This story is post-cyberpunk science fiction, heavy on technology, especially nanotechnology. Stephenson is touted as a technology visionary—if not a world visionary—and a skilled literary technician; he is that. On this level, Diamond Age is interesting, sometimes humorous, and mostly fun to read. Stephenson's imagination is also heavy on the dark and gritty side of the future; more than I care to read about, so those parts were not as good. I don't think I'm sticking my head in the sand here. I know those things exist in the world and won't go away in the future, but there is a line between acknowledging the part they represent and dwelling on them because they are titillating. But, intrigue—for better or worse—is part of life and we must, as best we can, recognize it and learn to deal with it.
This book in spite of its futuristic, insightful, science-oriented, and social-fabric reconstructing observations, is not that different from a good Louis L'Amour novel, say The Lonesome Gods. I know highbrow, self-proclaimed sophisticates and sci-fi mavens will turn up their noses at this; L'Amour was merely a writer of shoot 'em up, fast-paced westerns. But Stephenson in his own way is no different, he just does sci-fi.
What is the purpose of a book? For many years I read fiction books on a very surface level. It was hard for me to see symbolism and deeper meanings. However, there are always deeper meanings—especially in the best fiction of any genre. How sad if Hugo's Les Miserables was only the story of an overly punished convict and an overly zealous public official! What is the purpose of an automobile? No matter how many accoutrements we load on it, all of which make the experience of being in a car more enjoyable, still for most of us, the purpose of an automobile is to get us from one place to another, at least at this point. The purpose of a book is the same regardless whether it is loaded with skull guns, tag mites, and a primer (book), or horses, six-shooters, and campfires. Where the book takes us is the real reason we read the book. There is no one-destination-fits-all answer to any book. And, the author of a well-written book has no idea what destinations or answers individual readers will find. A good author creates the terrain we move through; what we get out of it is up to us.
I'm not going to expose the plot lines or describe the primary characters, Stephenson does an excellent job of that—read the book. I want to share some feelings and perspectives I experienced while reading. Books—and by extension, computers, in whatever form they may take going forward—hold the foundations of knowledge. We are foolish if we do not take advantage of and learn from those foundations. As Stephenson says in this book, "...a book is different—it is not just a material possession but the pathway to an enlightened mind." However, having knowledge does not mean we are enlightened or educated. Many people can have great knowledge and still be stupid. Knowledge is not wisdom. Enlightenment—which includes wisdom—is learned through the application of knowledge, but you cannot gain wisdom without doing. And some of that doing, maybe a lot of it, will result in failing, but it isn't failure if you keep going. Enlightenment is vital to a good life, and because it is vital it must be completely personalized, individualized. Education through public school programs is an oxymoron, especially when you get to advanced degrees. Job training through public school programs is doable, but never fully adequate. In The Diamond Age, Nell gains an education and enlightenment; in the Lonesome Gods, Johannes does too. We can learn from both of them.
Human nature is what it is. Society always creates frameworks where some people feel like they are better or more important than others. And those that manage to rise in whatever framework a society has established will go to great effort to keep their status and make sure others cannot rise. That is part of the reason social programs created to fight poverty will never work. If those of lower status rise, the high and mighty that run the programs would not be needed. It is a rare group of individuals that not only recognizes this, but willingly accepts it and acts accordingly. That is at least part of why the American Revolution had such a different outcome from the French Revolution. To use Stephenson's words, "...there is an ineffable quality to some technology, described by its creators as concinnitous, or technically sweet, or a nice hack—signs that it was made with great care by one who was not merely motivated but inspired. It is the difference between an engineer and a hacker." Or a credentialed expert and a creator of freedom and opportunity.
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Top reviews from other countries
Judy Sharpe
Too much for my addled brain….
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 10, 2022tallmanbaby
nanotechnology steam punk style
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 23, 2014
