Neal Stephenson - Diamond Age: Or, a Young Lady's Illustrated Primer

Pros: A vibrant, multidimensional world full of hip technology and crazy people.
Cons: Wait, there's a story in here somewhere, if I could only find it.

The Problem With Modern Science-Fiction Many science-fiction writers find themselves lost ...

Pros: Incredible visions of technology. Penetrating insights into the nature of creativity, morality, spirituality, etc.
Cons: Shaky plot, flat characters, immature style. Occasionally ridiculous fantastical vision of technology.

In preparation to embark on Stephenson’s latest novel(s), the 3000 page monumental Quicksilver series, I have been working to finish his earlier endeavors. In my first book review on epinions, on Stephenson’s ...

Pros: Interesting exploration of benefits and detriments of taking nanotechnology to an extreme.
Cons: Some social forces seem unrealistic, giving the book a psychotic feel.

Not as good as Cryptonomicon!

Even so, Stephenson's novel does a good job of playing "what if" with the idea of deploying "matter compilers" ("M.C.") throughout society so that, whenever you want something, you simply tell your M.C. to build...

Pros: engaging epic story; charismatic heroine; author's prose
Cons: tech concepts and society not fully realized; lack of denouement

I have been reading Neal Stephenson (in fits and starts) since 1984, which was when his vainglorious and little-read comic epic The Big U appeared on bookshelves at University bookstores. With its trade-paperback size and cute cover of dormgirl eating...

Pros: Fascinating and realistic view of life in the age of nanotechnology; more realistic, less turbulent than Snow Crash
Cons: Ending was a bit abrupt, but falls under artistic license

I am temporarily working in San Francisco right now, shuttling back and forth between Vancouver most weekends. To help pass the time in airports and on the plane (at least until cruising altitude, when I can take out my laptop) I’ve been buying books...

Pros: wild look at future technology
Cons: too tough for casual sci fi reader

I had already had a taste of Neal Stephenson's style in "Snow Crash"- his epic cyberpunk novel of computer hackers and virtual reality. He careens through his writing in a frantic, free-flowing, almost stream of consciousness way. This book- The Diamond...

Pros: Great, vivid decsriptions of possible nanotechnological applications in daily life.
Cons: The last 25% of the book.

If you have to skip reading one of the Stephenson's novels, then this would be the one. I picked this up when I went on a big reading binge, and I read it after Snow Crash, and Cryptonomicon. Like I said, this is probably Stephenson's worst, but it's a...

Pros: Fantastic evocation of a world dependent on nanotechnology and a evocative story line.
Cons: Stephenson squanders a lot of rich material here. This could have been a great trilogy.

For me, the definition of a good sci fi novel is one that makes me excited about the ideas. I don’t need a perfectly resolved experience with all the ends neatly tied up. Blade Runner and the novel it’s based on (‘Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?’)...

Pros: Fun plot and interesting science
Cons: Writing is a little unpolished

Summary: Good, but Snow Crash is somewhat better. Enjoyable, though. Worth the read to see what kind of cool nano tricks Stephenson comes up with. If I had to put together a must read sci-fi list, this book would be on it.


The buzz...

Pros: engaging characters & ideas
Cons: weak ending

Neal Stephenson's fourth novel - The Diamond Age - is at least as good, if not better, than his well-received third novel - Snowcrash. Both feature Stephenson's spectacular view of the future, but where Snowcrash features a skateboarding Kourier, a...

Pros: fascinating, thought provoking
Cons: not provocative or gripping

Let me just say, I think Neal Stephenson is a genius. To fully appreciate just how amazing he is, you have to appreciate his catalog of recent work. His eco thriller is hard to find, so to date I have read his three latest novels, the ones he is really...

Pros: Half good.
Cons: Half bad.

I have abandoned science fiction. All right, so I still watched The Matrix. So I’ve read “Neuromancer.” So I booed and hissed at Johnny Neumonic… but I have abandoned science fiction. I really don’t have much against sci-fi, it is simply that my...

Pros: Very interesting technology concept
Cons: Poor plot, horrible ending

It was almost a trap for Neil Stephenson. To have to follow up the revolutionary Snow Crash, he was almost bound to disappoint. Unfortunately that is exactly what he did. Based in a futuristic Far East, the main concept for this book is actually pretty...

Pros: Great story, epic plot, incredible ideas, fun characters
Cons: Hard to get into at first - very lofty concepts and a big vocabulary

Neal Stephenson is not an author; he is a natural phenomenon. His style of prose could easily be compared to a Thomas Pynchon or Ernest Hemingway - like short, descriptive punches to the gut. But he possesses a subtle and frenetic energy neither author...

Pros: Great look into the future of technology, More Stephenson
Cons: Slow story within a story

After reading Snow Crash I was very interested to read more of Neal Stephenson, like most of the other reviewers.

What I found was in Diamond Age was that Stephenson continued to provide a fascinating view into the future. Many of his "new"...