subject: Review: The Diamond Age by Neal Stephenson [print this page] Review: The Diamond Age by Neal Stephenson
I have to say, this is my favorite science fiction book ever. Just last week I reread it for what must have been the fifth time. The way that the author takes a central idea, which in this case is nanotechnology, and projects it so completely into the story, is just breathtaking. Everything in the story just makes sense-it is true science fiction that takes everything that is happening in society and science today and projects it 100 years into the future. The excellent execution of hard science technology is enjoyable, but what makes the book truly thought-provoking are the characters.
The subtitle of the book is "a Young Lady's illustrated Primer," and one of the reasons that I go back and read this book, is so I can think through the ideas of how I raise my own daughters. I have three girls, ages ten, five, and three. Just as in every Neal Stephenson book, there is major cataclysmic societal change during the course of the novel, and the book makes me think how I want to prepare my daughters in case something like this ever happens. Furthermore, the story follows along through the growth and development of one of the main characters, Nell, from an impoverished young girl growing up in the ghetto, to a remarkably capable person who accomplishes great things. I have always loved books about inspirational characters who overcome hardship to claim their place in the world, and in this story is remarkably well done.
I also really enjoyed the travails of the other main character, who is a nanotechnology engineer, and doesn't really fit into any society. He, however, through his hard work, and intense focus on accomplishing tasks by using his main strengths, succeeds beyond his wildest dreams. I have personally taken the lessons of focused and concentrating on strengths and applied them to my life with excellent results. As an electrical engineer, of course I identify strongly with this character.
The science of nanotechnology is not just a sidelight in the story. It is truly woven into the fabric of society. The author demonstrates how things would be different in daily life through the use of nanotechnology, and also in the scary application of nano-scale machines interacting with people brains.
This is a follow-on book to Neal Stephenson's best-selling book Snow crash; careful readers of the diamond age will note that one of the characters makes a reappearance, which is enjoyable.
I don't want to spoil any enjoyment of this book for you if you haven't read it. It may also surprise you that I'm writing review of a book that was published in 1995. Neal Stephenson is such an excellent author that nothing that has happened in the world in the intervening 15 years since the book's publication has changed any of the validity of the predictions. The story is as enjoyable and believable today as when it was first published.
