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Diamond Age
The Diamond Age, or A Young Lady's Illustrated Primer is a 1995 cyberpunk or postcyberpunk novel by Neal Stephenson taking place in a world where nanotechnology is ubiquitous. Its primary themes include social class, cultural tribalism, and societal responses to technological change. The book won the 1996 Hugo Award for Best Novel. |  |
Key features include:
the importance of cultural association and the
belief that certain cultural systems are naturally superior to others
the contrast of Victorian and Confucian views held by major power
figures in this world, and the contrasting way they view the dangers
and opportunities of molecular assemblers and artificial intelligence
as applied to child-raising
an introduction to encryption ideas in the form of a fairy-story suitable
for children — which the reader encounters with the heroine
as the novel unfolds
a female-coming-of-age central plot
a setting in which nation-states are obsolete (think of NYC's Chinatown
sharing a government with Tokyo's Chinatown instead of with NYC's
Little Italy)
the threat of a bicameral minded hive consciousness
a vague re-telling of the Boxer Rebellion