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Avg. Customer Review: 
The Diamond Age
In the novel, "the Diamond Age," Neal Stephenson sets his story in the same futuristic, compartmented society as in "Snow Crash." However, "Diamond Age" takes place several years later when nanotechnology is the power that defines the world. The central storyline revolves around Nell, an abused little girl who comes into the possession of a Primer. The Primer is an interactive book, created to bond with the first little girl it encounters, and to educate that girl into adulthood. As you read the story, you learn about all of the diverse characters who have had contact with the Primer or who want the technology behind it - from Nell and her brother, to the inventor Hackworth and his daughter, to the Chinese government. I loved reading about the education of Nell through the Primer. The mirror of Nell's real experiences with Princess Nell in the Primer was excellent! Stephenson also did a great job including the martial arts and Asian culture into his story, as he did in "Snow Crash." However, I felt that the parts of the novel that didn't directly involve Nell were not as well connected or as engaging as Nell's interactions were. Also, the end of the book was weak and forgettable. Overall, I wasn't as willing or able to suspend by disbelief as I was with "Snow Crash." My recommendation is to read the book once because Nell's education is so excellent, but don't expect too much from the rest of the story.
 Stephenson Will Draw You In
This novel is one of the most outstandingly original works of science fiction that I have had the good fortune to read. Stephenson's futurescape, while not entirely believable (what Sci Fi future can make that claim, anyway?) is fresh and richly described. Most enjoyable about this book is Stephenson's stark contrast of his setting - a completely technologically dependent future - with the predominant cultures he presents. His depiction of the struggles and compromises between this future and the antiquated Victorian (newly revived) and Mandarin (staunchly preserved) cultures is, to my mind, the highlight of the book. Like many of the other reviewers, my interest in Science Fiction was revived by The Diamond Age. The strains of fantasy in the form of the Young Lady's Illustrated Primer as well as the characteristic feature technology (nanotech) appealed to my Inner Geek while the sociological and philosophical aspects spoke to the Intellectual Adult Reader in me. The Diamond Age is highly engaging thought-fuel. I recommend it to anyone who loves or once loved Science Fiction.
fascinating vision of nanotech-driven future
This book is pleasantly dense with interesting ideas about what the future holds. The title refers to the progression of material-driven stages of human progress -- the Stone Age, the Bronze Age, etc. In "the Diamond Age", matter compilers can easily create diamonds out of raw carbon. Basic foodstuffs and many other material wants can be satisfied by these matter compilers. This has created a world in which no one need starve. However there are still tremendous disparities between rich and poor, because many human comforts such as entertainment and fine food still require the services of other people, which must be bought in hard currency. Networked nano-technology is all-pervasive, with microscopic robots putting these poorer citizens under constant surveillance. Faced with this hyperactive stew of technologies, ancient instincts and traditions run strong. Crime, poverty, and tribal conflict are still rampant in this world. People cling to old ways of thought (a strong Confucian motif runs through the book) to help make human sense of the rapidly changing world. Against this backdrop, a fantastically advanced piece of technology (a sentient child's primer) is stolen, and winds up in the hands of a destitute young waif named Nell. Her resulting world-class education, and what she does with that education, is the binding for the various threads of the story. The book's characters are well-realized for the most part, the writing style is honed and mature, the plot is intricate and engaging. The ending is controversial in its ambiguity, but that does not diminish the power of the book as a whole. In all, a very thought-provoking read.
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