Katie Stew

A rich, simmering blend of my favorite things

The Diamond Age: or, A Young Lady’s Illustrated Primer

| 1,035 Comments

Wednesday night my bookclub, The BookClub of Champions, met to discuss Neil Stephenson’s work “The Diamond Age: or, A Young Lady’s Illustrated Primer”. The book is considered to be “post-cyberpunk” and was widely awarded in the science fiction realm when it came out. (This post will include spoilers. Be warned.)

The consensus is that the book was well liked, after a bit anyway. This was a sentiment that I whole-heartedly agreed with. When the book began, I was really disappointed by our choice. Last round of books we read included “Neuromancer”. I felt like I had my fill of cyberpunk novels for the time being. The first chapter of “The Diamond Age” was very cyberpunk and I was not excited to continue. However, in retrospect, the death of the first character is a shout out to the death of the cyberpunk genre. From there, the book was solid set-up for about the first 100 pages. It was really hard to get into because there was no real reason to care about anyone for a long stretch. It really needed a little bit more connective material in the first part to grab the audience. In fact, 2 of the book club members didn’t make it past that first boring phase.

However, I am happy to say that around page 100, the book really took off. Suddenly there was a main character. Someone to be concerned and happy for. The rest of the novel, I couldn’t put down.

I’m not really interested in writing out a plot synopsis for the story. So, I’ll let Wikipedia do the work:

The protagonist in the story is Nell, a thete (or person without a tribe; equivalent to the lowest working class) who illicitly receives a copy of an interactive book (with the quaint title Young Lady’s Illustrated Primer; a Propædeutic Enchiridion in which is told the tale of Princess Nell and her various friends, kin, associates, &c.) originally intended for an aristocrat’s child in the Neo-Victorian phyle. The story follows Nell as she uses the Primer, and to a lesser degree, two other girls who receive similar books, named Elizabeth and Fiona. The Primer is intended to make sure its reader leads an interesting life as defined by Lord Alexander Chung-Sik Finkle-McGraw and grows up to be an effective member of society. The Primer also reacts to its owners’ environment and teaches them what they need to know to survive and grow.

The Diamond Age is characterized by two intersecting, almost equally developed story lines: Nell’s education through her independent work with the primer, and the social downfall of engineer and designer of the Primer, John Percival Hackworth. The text includes fully narrated educational tales from the primer that map Nell’s individual experience (e.g. her four toy friends) onto archetypal folk tales stored in the primer’s database. Although The Diamond Age explores the role of technology and personal relationships in child development, its deeper and darker themes also probe the relative values of cultures and shortcomings in communication between them.

I think that the book is a study in the importance of education and the roles of technology therein. For Nell, the Primer was a doorway. It gave her the information needed to get out of her terrible socio-economic situation. I think that it can be assumed that despite Nell’s curious nature, if she hadn’t been given the Primer at such a young age, she would have ended up in a similar situation as her mother, Tequila, who went from one abusive relationship to another and lost her self in a world of drugs and Reactives, (interactive 3D movies). Through the use of the Primer however, Nell learned everything from simply how to read, to self defense and survival skills, and even history and science.

The voice of Nell’s book was provided by a ractor (reactive actor) named Miranda. Miranda felt an attachment to Nell through the book and gave her career and her life over to making sure she was able to continue reading for Nell. She seemed to understand early on that she was raising Nell through the book. She was in a very important sense, her mother.

The two other main girls who were given copies of the Primer had very different relationships with them. Fiona was very engauged in her copy. I think it is because it was narrated by her father, John Percival Hackworth, who was in exhile at the time. Elizabeth became uninterested in hers after a few years. Her grandfather, Lord Finkle-McGraw who commissioned the book, later suspects that it is because her book was voiced by many different ractors. It seems that the children only formed true attachments if there was a consistant human on the other end.

The final girls to recieve the Primer were a group of thousands of orphaned children. Their books were voiced exclusively by mechanical means. They developed into a completely organized force. They became their own army. They didn’t seem to have the same uniqueness that was installed in the other 3 girls. Their lack of a connection with a human parental figure left the girls relying on each other.

I think that with these comparisons, Stephenson is trying to show us that children cannot be educated by technology alone. Those that had the most humanity connected to their Primer were the ones who were the most successful, independant, and intuitive.

Along with the main themes of education and technology in the book, the question of conformity vs. rebellion is prevelant. The reason that Finkle-McGraw had the book commissioned in the first place is because he wanted to breed a little “subversiveness” into his granddaughter Elizabeth. He was concerned that the current education system would leave her just like everyone else. He thought that a little subversiveness was needed to excel and lead an interesting life.

The foil to Finkle-McGraw in many ways, is Dr X. He is a powerful Confucian leader. He leads a rebellion in order to get rid of Western subversiveness and install classic Confucian principles of respect and obediance. This battle between conformity and subversion plays out in an epic battle between the Confucians and Victorians on the streets of Shanghai.

So, the moral of the story? Technology isn’t bad, but people need more than it. People need a touch of humanity, a connection, to make it worthwhile. And it is pretty clear that education is the great divider and provider between classes in this novel.

There are many more things that I could talk about in terms of this book. Nanotechnology, group consciousness thinking, how this vision of the future came about, or the stories and adventures Nell encounters. But, I think I’ll leave it for you to read and discover.

All in all, I will be recommending this book to people. If you like sci-fi, adventure, and futuristic visions, this is generally, a really well written and fun book.

1,035 Comments

  1. Great remarkable things here. I¡¦m very satisfied to see your post. Thanks a lot and i’m having a look forward to touch you. Will you kindly drop me a e-mail?

  2. There is obviously a bunch to know about this. I assume you made certain nice points in features also.

  3. Hello There. I found your blog using msn. This is a very well written article. I’ll be sure to bookmark it and return to read more of your useful information. Thanks for the post. I will certainly return.

  4. Good web site! I really love how it is easy on my eyes and the data are well written. I am wondering how I might be notified whenever a new post has been made. I’ve subscribed to your feed which must do the trick! Have a nice day!

  5. As a Newbie, I am always exploring online for articles that can help me. Thank you

  6. Hello there, I found your blog by means of Google while looking for a related subject, your site got here up, it looks great. I have bookmarked it in my google bookmarks.

  7. I think this is one of the most important information for me. And i’m glad reading your article. But wanna remark on few general things, The web site style is ideal, the articles is really excellent : D. Good job, cheers

  8. Awsome site! I am loving it!! Will come back again. I am bookmarking your feeds also

  9. hi!,I really like your writing very so much! proportion we communicate extra about your article on AOL? I need an expert on this area to unravel my problem. May be that is you! Having a look ahead to peer you.

  10. My brother recommended I might like this web site. He was entirely right. This post actually made my day. You cann’t imagine simply how much time I had spent for this info! Thanks!

  11. You made some good points there. I looked on the internet for the subject and found most individuals will go along with with your site.

  12. You made some clear points there. I did a search on the issue and found most guys will consent with your blog.

  13. Hey, you used to write fantastic, but the last several posts have been kinda boring¡K I miss your great writings. Past few posts are just a bit out of track! come on!

  14. Someone essentially lend a hand to make critically articles I would state. This is the very first time I frequented your website page and so far? I amazed with the research you made to create this actual publish incredible. Great activity!

  15. Good write-up, I am regular visitor of one¡¦s blog, maintain up the excellent operate, and It’s going to be a regular visitor for a long time.

  16. great post, very informative. I ponder why the other specialists of this sector do not realize this. You should continue your writing. I’m sure, you have a huge readers’ base already!

  17. What i don’t realize is if truth be told how you’re now not actually a lot more well-preferred than you may be now. You’re so intelligent. You already know thus significantly with regards to this matter, produced me individually believe it from numerous various angles. Its like men and women aren’t involved unless it is one thing to do with Woman gaga! Your individual stuffs outstanding. All the time handle it up!

  18. I have learn several just right stuff here. Definitely worth bookmarking for revisiting. I surprise how much attempt you put to create the sort of excellent informative web site.

  19. hello!,I like your writing so a lot! percentage we communicate extra about your article on AOL? I require an expert in this house to solve my problem. May be that is you! Having a look ahead to peer you.

  20. Thank you for the auspicious writeup. It in fact was a amusement account it. Look advanced to far added agreeable from you! By the way, how can we communicate?

  21. Valuable information. Lucky me I discovered your website accidentally, and I am shocked why this accident did not came about in advance! I bookmarked it.

  22. Wow, superb blog format! How lengthy have you been running a blog for? you make blogging glance easy. The whole glance of your website is wonderful, as smartly as the content material!

  23. Thank you for the sensible critique. Me & my neighbor were just preparing to do a little research on this. We got a grab a book from our area library but I think I learned more clear from this post. I am very glad to see such magnificent information being shared freely out there.

  24. Pretty section of content. I just stumbled upon your web site and in accession capital to assert that I acquire actually enjoyed account your blog posts. Any way I’ll be subscribing to your augment and even I achievement you access consistently rapidly.

  25. Howdy very nice website!! Man .. Excellent .. Superb .. I’ll bookmark your blog and take the feeds additionally¡KI am satisfied to find a lot of useful information right here in the put up, we’d like work out extra strategies on this regard, thanks for sharing. . . . . .

  26. I think this is one of the most vital information for me. And i’m glad reading your article. But wanna remark on few general things, The website style is ideal, the articles is really great : D. Good job, cheers

  27. Somebody necessarily help to make critically posts I would state. That is the very first time I frequented your web page and up to now? I surprised with the analysis you made to create this actual publish extraordinary. Excellent job!

  28. I think other website proprietors should take this website as an model, very clean and fantastic user genial style and design, let alone the content. You’re an expert in this topic!

  29. Hello there, I discovered your website by means of Google at the same time as searching for a related matter, your web site came up, it appears good. I have bookmarked it in my google bookmarks.

  30. Wow! This can be one particular of the most helpful blogs We’ve ever arrive across on this subject. Basically Magnificent. I’m also an expert in this topic therefore I can understand your hard work.

  31. Wow! Thank you! I constantly wanted to write on my blog something like that. Can I implement a part of your post to my website?

  32. There is clearly a bunch to know about this. I consider you made various good points in features also.

  33. Wonderful goods from you, man. I’ve understand your stuff previous to and you’re just too magnificent. I actually like what you have acquired here, really like what you’re stating and the way in which you say it. You make it entertaining and you still care for to keep it smart. I can not wait to read far more from you. This is actually a tremendous website.

  34. I will immediately grasp your rss as I can not to find your e-mail subscription hyperlink or e-newsletter service. Do you’ve any? Please let me recognize in order that I could subscribe. Thanks.

  35. Terrific paintings! That is the type of info that are meant to be shared around the net. Shame on the search engines for no longer positioning this submit upper! Come on over and seek advice from my web site . Thanks =)

  36. Thanks so much for providing individuals with an extraordinarily remarkable possiblity to discover important secrets from this website. It is always so superb and as well , stuffed with a good time for me and my office acquaintances to visit your site at the very least thrice a week to read the newest tips you will have. And indeed, I am at all times astounded for the mind-blowing techniques you serve. Selected two points in this posting are in fact the finest we have all ever had.

  37. Great remarkable issues here. I am very happy to see your article. Thanks so much and i am taking a look ahead to touch you. Will you please drop me a e-mail?

  38. I was suggested this blog by my cousin. I am not sure whether this post is written by him as nobody else know such detailed about my trouble. You’re amazing! Thanks!

  39. I like the valuable information you provide in your articles. I’ll bookmark your blog and check again here frequently. I’m quite sure I’ll learn a lot of new stuff right here! Good luck for the next!

  40. Thanks for sharing superb informations. Your web-site is so cool. I am impressed by the details that you¡¦ve on this web site. It reveals how nicely you understand this subject. Bookmarked this website page, will come back for more articles. You, my friend, ROCK! I found just the info I already searched everywhere and simply could not come across. What a perfect web-site.

  41. I have not checked in here for a while because I thought it was getting boring, but the last several posts are great quality so I guess I¡¦ll add you back to my everyday bloglist. You deserve it my friend 🙂

  42. Whats Taking place i am new to this, I stumbled upon this I have found It positively helpful and it has aided me out loads. I hope to contribute & help other users like its aided me. Great job.

  43. Thank you for all your efforts on this web page. Kim delights in getting into internet research and it’s easy to understand why. Almost all know all concerning the powerful manner you deliver vital steps through this blog and therefore foster contribution from website visitors on this theme while our favorite girl is without question discovering a lot of things. Take advantage of the rest of the year. You’re doing a stunning job.

  44. I have been exploring for a little bit for any high quality articles or blog posts on this kind of area . Exploring in Yahoo I ultimately stumbled upon this web site. Reading this info So i am happy to show that I’ve an incredibly good uncanny feeling I discovered just what I needed. I so much unquestionably will make sure to don¡¦t put out of your mind this website and give it a look regularly.

  45. Heya i am for the first time here. I found this board and I find It truly useful & it helped me out much. I hope to give something back and help others like you aided me.

  46. you’re truly a good webmaster. The website loading speed is amazing. It kind of feels that you’re doing any unique trick. In addition, The contents are masterwork. you have performed a excellent process in this topic!

  47. I¡¦m now not sure where you’re getting your info, but great topic. I needs to spend a while finding out more or understanding more. Thank you for excellent information I was in search of this information for my mission.

  48. Nice read, I just passed this onto a friend who was doing a little research on that. And he actually bought me lunch because I found it for him smile Thus let me rephrase that: Thanks for lunch!

  49. Nice post. I was checking constantly this blog and I’m impressed! Very useful info particularly the last part 🙂 I care for such information a lot. I was looking for this particular info for a long time. Thank you and best of luck.

  50. I haven¡¦t checked in here for a while because I thought it was getting boring, but the last few posts are good quality so I guess I will add you back to my everyday bloglist. You deserve it my friend 🙂

Leave a Reply