Since the summary by Kirkley et al. 5 likes. Among the best books I have ever read (although slightly behind. When our society was based upon planting, it could truly be said, as the Master did, “Virtue is the root; wealth is the result.' In 1900 a Chinese monk, Abbot Wang Yuanlu, discovered the sealed door to the cave, and in 1907 a Hungarian-British explorer named Marc Aurel Stein was allowed to see inside the cave. The Young Lady's Illustrated Primer of the sub-title is a nanotechnological marvel, an interactive book, initially the only one in existence, which falls into the hands of Nell, a young girl trapped in the underclass with her street rat brother and feckless, drunken mother. It has taken me a while to figure out what I think of this book, and I'm still not entirely sure. I'm sure all the technology is masterfully crafted and is visionary, I just couldn't 100% follow it. If you have any question about this novel, Please don't hesitate to contact us or translate team. About The Diamond Age. Here's a numerical token you can use to reclaim it at the end of the day. Now, here's your complementary CS patch. I finished it with a bit of bafflement - what was what I'd just read actually about? First half of the book gets 4 stars; the second half gets 2 stars. The Diamond Girls is a children's novel by Jacqueline Wilson. As far as the overall story, there's a lot to like, plenty of varied characters, several story lines that are more closely woven than one might originally think, and plenty of action. They are not baffled by ambiguous or even contradictory situations—in fact, they expect them and are apt to become suspicious when things seem overly straightforward.”, Nebula Award Nominee for Best Novel (1996), Locus Award for Best Science Fiction Novel (1996), John W. Campbell Memorial Award Nominee for Best Science Fiction Novel (1996), Prometheus Award Nominee for Best Novel (1996). As far as the overall story, there's a lot to like, plenty of varied characters, several story lines that are more closely woven than one might originally think, and plenty of action. Please see the supplementary resources provided below for other helpful content related to this book. The first is the central technology of the book, the illustrated primer. I feel as though that's a trite thing to say, but I'm not talking about the overall story, I'm talking about the way each sentence is crafted. However, given a choice between this book and the classic young women's story, Okay, here's what this Stephenson guy did with his novel. The main characters of this science fiction, fiction story are Nell, Bud. “Parking lots and chaos.”, Book 5: The Diamond Age, Or, A Young Lady's Illustrated Primer, Neal Stephenson Discusses His New 'Paradise Lost'-Influenced Book. JavaScript must be enabled to leave a comment. Is it possible to feel nostalgia for a place in the future? Another has to do with the way in which Nell interacts with a Mother-like character in the Primer (a role that is actually being remotely played by an actor named Miranda who comes to care for Nell and think of her as a daughter). Ok, you're all set. I'm sure all the technology is masterfully crafted and is visionary, I just couldn't 100% follow it. Up to about halfway through, I was in love with this book, but then Hackworth goes to the Drummers and we skip 10 years, and my thoughts are like this: if you as a writer didn't care about those 10 years enough to write about them, why do I care enough to read them? The idea of creating the primer comes from an engineer John Hackworth and Neo-Victorian Lord Finkle-McGraw. Read Common Sense Media's The Diamond of Darkhold review, age rating, and parents guide. It'll be perfectly safe here behind the counter. The part that is confusing me is as follows: Both the Fists and the Mouse Army come from the Celestial Kingdom yet they seem opposed - surely Dr X would have wanted the Mouse Army to support the Fists. I powered through the last 100 pages more out of feeling of obligation than honest interest in the novel. neal-stephenson diamond-age. By a twist of fate, Nell comes into possession of an interactive book called the Young Lady’s Illustrated Primer – a book which turns out to have been intended for the daughter of a wealthy aristocrat. To me, Stephenson seems like someone with such an abundance of ideas that he often tries to stuff too many of them into each novel. A little girl finds a magic book … If you fall of the tech-speak train you start to glaze over a bit and get confused, or at least I do. I did feel that some parts lagged and I did flick forward a bit midway. I finished reading Neal Stephenson’s 1995 novel The Diamond Age nearly a month ago, and had always planned to write a review. Intended to teach its owner the skills necessary to become a productive and fully realized member of “Neo-Victiorian” society, the book uses lessons and stories to help guide the reader on their journey to adulthood. The book’s inventor, a nano-engineer named John Percival Hackworth, was supposed to produce just one copy of the primer for the granddaughter of a wealthy lord. Come visit Novelonlinefull.com sometime to read the latest chapter of The Diamond Age. Required fields are marked *. Summary | Review | Buy Yet I don't think I ever truly understood the story, and certainly not the ending. In addition, the novel has a more traditional protagonist whose struggle to learn and thrive as a member of a lower class tribe (or “Phyle”) makes her almost immediately sympathetic. If Charles Dickens climbed in an H.G. Neal Stephenson is one of my favourite authors, and I do give him credit for each of his books being based on a completely different paradigm. Wait, sir? Yes you. Stephenson's descriptions of brightly lit Nanjing Road and small, dim, alleys of hawkers was so spot on. In addition to the copy that falls into Nell’s hand, Hackworth also secretly produces a copy for his daughter Fiona – a crime that causes his eventual social downfall and exile from the New Atlantis phyle. I would have liked a bit more of Nell and a little less of the random plot threads and diversions from the main storyline. “A book is not just a material possession but the pathway to an enlightened mind, and thence to a well-ordered society.”, Welcome to Stephensonland! I'm afraid you'll have to check your need for believable characters with me. "The Diamond Age" envisions the next century as brilliantly as Snow Crash", raved Newsweek upon the arrival of this stunning novel. Neal's SF novel, The Diamond Age, promises more of the same.Together, they represent a new era in science fiction. We found no such entries for this book title. Peasants planted the seeds and had highest status in the Confucian hierarchy. There are also Dickens-like descriptive headings for each chapter (though these are surprisingly … With three different copies of the Primer in the hands of girls from three different cultural backgrounds, Stephenson is able to look the interaction of culture, society and education and how they each play a role in shaping the attitudes and core beliefs of each individual. James & Sven discuss the book The Diamond Age (or The Young Lady's Illustrated Primer) by Neal Stephenson. The Diamond Age Envisions the next century as brilliantly as snow crash did the day after tomorrow. This device has the power to decode and reprogram her life -- and the entire future of humanity. I'm afraid those are also disallowed in Stephensonland. The diamond age by Stephenson, Neal. The Diamond Age is a science-fiction novel that anticipates the development of nanotechnology and reflects on its social consequences. So the filial relationships became deranged. THE DIAMOND AGE. Ben reviews Neal Stephenson's novel, The Diamond Age. Calvin realizes Darryl and Vanessa are in danger and he needs to go back. Also, I felt the need to read the book with a dictionary next to me, which isn't necessarily a bad thing, I suppose. The Diamond Age, or, Young Lady's Illustrated Primer - Nell's Life at Dovetail Summary & Analysis Neal Stephenson This Study Guide consists of approximately 72 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more - everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of The Diamond Age, or, Young Lady's Illustrated Primer. Free download or read online The Diamond Age: Or, A Young Ladys Illustrated Primer pdf (ePUB) book. I think I have a better idea now, but I might just be projecting. The Young Lady's Illustrated Primer of the sub-title is a nanotechnological marvel, an interactive book, initially the only one in existence, which falls into the hands of Nell, a young girl trapped in the underclass with her street rat brother and feckless, drunken mother. Stephenson is undoubtedly a good writer. ", “These were rice paddies before they were parking lots. Up to about halfway through, I was in love with this book, but then Hackworth goes to the Drummers and we skip 10 years, and my thoughts are like this: if you as a writer didn't care about those 10 years enough to write about them, why do I care enough to read them? 11 – Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? That's right, it's very similar, except instead of nicotine, this wil. It was the destruction of our society. “The difference between stupid and intelligent people – and this is true whether or not they are well-educated – is that intelligent people can handle subtlety. Did he or didn't he know what he was getting himself into? Suppose you wanted to write a new Victorian bildungsroman about the Boxer Rebellion. The Diamond Age: Or, a Young Lady's Illustrated Primer is a postcyberpunk novel by Neal Stephenson. 6.0 stars. The book has … Worse, science fiction is already more concerned with the ideas than the characters, but when the writer is consciously trying to mimic the further-removed-from-reality discourses of Victorian-era writing, we wind up so distanced from character that honestly? Oh, and hold on. But that has nothing to do with whether they are stupid or intelligent. But hey, with so much great stuff in this book it’s hard to complain about a few half baked ideas making their way in as well. The Diamond Age is set in a vividly-conceived nanotechnological future in which nation states have ceased to exist. Now, here's your complementary CS patch. Series finale goes back to adventure. The buzz words had to be something that would palliate the hyperactive endocrine glands of 13 year old males. Certain parts of your experience will be much funnier if you wear it, while others will be unspeakably boring if you don't. Maybe I misunderstood? So did Hackworth prevent the Seed from forming, and protect the Feed, or did he fail? The difference between stupid and intelligent people—and this is true whether or not they are well-educated—is that intelligent people can handle subtlety. Welcome to Stephensonland! You're going to have a great time. It would only be natural that the central plot of the book should focus around the Turing test for artificial intelligence. The crowded, multi-factioned, multi-leveled city of Shanghai and nearby Pudong made me miss my hometown terribly. He got together a focus group of 25 unpaid, thirteen year old boys and made them puke out as many buzz words in 10 minutes that they could about science fiction. tags: education, intelligence, knowledge, wisdom. I really wish he’d left the drummers on the cutting room floor. Wells time machine and went forward in time and he decided to create a post cyber-punk, progressively dystopian bildungsroman novel with a strong female lead and with a fascinating glimpse of a future that expands on the world begun in. The genesis of this book was as simple as that. The protagonist in the story is Nell, a thete (or person without a tribe; equivalent to the lowest working class) living in the Leased Territories, a lowland slum built on the artificial, diamondoid island of New Chusan, located offshore from the mouth of the Yangtze River, northwest of Shanghai. All I could do is count heads and make remarks about the colour and gender and fate of each major character. While it’s not as groundbreaking or as instantly gripping as his breakthrough novel Snow Crash, Neal Stephenson’s The Diamond Age is nevertheless a fascinating tale that melds a tender coming-of-age story to a future in which nanotechnology has altered virtually every aspect of society. The book was published in multiple languages including English, consists of 499 pages and is available in Paperback format. Wait, no: it's about the role of human interaction in childrearing, as seen through the lens of an advanced educational simulation — something like an infinitely more sophisticated Oregon Trail game. Dickens immediately surfaces as a point of comparison, not only because of the size of the book but because the future Stephenson presents his readers with is, in many respects, a skewed reflection and imitation of the Victorian age. Diamond Age is almost a children's story, with the main character being a child who grows into an adult by the end of the book. For more book talk from The Sci-Fi Christian, friend us on Goodreads! There are three technologies in The Diamond Age which I think merit mentioning here. It begins with events that led to Nell getting the Young Lady's Illustrated Primer. I agree. I first read this ~10 years ago and just re-read it as someone reminded me that it predicts the future of reading. Sir? Just a moment while we sign you in to your Goodreads account. The mix of high technology, the sophisticated neo-Victorians, and the Confuscians made a confusing but ultimately satisfying story. Sir? Also, I felt the need to read the book with a dictionary next to me, which isn't necessarily a bad thing, I suppose. I'm abandoning this book at 50% - one star because I think I deserve the credit for slogging through it, though. Refresh and try again. This is an electronic book developed to teach young girls how to be “subversive.” It is an interactive storytelling instrument that personalizes everyone’s education by taking in information from its surroundings and presenting it to the child in a manner that … - and it is like a roller coaster coming off the rails and crashing very, very suddenly on the last page. And an even more bizarre sub-plot involves a group (or hivemind) that is able to connect subconsciously through drumming. As is Stephenson’s style, there are also numerous subplots that surround the main action. Here's a numerical token you can use to reclaim it at the end of the day. Rice was the basis for our society. The protagonist and narrator is Dixie Diamond, the youngest (at the start of the novel) in a family of four sisters, who all have different fathers. "—Newsweek "[Stephenson is] the hottest science fiction writer in America...Snow Crash is without question the biggest SF novel of the 1990s. Stephenson then roiled together this mess with a rag mop and wrung it into a bucket called, This has been on my shelf a while, I think a friend sent it to me. The Diamond Age is set in a vividly-conceived nanotechnological future in which nation states have ceased to exist. The last 50 pages or so make zero sense given the rest of the novel, and the ending itself seems more like just a stop rather than an ending. In many ways, The Diamond Age is a much more accessible book than Snow Crash. This detailed literature summary also contains Topics for Discussion and a Free Quiz on The Diamond Age, or, Young Lady's Illustrated Primer by Neal Stephenson. Stein chose some scrolls … I think both Lord Finkle-McGraw and Hackworth came to doubt the purported virtues of their phyle. Which, OK, is worth doing, but it's 3:42am and I've been reading since about 8pm, so forgive me if I don't open it up again just now. I have to admit, this is a dense read sometimes in the way that hard sci-fi can be: Glazing over at "tech speak tech speak tech speak." I read this the first time when I was a young, impressionable, repressed, closeted Mormon boy. Goodreads helps you keep track of books you want to read. When the Feed came in from Atlantis, from Nippon, we no longer had to plant, because the rice now came from the matter compiler. Throw in some subtle examinations of culture, class structure, ethnicity and education (as well as some nifty “Nano” advancements) and you have a masterful novel that careens effortlessly between being a whimsical adventure tale and a satirical take on cultural and moral relativism. Diamond age, Young lady's illustrated primer. Chaos,” Dr. X said regretfully, then looked up from his tea and nodded out the window. Short Book Summaries. He does and finds Darryl, where the two confront each other about him lying about being a baby. This is the second Neal Stephenson book I have read, the previous one being the marvelously entertaining, Stephenson is undoubtedly a good writer. Stephenson's vision of a future shocked and titillated me, and years later I still found it returning to haunt me. Publication date 1996 Publisher New York : Bantam Books Collection inlibrary; printdisabled; internetarchivebooks; delawarecountydistrictlibrary; china; americana Digitizing sponsor Internet Archive Contributor Internet Archive Language English. The initial world building, the idea behind the Primer, the main characters, these are all done brilliantly and the story proceeds really well for the first half. The Diamond Age is an ambitious, Dickensian work of science fiction. He's talking about the necessity of focus and attention, the dedication required to trick your brain into thinking these characters and places are real, without which you cannot become emotionally and intellectually enmeshed in the narrative, without which the novel has no bite, no pathos, no transformative power. There's a kind of girl power aspect to it all that's especially nice. While these digressions are interesting for a while, they unfortunately take the focus off of the more compelling main story. The idea came to me when I saw a a mobile designed to hang above a crib, with cards that could be swapped out for more complex designs as the baby's visual system developed. (Oh, god, so many of my reviews seem to start this way.) I thought, why not create an educational book that would tell the same stories with increasing complexity as the child grew up? What is considered a desirable trait in one culture can be seen as a liability or hindrance to success in another. 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