diamondage

Judge A Book By Its Cover

Book Reviews and Synopses

Diamond Age

Neil Stephenson

Stephenson, Neal. The Diamond Age. Bantam Books. New York, New York. 1996

The Diamond Age is a science fiction story about the future written by award winning author Neal Stephenson. This masterpiece shows what could go wrong if humans enter the future without caution.

In the year of 3032, humans no longer exist in their natural state. Bionic implants now account for more that 75 percent of any being. While there are no longer remnants of biological viruses; a terrorist compound known as Toxyk has created the first virus capable of controlling bionics. Beamed through infected cellular towers into the implants, Toxyk has the ability to control anything or anyone. Except for one.

When she was born, Nea Acticus was an anomaly. Her body reacted violently when her implants were installed; prompting them to be removed immediately. She is the only human that is without integrated electronics and therefore, unknown to her, the only one not susceptible to Toxyk’s virus. Her life was always hard, having to refer to external devices instead of those that allow instant connection and communication. But her life continues, though hard, as usual. Until people start to disappear for long periods of time without reason, only to return with modified behaviors; contrary to their normal way of operating. When asked why they are not acting as usual, their speech becomes slurred, turning into a language unfamiliar to anyone raised with Standard Communication Technique. Nea ignores this, but changes when her mom disappears.

Frantic, Nea searches for her mother but to be led to dead end after dead end. The next day, she receives a e-paper. People are reported to be disappearing world wide in massive numbers. The virus has spread everywhere and has began to infect every electronic device on Earth. And there’s nothing you can do to stop it. So Nea resorts to her last choice. She disguises herself and joins Toxyk, hoping that she can stop this once and all.

The Diamond Age is one of the undiscovered masterpieces of Science fiction, taking an idealistic future and warping it into a true horror. This book leaves you craving for more and dearly hoping the sequel will come soon.

5 out of 5 stars

Reviewed by M. Schoenfeld

May 30th. 2012