A review by machen27
The Diamond Age: Or, a Young Lady's Illustrated Primer by Neal Stephenson

adventurous emotional lighthearted mysterious fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

Neil Stephenson describes a future nanotechnological society where our mastery of the atom has given us complete control over our built environment. No longer shackled to the physical world, people now associate by culture, choosing a phyle whose ideals fit your own. The story revolves around a wondrous invention, the eponymous Young Lady's Illustrated Primer, a technological wonder that can raise a child, and the people surrounding it. While the technology has not aged the way Stephenson predicts (we do not build a world out of atomic machinery as of yet), this often violent tale of clashing cultures is undeniably cyberpunk, and a fun read for it. Yet, for all of the depth it reaches for, I can't help but feel it is mostly a fun cyberpunk romp, rather than any deep commentary on culture or what makes a person. The plot happens to the main characters (
Nell and Hackworth
), and they seem to make very few meaningful choices. The handling of Chinese culture is also, frankly, dated and questionable even though the arc results in
Chinese independence from Western influence.
Still, I recommend it as a fun and creative read, though a guilty pleasure.
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