Rating: 
Summary: LOVE IT OR HATE IT, IT IS THE FUTURE FOLKS...
Review: Despite the comments about the weak (supposedly) ending, this book reflects the reality of the future as accurately as anyone can without seeing it firsthand. All the snide remarks about the plot, or the characters, or the "sexual undertones" are simply out of touch with reality. Anyone who insists that it is implausible because of "past socioeconomic trends" does not fully grasp the concept that one cannot use the past to predict the influence of a COMPLETELY NEW AND REVOLUTIONARY TECHNOLOGY on the world. Those that thought the ideas were distasteful are frightened by change. Get over it. This book is profound. Read it. Not much more needs be said. Oh, and if you were one of those who had the audacity to review it after only reading 50 pages, go back to your bloody Dick and Jane readers.
Rating: 
Summary: The kind of book all science fiction should be
Review: This is one of those too-rare books that develops a futuristic technology, considers all of its potential uses, projects the effects on society, and places believable characters within the context of the new world. I also commend Stephenson for precision. A hack would have expanded the book into a trilogy, but Stephenson's restraint produces a work that is much more exciting than today's typical SF. It's also a pleasure to see how Stephenson has grown since "Snow Crash," which relied much too heavily on irony and suffered from plastic characterization. Unfortunately, the only flaw is a serious one -- the ending is a huge let-down. Nothing is resolved, and the lack of resolution is not part of the overall theme. Instead, we just get about five pages that abruptly finish three of the plotlines, and leave several others hanging. Still, the hundreds of pages of brilliance that precede the end are great reading. The book eminently deserved its Hugo award, and merits the attention of any serious SF reader.
Rating:
Summary: Unparalelled imagination.
Review: Neal almost dropped down to three stars. I was thoroughly enjoying the book until the end. It builds up to highly charged climax. All the subplots and characters are drawing together and then...the book whimpers to a close. At the height of the climax there were a myriad of possibilities open to explore, but nothing happens. The entire thing deflates and ends in a couple of pages. I was extremely disappointed. I still think it is a damn good book, that's why I still give it four stars. The rest of the book is almost adequate compensation for the ending. 'Diamond Age' is a book about a book and a girl. Nell is a young girl with few prospects for the future. Her big brother mugs a man and brings her a book. Even in the diamond age where everything is possible though nanotechnology, the book is a magic book. It's magic lies in the one thing that no technology can build for you. It's secret is information. With knowledge there is nothing that can't be achieved. This is what Nell finds as she grows up with the 'Young Ladies Illustrated Primer' Within 'Diamond Age' you are given not only the tale of the book, but the tales in the book. Scattered throughout are some of the stories that Nell reads as she grows up. The book is interactive and semi- intelligent. It grows and modifies its stories depending on what Nell experiences and what the book detects from it's surroundings. It is designed to teach Nell what she needs when she needs it, But this is only the major part of the story. There is far more then just the tale of the book and Nell. The is the actor hired to play the voice of the book. Miranda doesn't remain unaffected by her contact with the book. She perceives some of what Nell goes through, through the stories that she has to read in her role of the book. Then there is John Hackworth the man who created the book. It was a commission from an Equity Lord as a present. John could see some of the possibilities inherent in what he'd been asked to design. He made an illegal copy for his daughter. This leads him to all sorts of problems and opportunities. On top of all this is the Alchemist who is designing the Seed. If the Seed ever becomes a reality everything that is will change. I can't say any more than this without destroying the plot, but as you can see this is a book of surpassing complexity. Pity about the conclusion. Neal has a breathtaking scope of imagination and can illustrate his imagination in a few words. The book embraces everything from 'toner wars' between millions of nanotech machines. To veils made of miniature aerosats that hover around a persons face. This book is worth reading just to see the breadth of imagination that is possible. It is one of the most fascinating books I've ever read. Except the ending which I keep lamenting.
Rating:
Summary: Anyone who doesn't like this is on crack!
Review: Stephenson is a brilliant writer who has once again drawn readers into an entirely new world of his own creation, abundant with diverse cultures, well-developed characters, interesting technology, and originality. A must read!
Rating:
Summary: The most impressive Sci-fi book I have come across yet.
Review: Gripping, intelectually challenging, and fully developed. I could not put this one down. I saved it to read again, even after my dog destroyed the cover & first few pages. This one is not to be missed.
Rating: 
Summary: I would give it 0 stars, but you won't allow me.
Review: Neal Stephenson is a brilliant mind, but got a little too mixed up with Jolt (perhaps). I was reading this book, and had a jolly good time, until I got to "Part Deux", and then I said to myself, "this guy sucks. He has completely run out of new ideas, and is willing to stake his reputation for a quick buck to finish this book (which had such promise in the beginning) with such loathsome images and ideas not pertaining to anything.
Rating:
Summary: Wonderful Novel
Review: This book is a wonderful, intriguing, groundbreaking novel! Absolutely worth the read. As for the person who reviewed this book here who "hates the city (Chicago) . . . can't wait to leave it." Just where are you going to go when you finally turn 16? The suburbs? What's the matter, can't you stand culture? Are you longing for the strip malls, tasteless food, ugly architecture, 30 screen movie theaters and Sport Utility Vehicles of suburbia? Why don't you just move to Wrigleyville?
Rating:
Summary: Inspiringly inventive, fast, futuristic
Review: After "Snow Crash", I felt sure Stephenson had possibilities; <I>Diamond Age</I> more than impressed me. Too many scifi novels rely on two or three interesting ideas to drive the science; Stephenson lays on lavish coats of stimulating futuristic ideas. Every second page contained a new and clever extrapolation of the nano-tech this book's based on. Best yet, he describes it without pushing suspension of disbelief; I'm convinced half his ideas will materialize in a few years! As icing, he adds a fascinating take on libertarianism and culture, positing that we'll come to recognize the inherent pros and cons of formal vs. vulgar lifestyles and choose to live in the mien of our making. Just an excellent read.
Rating:
Summary: Slow moving? Initially. Worth the effort? Absolutely.
Review: Stephenson is able to interweave several disparate stories into a cohesive whole--while at first the reader may be perplexed by his unusual style, by the midpoint of the book, you're hooked. The setting is also very imaginative, eschewing (some of) the more standard cyberpunk locales in favor of carefully constructed "phyles", or culturally distinct communities. While the ending may be somewhat anticlimatic, it is also refreshingly ambiguous. A thoroughly enjoyable read, and one I found very difficult to put down--while I don't necessarily wish for a direct sequel, I would love to see more books in the same setting.
Rating:
Summary: Not better, just different...
Review: This book is more mature than Snow Crash. It is also more difficult to enjoy. I felt absolutely no love for characters like Carl Hollywood and Bud, nor did I really enjoy the whole Drummers plot thread. But all of those elements and more are what compiled to make the marvelous read of the Diamond Age. Like building a house, your must have a strong foundation. I'm glad to see cyberpunk ideas finally evolving beyond "eyeball kicks" -- as Stephenson is the next step beyond Gibson, so is Diamond Age the next step beyond Snow Crash. Anyone who has kids will badly desire a Primer, or will want to start working on one soon. Good work, Stephenson, and we eagerly await your next effort.
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