Rating: 
Summary: Profound work of Sci-Fi
Review: Move over Arthur C. Clarke. There is a new kid on the block, and his name is Neal Stephenson.Great book! I can't wait to read Snow Crash and Zodiac.
Rating:
Summary: Read this book
Review: That's my recommendation -- read this book. Stephenson is one of the best writers today. His style is hip, but it's the content of his books that really shines. At first, I thought this book was not as good as Snow Crash, but by the time I finished, I felt it was even better. Read it, and it will expand your mind in many ways! While you're at it, check out Zodiac and Snow Crash. The three tackle different subjects, but are all amazing books. In my opinion, these are among the most compelling fiction (not just science fiction) books on the market today!
Rating:
Summary: Though Criticized, Diamond Age is still a gem
Review: Crtics of this book, most notably Kirkus Reviews, have cited the "vainglorius" style and labyrnithine plot as negative aspects of an otherwise compelling book. I would describe them rather as assets; I found the style flexible and usually appropriate, both reflecting the sensibilities of the Neo-Victorian protagonists of the novel and providing the reader with gorgeous imagery and metaphor. The plot, though complex and ambigous, is compelling; as Constable Moore says to Nell towards the end of the tale, the ability to deal with this ambivalence is a mark of intelligence. Must the author do everything for us? I think that the open ended, freely interpretable nature of this book is one of its greatest strengths.
Rating:
Summary: Move over Ian Banks the competition has arrived.
Review: This book is truly amazing. No one has Neal Stephenson's grasp on the future. If you like serious science fiction or are fond of Ian Banks culture novels you must read this book.. nuff said
Rating: 
Summary: Piecemeal? Wonderful! As a whole? Disappointing!
Review: This book, like "Snow Crash," shows Stephenson's astonishing -- no, shocking -- originality on almost every page. I greatly enjoyed both books. But I feel that the comment from "Kirkus Reviews," above, is right on. The book's plot is circuitous and hopelessly convoluted, but page by page it is unputdownable. Almost every paragraph will reach out, grab you, demand your attention, and reward you for your efforts. The ending of the book is a mess, as the author tries to tie off innumerable loose ends in a few pages. Nevertheless, as soon as I completed the book, I felt like starting it again, hoping to pick up some of the zingers I had doubtless missed. And, who knows? -- The second time through I might even grasp the plot.
Rating: 
Summary: Excellent Name Choice...
Review: This book is truly a diamond novel of a diamond age. It's beautiful and entrancing, but don't look too far beyond the surface. Like the omnipresent sheets of synthetic diamond used in Stephenson's world, this novel gives the impression of strength with astonishing actual fragility. For a sheet of diamond would be an absurdly brittle thing. Enjoy the book, but don't think too hard about it.
Rating:
Summary: Doesn't live up to its potential
Review: The story moved rather nicely for the first half. Set in a great milleau, the plot went one way and I went the other and was left thinking, "Uh, what exactly is going on here and how did I miss it?" If only there was a way to have the author redo the latter half, the book might have lived up to the potential so evident in its beginning. Not a waste of time, but frustrating in its failures.
Rating:
Summary: Holy Cow!
Review: There's no way this book can be summarised well without being an act of blasphemy. There are characters who are moral without being stuffy. There are characters who are less inclined to morality, while remaining human and personal.
Rating:
Summary: The body makes up for the ending...
Review: I absolutely adored this book. I hadn't even heard of Stephenson until a friend of mine and I were discussing the future of technology and its effect on humankind. At first, I was a little leery of reading it, considering I've always been generally wary of SF (not fond of some works), but once I started, I couldn't stop! The way stories and events are entertwined, and people end up relating to each other is incredible. I, like most people, found the ending mildly disappointing, but it wasn't enough to make me hate the book as a whole. I remember on the cover some reviewer had said something to the effect that the world was so incredibly ludicrous that people in today's world would recognise it immediately. I certainly did. I came away wanting to do ANYTHING to get my hands on a primer. I've read two of his other three books, too, as I'm unable to get my hands on a copy of The Big U, which I still really, really want to do. They're wonderful as well, but this continues to be my favorite.
Rating:
Summary: Diamond Age may as well be the best sci-fi title for women
Review: This book captured me from the get go. I didn't put the book down until I was finished with it. Let Nell and her friends take you through an adventure with demons and legends and the evil machines. Don't forget your primer when reading this book.
| 
