfiction writer Cristin O'Keefe Aptowicz, whom he first met at the 1998 National Poetry Slam. They began dating in 2013 and also have one daughter.
Cline openly identifies as a dedicated "otaku" or geek, a passion that heavily influences his work and personal interests. Following the sale of the film rights for Ready Player One, he purchased a DMC DeLorean DMC-12, which he customized with stickers from Ghostbusters and a proton pack, reflecting his enthusiasm for 1980s pop culture. His all-time favorite video game is the arcade classic Black Tiger, which is prominently featured in the plot of Ready Player One.
Cline is also a devoted admirer of Japanese culture. He has expressed affection for 1970s and 1980s Japanese robot anime, including Mobile Suit Gundam, the Godzilla series, and Ultraman. He has even watched Japanese special effects productions that were not released in the United States. This appreciation for Japanese pop culture is evident in his writing, such as his decision to feature Toei's version of Spider-Man's giant robot, Leopardon, as a key element in Ready Player One (known as ゲームウォーズGēmuwōzuJapanese in Japan).
4. Bibliography
Ernest Cline's bibliography includes novels, short stories, and poetry collections.
4.1. Novels
- Ready Player One series:
- Ready Player One (2011)
- Ready Player Two (2020)
- Standalone novels:
- Armada (2015)
- Bridge to Bat City (2024)
4.2. Short Stories
- "The Omnibot Incident" (2014), a short story included in Robot Uprisings, an anthology edited by Daniel H. Wilson and John Joseph Adams.
4.3. Poetry
- The Importance of Being Ernest (2013)
5. Adaptations of Works
Cline's literary works have seen significant adaptations into other media, particularly film.
- Ready Player One (2018) is a film directed by Steven Spielberg, based on Cline's novel of the same name. Cline also co-wrote the screenplay for the film.
- The film rights to his novel Armada were acquired by Universal Pictures in 2015, with a film adaptation in development.
- A film adaptation of Ready Player Two, the sequel to Ready Player One, was in early development as of 2020.
6. Evaluation and Impact
Ernest Cline's work has achieved considerable commercial success and cultural impact, particularly through his novels, which often resonate with audiences who share his passion for retro and popular culture. His debut novel, Ready Player One, became a bestseller and its film adaptation by Steven Spielberg further cemented his prominence in the science fiction genre.
Cline's writing is characterized by its deep immersion in nostalgia, particularly for 1980s video games, movies, and music. This focus on familiar pop culture references allows his stories to explore themes of escapism into virtual worlds and the role of technology in shaping human connection and identity. His narratives often celebrate geek culture and the pursuit of obscure knowledge, presenting a world where such interests can be central to heroism and adventure.
The success of his novels and their adaptations has contributed to a broader cultural conversation about the nature of virtual reality, the appeal of digital escapism, and the enduring influence of past cultural phenomena on contemporary society. His creation of the Readyverse initiative further extends his vision of an interconnected, multi-IP metaverse, reflecting his continued engagement with the future of digital experiences and their potential societal implications. Cline's ability to weave intricate plots around his encyclopedic knowledge of pop culture has established him as a significant voice in modern science fiction.
