Science Fiction Books
The Diamond Age: Or, a Young Lady's Illustrated Primer (Bantam Spectra Book)
RRP: $15.00
Our Price: $10.20
You Save: $ 4.80 ( 32% )
Usually ships in 24 hours
Manufacturer: Spectra
Author: Neal Stephenson
Publisher: Spectra
Average Customer Rating:
Our Price: $10.20
You Save: $ 4.80 ( 32% )
Usually ships in 24 hours
Manufacturer: Spectra
Author: Neal Stephenson
Publisher: Spectra
Average Customer Rating:
Experimental feature: Order The Diamond Age: Or, a Young Lady's Illustrated Primer (Bantam Spectra Book) from the UK, Canada, Germany or France by clicking an appropriate flag below.
Some items available at Amazon.com are not available in all countries.
Some items available at Amazon.com are not available in all countries.
The Diamond Age: Or, a Young Lady's Illustrated Primer (Bantam Spectra Book) Description
Binding: Paperback
Dewey Decimal Number: 813.54
EAN: 9780553380965
ISBN: 0553380966
Label: Spectra
Manufacturer: Spectra
Number Of Items: 1
Book Pages: 512
Publication Date: 2000-05-02
Publisher: Spectra
Product Release Date: 2000-05-02
Studio: Spectra
Dewey Decimal Number: 813.54
EAN: 9780553380965
ISBN: 0553380966
Label: Spectra
Manufacturer: Spectra
Number Of Items: 1
Book Pages: 512
Publication Date: 2000-05-02
Publisher: Spectra
Product Release Date: 2000-05-02
Studio: Spectra
Editorial Review of The Diamond Age: Or, a Young Lady's Illustrated Primer (Bantam Spectra Book)
In Snow Crash, Neal Stephenson took science fiction to dazzling new levels. Now, in The Diamond Age, he delivers another stunning tale. Set in twenty-first century Shanghai, it is the story of what happens when a state-of-the-art interactive device falls into the hands of a street urchin named Nell. Her life-and the entire future of humanity-is about to be decoded and reprogrammed....
Customer Reviews of The Diamond Age: Or, a Young Lady's Illustrated Primer (Bantam Spectra Book)
Customer Rating:
Review Summary: Interesting story set in a nanotechnological future
Review: In a future where nanotechnology is pervasive, a young girl who lives in poverty comes into possession of a new piece of cutting edge technology that comes in the form of a book with an artificial intelligence that is capable of educating and guiding her into adulthood through the medium of increasingly complex fairy tales. By the end of the novel, she is a capable young woman on the cusp of a vast sociological change.
There is much more to the story than this. No brief synopsis can do justice to Neal Stephenson's intricately constructed narrative. He has crafted well developed characters in a fully realized far future milieu. Among the fascinating ideas in his narrative: in a world in which nation states have become obsolete, people will affiliate themselves with phyles, tribes based on racial and/or cultural commonalities. The many digressions into the possible uses and implications of nanotechnology also engaged my mind, making for a rewarding reading experience.
Customer Rating:
Review Summary: The Best of What Science Fiction Should Be
Review: This isn't a story about space rangers and war. The core of this book is asking very human questions about growing up. The future society and technology exists to try and ask more questions about where the future could go, not just a gizmo showcase. I started reading Neal Stephenson's articles in Wired magazine, then Snow Crash, and now onto everything he's ever written. He reminds me of David Halberstam, only instead of being a historian, he writes in the future with the same attention to detail.
Customer Rating:
Review Summary: Diappointing Vision of Future Shanghai
Review: After Snow Crash, a sci-fi masterpiece, I can't tell you how genuinely excited I was when I picked-up and began to read Neal Stephenson's The Diamond Age. I was particularly drawn to this book given that it was set in a future Shanghai, the city in which I now reside. I cannot even begin to express the disappointment I had in The Diamond Age. Although there are a lot of interesting ideas and compelling characters, almost all of the elements involving China fall very flat. It is clear that Stephenson has never lived in, or perhaps even visited China. He obviously did some interesting research on Chinese history and took some trends, particularly infanticide of baby girls, and brought those trends into the future to look at possible results. But almost all of these elements come across as extremely contrived and far-fetched. Stephenson just doesn't get China. It is also worth noting that there is not one likable Chinese character in this book.
I believe in writing about what you know. That is certainly what Stephenson did in Snow Crash, one of my favorite sci-fi books of all time. But if you want a genuine glimpse into a possible future with China at the center once more, my strong recommendation is to check out the entire Chung Kuo series by David Wingrove. As per my review of Chung Kuo: The Middle Kingdom, Wingrove obviously has real life experience in China upon which to base his brilliant science fiction.
Customer Rating:
Review Summary: Brilliant
Review: Absolutely one of the best science fiction novels I have ever read. Mind blowing in its scope and vision. It's images and idea will stay with you long after you read the last page.
I only wish Neal Stephenson would continue to explore the world created in The Diamond Age.
Customer Rating:
Review Summary: Total crap
Review: Snow Crash was brilliant, this story was pathetic and poorly put together. There is no point to the majority of what happens in this novel and the ramblings of the author could have easily been cut in half. Worse still, all the possibly interesting contents -- Hackworth's story, Dr. X, CryptNet -- weren't flushed out and instead ignored in this tale about nothing. A war happens at the end, unexplored and for no purpose to the plot. Read a different novel, as this one isn't worth your time. I want the time I spent on it back.
Review Summary: Interesting story set in a nanotechnological future
Review: In a future where nanotechnology is pervasive, a young girl who lives in poverty comes into possession of a new piece of cutting edge technology that comes in the form of a book with an artificial intelligence that is capable of educating and guiding her into adulthood through the medium of increasingly complex fairy tales. By the end of the novel, she is a capable young woman on the cusp of a vast sociological change.
There is much more to the story than this. No brief synopsis can do justice to Neal Stephenson's intricately constructed narrative. He has crafted well developed characters in a fully realized far future milieu. Among the fascinating ideas in his narrative: in a world in which nation states have become obsolete, people will affiliate themselves with phyles, tribes based on racial and/or cultural commonalities. The many digressions into the possible uses and implications of nanotechnology also engaged my mind, making for a rewarding reading experience.
Customer Rating:
Review Summary: The Best of What Science Fiction Should Be
Review: This isn't a story about space rangers and war. The core of this book is asking very human questions about growing up. The future society and technology exists to try and ask more questions about where the future could go, not just a gizmo showcase. I started reading Neal Stephenson's articles in Wired magazine, then Snow Crash, and now onto everything he's ever written. He reminds me of David Halberstam, only instead of being a historian, he writes in the future with the same attention to detail.
Customer Rating:
Review Summary: Diappointing Vision of Future Shanghai
Review: After Snow Crash, a sci-fi masterpiece, I can't tell you how genuinely excited I was when I picked-up and began to read Neal Stephenson's The Diamond Age. I was particularly drawn to this book given that it was set in a future Shanghai, the city in which I now reside. I cannot even begin to express the disappointment I had in The Diamond Age. Although there are a lot of interesting ideas and compelling characters, almost all of the elements involving China fall very flat. It is clear that Stephenson has never lived in, or perhaps even visited China. He obviously did some interesting research on Chinese history and took some trends, particularly infanticide of baby girls, and brought those trends into the future to look at possible results. But almost all of these elements come across as extremely contrived and far-fetched. Stephenson just doesn't get China. It is also worth noting that there is not one likable Chinese character in this book.
I believe in writing about what you know. That is certainly what Stephenson did in Snow Crash, one of my favorite sci-fi books of all time. But if you want a genuine glimpse into a possible future with China at the center once more, my strong recommendation is to check out the entire Chung Kuo series by David Wingrove. As per my review of Chung Kuo: The Middle Kingdom, Wingrove obviously has real life experience in China upon which to base his brilliant science fiction.
Customer Rating:
Review Summary: Brilliant
Review: Absolutely one of the best science fiction novels I have ever read. Mind blowing in its scope and vision. It's images and idea will stay with you long after you read the last page.
I only wish Neal Stephenson would continue to explore the world created in The Diamond Age.
Customer Rating:
Review Summary: Total crap
Review: Snow Crash was brilliant, this story was pathetic and poorly put together. There is no point to the majority of what happens in this novel and the ramblings of the author could have easily been cut in half. Worse still, all the possibly interesting contents -- Hackworth's story, Dr. X, CryptNet -- weren't flushed out and instead ignored in this tale about nothing. A war happens at the end, unexplored and for no purpose to the plot. Read a different novel, as this one isn't worth your time. I want the time I spent on it back.