Review - Armada by Ernest Cline

Title: Armada

Author: Ernest Cline

Pages: 384

Publisher: Cornerstone Digital

Release date: 16th July 2015

Blurb from Goodreads: 

 

It’s just another day of high school for Zack Lightman. He's daydreaming through another boring math class, with just one more month to go until graduation and freedom—if he can make it that long without getting suspended again.

Then he glances out his classroom window and spots the flying saucer.

At first, Zack thinks he’s going crazy.

A minute later, he’s sure of it. Because the UFO he’s staring at is straight out of the videogame he plays every night, a hugely popular online flight simulator called Armada—in which gamers just happen to be protecting the earth from alien invaders.

But what Zack’s seeing is all too real. And his skills—as well as those of millions of gamers across the world—are going to be needed to save the earth from what’s about to befall it.
 
Yet even as he and his new comrades scramble to prepare for the alien onslaught, Zack can’t help thinking of all the science-fiction books, TV shows, and movies he grew up reading and watching, and wonder: Doesn’t something about this scenario seem a little too… familiar?

Goodreads | Amazon UK | Amazon US

My Review:

 

*I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thanks to Random House UK, Cornerstone and NetGalley*

3.5/5 stars

Zack Lightman is daydreaming in Maths class and looks out the window when he sees a spaceship from his favourite video game Armada. He assumes he's going crazy.

The next day a ship appears at Zack's school. The EDA, the organisation that protects the Earth in Armada, needs Zack's help (he's ranked number six in Armada) because it turns out that aliens really do exist and they're headed for Earth.

Will humanity be able to survive?

Does the strange death of Zack's father have anything to do with the aliens?

Why do events seem so familiar?

As a sci-fi fan I was really looking forward to reading Armada and while I did enjoy it, I was slightly disappointed.

Zack was a likeable, relatable protagonist and his reactions were believable. I liked most of the other characters, especially Lex.

I loved all the references, particularly the Firefly ones.

The plot was good but I did see some things coming. I did want to keep reading but I wasn't gripped by the writing which was easy to follow.

Overall this was an enjoyable read.