great gimmick in this book: a bill gates type guy in the future has created the most successful and popular way to utilize the internet up and dies. he has no heirs and his will is readaloud in said popular/successful simulation game: his fortune and controlling shares in his company will be awarded to the player who can locate 3 hidden keys inside the game. add an evil corporation that wants to gain control of the game and start monetizing it (and will do anything, include kidnapping and murdering lay gamers), and you've got a race.

but that's not the gimmick. it's the game creator's obsession with 80's pop culture, movies and music that makes this a fun run. 80's references are everywhere and it's like a trip down memory lane as lyrics are unfurled, and the dolorian from back to the future drives up, and brundle-fly pops up. it was light on actual believable plots - real sci fi geeks will be able to punch holes in the story immediately - so i was surprised to find it in the science fiction section; it read like a YA novel - especially given it's teen protagonist. but hey, i can't fault a book that is so obviously aimed at ME :)