The Diamond Age: Or, a Young Lady's Illustrated Primer (Bantam Spectra Book)

Oddly good book. A book about a young girl and an interactive book that can shape lives. Also used to target larger goals...

Nell, primary character, is followed within a child's fairy tale and her and the 'real world' life. Both shaping her mentally, emotionally, and physically.

If I knew more details about this book I probably would have skipped it but this was a really...more

Oddly good book. A book about a young girl and an interactive book that can shape lives. Also used to target larger goals...

Nell, primary character, is followed within a child's fairy tale and her and the 'real world' life. Both shaping her mentally, emotionally, and physically.

If I knew more details about this book I probably would have skipped it but this was a really enjoyable read.

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I was interested by Stephenson's rendering of future technology, and would love a primer of my own, but couldn't get into the story. The end leaves too many open questions. What will Nell do with the Mouse Army? Will Miranda be pleased that Nell saved her? Does the Seed finally come to fruition? I hope Stephenson writes a sequel; otherwise his carefully developed story falls flat.

Imaginative, well written, but kind of weird toward the end.

I strangely unique idea. I am still waiting for the technology to arrive. If the Kindle is the best we have at this point, we still have a long way to go.

What happens when the world's most powerful learning tool ends up in the hands of a common street urchin? In this particular view of the future Neal Stephenson has created for us, nanotechnology is everywhere and about as commonplace as numerous as pollen. Thanks to nanotechnology, diamond is cheaper than glass and "toner wars" blacken the skies. No longer are nations created along...more

What happens when the world's most powerful learning tool ends up in the hands of a common street urchin? In this particular view of the future Neal Stephenson has created for us, nanotechnology is everywhere and about as commonplace as numerous as pollen. Thanks to nanotechnology, diamond is cheaper than glass and "toner wars" blacken the skies. No longer are nations created along borders; instead nations align by common philosophical outlooks and arrange themselves by city-states around the globe. This is my favorite Stephenson book to date. I hope they never make it into a movie because Hollywood will surely ruin it.   hide

This is among the best SciFi - cyber novels ever. Read it and enjoy!

I loved the Diamond Age, which I like to call by its subtitle, "A Young Lady's Illustrated Primer". This is a far-future masterpiece. The setting is so exotic, and yet so realistic that I wonder at Stephenson's imagination. I like the struggle of the young poor girl; I like the emptiness of the elite Victorians' lives; I like the actress who develops a mother's love...more

I loved the Diamond Age, which I like to call by its subtitle, "A Young Lady's Illustrated Primer". This is a far-future masterpiece. The setting is so exotic, and yet so realistic that I wonder at Stephenson's imagination. I like the struggle of the young poor girl; I like the emptiness of the elite Victorians' lives; I like the actress who develops a mother's love for her client. I am so happy George Clooney did not get a chance to ruin this one on the planned miniseries!   hide

I loved this book!! Having spent several years in China, I enjoyed the setting and his rather unique take on Confucian values as well as his extrapolated future for a China which in the early 90s was a far cry from that of today. Nell will forevermore be one of my favorite characters. Magical!

One of my favorite books, not because I am a nerd, but because it mixes Victorian do-dadery with futuristic technology as a conscious lifestyle choice...and none of this "Steampunk" crap is involved - I'm sorry, you might sight this in your list of inspirations, but I can't condone the making of crappy sci-fi movie props, and computers mod'd to fit inside a Victrola....back...more

One of my favorite books, not because I am a nerd, but because it mixes Victorian do-dadery with futuristic technology as a conscious lifestyle choice...and none of this "Steampunk" crap is involved - I'm sorry, you might sight this in your list of inspirations, but I can't condone the making of crappy sci-fi movie props, and computers mod'd to fit inside a Victrola....back on track - my favorite thing ever are the disposable chopsticks that have scrolling advertisements.   hide