Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, Bookish Wisdom earns from qualifying purchases. This doesn't change our picks or your price.
Quick answer: If you liked Armada, read Ernest Cline's Ready Player One and Ready Player Two, then Ender's Game, Snow Crash, Old Man's War and Redshirts. All mix gaming, geek culture and big science fiction ideas.
Ernest Cline's 2015 novel follows Zack Lightman, a gamer who discovers that the video game he plays is a training simulation for a real alien invasion. It is full of pop-culture references, humour and adventure. The books below offer similar gamer fantasies, space battles and nostalgic geek fun.
Table of Contents
Quick Picks at a Glance
| Book | Author | Ages | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ready Player One | Ernest Cline | Adult | the famous one |
| Ready Player Two | Ernest Cline | Adult | the sequel |
| Ender's Game | Orson Scott Card | Teen | young strategist |
| Snow Crash | Neal Stephenson | Adult | cyberpunk classic |
| Old Man's War | John Scalzi | Adult | witty military science fiction |
| Redshirts | John Scalzi | Adult | science fiction comedy |
| The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy | Douglas Adams | Adult | comic classic |
| Warcross | Marie Lu | Teen | virtual reality game |
| Daemon | Daniel Suarez | Adult | tech thriller |
| Project Hail Mary | Andy Weir | Adult | science adventure |
| The Martian | Andy Weir | Adult | survival science |
| Skyward | Brandon Sanderson | Teen | pilot and war |
| Starship Troopers | Robert A. Heinlein | Adult | military classic |
| Neuromancer | William Gibson | Adult | cyberpunk foundation |
| Wool | Hugh Howey | Adult | dystopian mystery |
1. Ready Player One by Ernest Cline
A teenager hunts for treasure inside a virtual world. Packed with 1980s references and puzzles.
Best for: the famous one.
2. Ready Player Two by Ernest Cline
Wade faces a new virtual world and bigger stakes. A larger and more divisive sequel.
Best for: the sequel.
3. Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card
Ender Wiggin is trained to fight an alien enemy through simulated battles. A clear influence on Armada.
Best for: young strategist.
4. Snow Crash by Neal Stephenson
A pizza-delivering hacker enters the Metaverse. Fast, funny and brainy.
Best for: cyberpunk classic.
5. Old Man's War by John Scalzi
Seventy-five-year-olds join the colonial army. Quick and funny.
Best for: witty military science fiction.
6. Redshirts by John Scalzi
Crew members realise they are minor characters in a TV show. Clever and fun.
Best for: science fiction comedy.
7. The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams
Arthur Dent escapes Earth's destruction. Absurd and endlessly quotable.
Best for: comic classic.
8. Warcross by Marie Lu
A bounty hunter investigates a global VR game. Fast and romantic.
Best for: virtual reality game.
9. Daemon by Daniel Suarez
A dead programmer's software begins to reshape the world. Gripping and prescient.
Best for: tech thriller.
10. Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir
A man wakes alone on a spaceship with no memory. Funny and moving.
Best for: science adventure.
11. The Martian by Andy Weir
An astronaut is stranded on Mars. Funny, tense and highly readable.
Best for: survival science.
12. Skyward by Brandon Sanderson
A girl dreams of being a pilot to defend her planet. Fast and funny.
Best for: pilot and war.
13. Starship Troopers by Robert A. Heinlein
A young recruit joins the infantry to fight alien bugs. Influential and provocative.
Best for: military classic.
14. Neuromancer by William Gibson
A hacker is hired for a last job in cyberspace. Dense and influential.
Best for: cyberpunk foundation.
15. Wool by Hugh Howey
People live in an underground silo. Tense and clever.
Best for: dystopian mystery.
How to Choose
For more Cline start with Ready Player One. For military science fiction choose Ender's Game, Old Man's War or Starship Troopers. For humour pick Redshirts or The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. For virtual worlds read Snow Crash, Warcross or Daemon. For fast science adventure try Project Hail Mary or The Martian. If you liked the nostalgia, check which references you recognise as you read. Armada has a big pop-culture soundtrack, so readers who enjoy retro music, films and games get even more out of it. Cline's books reward readers who love the 1980s, so try them alongside the music and films he references. If you enjoy the gamer-saves-the-world idea, Ender's Game and Warcross are good partners. If you enjoy the humour, Redshirts and The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy are the best fits. Audiobooks narrated by Wil Wheaton are popular for Cline's books. Another good option is to watch for audio versions with sound effects or full casts, which suit action-heavy science fiction. Libraries often hold several of these titles, so you can try a few before buying.
Related: 15 Books Like Wings of Fire Kids Will Love: Dragons, Quests and Animal Adventures · 12 Dystopian Books Like the Hunger Games | Best Books to Read Like Hunger Games
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Armada about?
A teenage gamer learns that his favourite game is a training program for a real alien war.
Who wrote it?
Ernest Cline.
When was it published?
2015.
Is it a sequel to Ready Player One?
No, it is a separate novel.
Is it like The Last Starfighter?
It echoes that film, and the book acknowledges many such influences.
What age is it for?
Older teens and adults.
Is it funny?
Yes, with plenty of geek humour.
What should I read next?
Try Ready Player One or Ender's Game.
Is Armada as good as Ready Player One?
Opinions vary. Many readers find it lighter and more familiar, while others prefer its pace.
Is it a film?
A film adaptation has been discussed. Check current listings.
Does Armada contain spoilers for Ready Player One?
No, they are separate stories.
Is Armada suitable for teens?
Yes, though it includes some strong language.
Is the book humorous?
Yes, with plenty of pop-culture jokes.