Add Prime to get Fast, Free delivery
Amazon prime logo
Buy new:
-36% $12.79
FREE delivery January 21 - 30 on orders shipped by Amazon over $35
Ships from: Amazon.com
Sold by: Amazon.com
$12.79 with 36 percent savings
List Price: $20.00
Get Fast, Free Shipping with Amazon Prime FREE Returns
FREE delivery January 21 - 30 on orders shipped by Amazon over $35
Or fastest delivery January 20 - 29
$$12.79 () Includes selected options. Includes initial monthly payment and selected options. Details
Price
Subtotal
$$12.79
Subtotal
Initial payment breakdown
Shipping cost, delivery date, and order total (including tax) shown at checkout.
Ships from
Amazon.com
Amazon.com
Ships from
Amazon.com
Sold by
Amazon.com
Amazon.com
Sold by
Amazon.com
Returns
30-day refund/replacement
30-day refund/replacement
This item can be returned in its original condition for a full refund or replacement within 30 days of receipt.
Payment
Secure transaction
Your transaction is secure
We work hard to protect your security and privacy. Our payment security system encrypts your information during transmission. We don’t share your credit card details with third-party sellers, and we don’t sell your information to others. Learn more
$9.25
Get Fast, Free Shipping with Amazon Prime FREE Returns
This book will have normal shelf wear, little to no highlighting or writing. It will not have any major damage. Ready for it's new home! Ships FAST directly from Amazon! Satisfaction guaranteed. This book will have normal shelf wear, little to no highlighting or writing. It will not have any major damage. Ready for it's new home! Ships FAST directly from Amazon! Satisfaction guaranteed. See less
FREE delivery Thursday, January 9 on orders shipped by Amazon over $35
Or fastest delivery Wednesday, January 8. Order within 19 hrs 58 mins
Only 1 left in stock - order soon.
$$12.79 () Includes selected options. Includes initial monthly payment and selected options. Details
Price
Subtotal
$$12.79
Subtotal
Initial payment breakdown
Shipping cost, delivery date, and order total (including tax) shown at checkout.
Access codes and supplements are not guaranteed with used items.
Kindle app logo image

Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.

Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.

Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.

QR code to download the Kindle App

Follow the author

Something went wrong. Please try your request again later.

The Diamond Age: Or, a Young Lady's Illustrated Primer (Bantam Spectra Book) Paperback – May 2, 2000

4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 4,833 ratings

{"desktop_buybox_group_1":[{"displayPrice":"$12.79","priceAmount":12.79,"currencySymbol":"$","integerValue":"12","decimalSeparator":".","fractionalValue":"79","symbolPosition":"left","hasSpace":false,"showFractionalPartIfEmpty":true,"offerListingId":"5TJuyjn6Gv6p1uPgbv6HOXe9ypDduih7uTszYtlwZm%2B0wYtAJxZiF1Z4r58qxgmMRTStQmemViMe1yaZkR%2FqtIqRo8v2ubofJSAWAFA5ZKezZD50LUwBfcZehDi3oyjfrlSIAxYvLWA%3D","locale":"en-US","buyingOptionType":"NEW","aapiBuyingOptionIndex":0}, {"displayPrice":"$9.25","priceAmount":9.25,"currencySymbol":"$","integerValue":"9","decimalSeparator":".","fractionalValue":"25","symbolPosition":"left","hasSpace":false,"showFractionalPartIfEmpty":true,"offerListingId":"5TJuyjn6Gv6p1uPgbv6HOXe9ypDduih7n2sWaSgo20frlJvLXvGnVip8s2bhLrMHs6YfEyJFLWSeoFLmcC7Z%2FPqODY7oFyI5xeEPa82PLVw%2B41cO1yys3MVay4zVBVHqs89x8J5Z%2BH%2BEvxFWrhP8JPHF8DBIoG8bW%2B3ac%2B%2FmyrLdu6RDoGNRpK6LypE7rxfN","locale":"en-US","buyingOptionType":"USED","aapiBuyingOptionIndex":1}]}

Purchase options and add-ons

Vividly imagined, stunningly prophetic, and epic in scope, The Diamond Age is a major novel from one of the most visionary writers of our time

Decades into our future, a stone’s throw from the ancient city of Shanghai, a brilliant nanotechnologist named John Percival Hackworth has just broken the rigorous moral code of his tribe, the powerful neo-Victorians. He's made an illicit copy of a state-of-the-art interactive device called
A Young Ladys Illustrated Primer  Commissioned by an eccentric duke for his grandchild, stolen for Hackworth's own daughter, the Primer’s purpose is to educate and raise a girl capable of thinking for herself. It performs its function superbly. Unfortunately for Hackworth, his smuggled copy has fallen into the wrong hands.

Young Nell and her brother Harv are thetes—members of the poor, tribeless class.  Neglected by their mother, Harv looks after Nell.  When he and his gang waylay a certain neo-Victorian—John Percival Hackworth—in the seamy streets of their neighborhood, Harv brings Nell something special: the
Primer.

Following the discovery of his crime, Hackworth begins an odyssey of his own. Expelled from the neo-Victorian paradise, squeezed by agents of Protocol Enforcement on one side and a Mandarin underworld crime lord on the other, he searches for an elusive figure known as the Alchemist.  His quest and Nell’s will ultimately lead them to another seeker whose fate is bound up with the
Primer—a woman who holds the key to a vast, subversive information network that is destined to decode and reprogram the future of humanity.
Books with Buzz
Discover the latest buzz-worthy books, from mysteries and romance to humor and nonfiction. Explore more

Frequently bought together

This item: The Diamond Age: Or, a Young Lady's Illustrated Primer (Bantam Spectra Book)
$12.79
Get it as soon as Tuesday, Jan 21
Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.
+
$10.79
Get it as soon as Thursday, Jan 9
In Stock
Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.
+
$15.99
Get it as soon as Thursday, Jan 9
In Stock
Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.
Total price: $00
To see our price, add these items to your cart.
Details
Added to Cart
spCSRF_Treatment
Some of these items ship sooner than the others.
Choose items to buy together.
Popular Highlights in this book

Editorial Reviews

Review

"[Stephenson] has gotten even better. The Diamond Age Envisions the next century as brilliantly as snow crash did the day after tomorrow."Newsweek

"[Stephenson is] the hottest science fiction writer in America. . . . 
Snow Crash is without question the biggest SF novel of the 1990s. Neal's SF novel, The Diamond Age, promises more of the same. Together, they represent a new era in science fiction. People who plow through these mind-bogglers will walk around slack-jawed for days and reemerge with a radically redefined sense of reality."Details

"Neal Stephenson is the Quentin Tarantino of postcyberpunk science fiction. . . . Having figured out how to entertain the hell out of a mass audience, Stephenson has likewise upped the form's ante with rambunctious glee."
Village Voice

"
Snow Crash drew its manic energy from the cyberpunkish conceit that anything is possible in virtual reality; in The Diamond Age the wonders of cyberspace pale before the even more dazzling powers of nanotechnology."New York Times Book Review

"
Diamond Age establishes Neal Stephenson as a powerful voice for the cyber age. . . . At once whimsical, satirical, and cautionary."USA Today

"Stephenson's world-building skills are extraordinary. . . .
The Diamond Age should cement Stephenson's reputation as one of the brightest and wittiest young authors of American science fiction."San Diego Union-Tribune

From the Inside Flap

In Snow Crash, Neal Stephenson took science fiction to dazzling new levels. Now, in The Diamond Age, he delivers another stunning tale. Set in twenty-first century Shanghai, it is the story of what happens when a state-of-the-art interactive device falls into the hands of a street urchin named Nell. Her life-and the entire future of humanity-is about to be decoded and reprogrammed....

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Spectra; Reprint edition (May 2, 2000)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 499 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0553380966
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0553380965
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.1 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.2 x 1.03 x 8.2 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 4,833 ratings

About the author

Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.
Neal Stephenson
Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.
Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

NEAL STEPHENSON is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the novels Termination Shock, Fall; or, Dodge in Hell, The Rise and Fall of D.O.D.O. (with Nicole Galland), Seveneves, Reamde, Anathem, The System of the World, The Confusion, Quicksilver, The Diamond Age, Snow Crash, Zodiac, the groundbreaking nonfiction work In the Beginning . . . Was the Command Line, and Some Remarks, a collection of short fiction and nonfiction. He lives in Seattle, Washington.

Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
4,833 global ratings

Review this product

Share your thoughts with other customers

Customers say

Customers find the book engaging and thought-provoking. They describe it as an interesting, fun read with engaging characters. The writing quality is praised as outstanding and skillful. However, some readers felt the pacing was disjointed and confusing in parts.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

228 customers mention "Readability"203 positive25 negative

Customers enjoy the book's readability. They find it entertaining and a great work of storytelling. Many describe it as a serious yet enjoyable read, with a blend of elements from Dickens and fairy tales.

"...original story, makes this one of the most groundbreaking and awe-inspiring novels to come about in science-fiction since Neuromancer in '84, not to..." Read more

"...this level, Diamond Age is interesting, sometimes humorous, and mostly fun to read...." Read more

"For myself, this was the most imaginative and fantastical work by N.S. with the most enjoyable characters and most vividly imagined world...." Read more

"...But at its core, her life, her book, and this novel are works of art. The ending is something out of Dickens or other nineteenth century classics...." Read more

163 customers mention "Thought provoking"160 positive3 negative

Customers find the book thought-provoking. They appreciate the intriguing science and historical perspective, as well as the intricate, bizarre, and original storyline. The book invites readers to reflect on the characters and situations, describing two fascinating cultures.

"...Besides the innovative uses of nanotechnology, there is a captivating story here about a little girl named Nell, destined to become just another "..." Read more

"...of its futuristic, insightful, science-oriented, and social-fabric reconstructing observations, is not that different from a good Louis L'Amour novel..." Read more

"For myself, this was the most imaginative and fantastical work by N.S. with the most enjoyable characters and most vividly imagined world...." Read more

"...His 22nd century world is a completely convincing, multi-threaded, total-immersion experience, which nearly compels the reader to keep turning the..." Read more

89 customers mention "Value for money"89 positive0 negative

Customers find the book engaging and enjoyable. They say it's worth another read, with a satisfying story and delightful journey. The book is described as fun, inventive, and relevant today.

"...combined with the wholly original story, makes this one of the most groundbreaking and awe-inspiring novels to come about in science-fiction since..." Read more

"...It's worth another read since we've made a little more progress (or regress depending on your perspective) toward the societal structure envisioned..." Read more

"...Highly original, very inventive, and still relevant reading today." Read more

"...Second, the novel tries to sing up the value of a good education, in the form of the Primer, as contrasted with the standard education of the young..." Read more

66 customers mention "Writing quality"47 positive19 negative

Customers praise the writing quality of the book. They find the language rich and skilled, with new vocabulary being taught. Readers describe the author as creative and a skilled literary technician. The writing style is dense and detailed, with long, overcomplicated Victorian sentences. However, some readers find the plot fascinating and interesting.

"...as a technology visionary—if not a world visionary—and a skilled literary technician; he is that...." Read more

"Neal Stephenson is one of the most creative novelists in English today...." Read more

"...If it wasn't for the excessively flowery and occasionally indecipherable language used and the overall length of the book, I would go so far as to..." Read more

"...conventions of both western and Chinese cultures, capturing elaborately witty dialogues, devious social strategies and intricate psychological..." Read more

59 customers mention "Character development"49 positive10 negative

Customers find the characters engaging and well-written. They appreciate the sophisticated plot and character development. The story itself is described as the main protagonist, with several character threads running at once.

"...Snow Crash, he cemented his status as one of the most original voices in science fiction with The Diamond Age...." Read more

"...the most imaginative and fantastical work by N.S. with the most enjoyable characters and most vividly imagined world...." Read more

"...Still a great novel and full of endearing characters with plenty of individual development...." Read more

"...It is well written and the many characters are complex and believable...." Read more

130 customers mention "Plot complexity"74 positive56 negative

Customers have different views on the plot complexity. Some find it believable and vividly imagined, with interesting characters. They describe it as a masterwork of science fiction with a heavy mixture of technological and dystopian elements. However, others feel the story lacks interest, is disjointed in places, and has abrupt endings.

"This story is post-cyberpunk science fiction, heavy on technology, especially nanotechnology...." Read more

"...of his work, loved almost every minute, but am always dissatisfied with the endings, which are quick and abrupt - seems that after 800 or 1000 pages..." Read more

"...work by N.S. with the most enjoyable characters and most vividly imagined world...." Read more

"...century world is a completely convincing, multi-threaded, total-immersion experience, which nearly compels the reader to keep turning the pages...." Read more

33 customers mention "Pace"21 positive12 negative

Customers have different views on the book's pace. Some find it a relatively easy read with a brilliant reading performance. Others feel it drags on too long and seems rushed at the end.

"...It's clear Stephenson loves his craft and works hard on his books, but to me it is clear his interests have wandered into some strange areas, that..." Read more

"...Drags a bit at the very end, but like This author’s ””Snow Crash” and “Cryptomacion” a Must read." Read more

"...That's not an easy thing to do, but Stephenson does it beautifully. Maybe that's why I keep coming back...." Read more

"...who can centre such profound questions into the very heart of a fast-paced, satisfying, orphan-child-comes-king plotline, in such a clever way as to..." Read more

13 customers mention "Pacing"3 positive10 negative

Customers find the pacing of the book disjointed and confusing. They mention that characters come and go randomly, the edition of the book is poorly put together, and the last third of the book becomes much too scattered. The separate plot lines are not strong enough to stand alone, and it's tough at first.

"...It starts with three separate plot lines that are not strong enough to stand alone, so you just know they are going to come together...." Read more

"I read it all the way and enjoyed it a lot. BUT. It was very disjointed in places, and many events are unexplained...." Read more

"...Characters come and go, seemingly randomly. Groups of people form strange "human computers"...." Read more

"This was an awesome follow up to Snow Crash, not quite as awesome but still in my top 20." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on October 17, 2009
    ...of the past 20 years, this is the Stephenson novel I come back to most often. After his amazing post-cyberpunk breakthrough Snow Crash, he cemented his status as one of the most original voices in science fiction with The Diamond Age.

    Envisioning a far future where nanotechnology makes almost anything possible, as opposed to the very near future of Snow Crash, allows it to stand the test of time without ever feeling dated. As great as Snow Crash was and still is, like a lot of cyberpunk novels, many of the concepts have already come to fruition in reality, making it slightly less mindblowing than reading it upon its first publication in 1992. I don't think we'll have to worry about that with The Diamond Age anytime soon.

    Besides the innovative uses of nanotechnology, there is a captivating story here about a little girl named Nell, destined to become just another "thete," or street urchin, lost among the throngs of people in Shanghai. That is, until she happens across 'The Young Lady's Illustrated Primer,' an extremely rare, interactive book of the most advanced order, making the finest use of nanotech imaginable, and designed to give the best possible education to a young girl.

    How one small chance occurance can change a child's entire fate is the main focus of The Diamond Age. It explores such high-concept themes as 'determinism vs. free will' and 'what it is to be human,' with some very clever usage of Turing machines to demonstrate these concepts. The storytelling is less Gibson and more Dickens here, giving it an entirely unique feel, and when combined with the wholly original story, makes this one of the most groundbreaking and awe-inspiring novels to come about in science-fiction since Neuromancer in '84, not to mention one of the few Hugo Award winners in recent memory actually deserving of that honor.
    4 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on October 29, 2017
    This story is post-cyberpunk science fiction, heavy on technology, especially nanotechnology. Stephenson is touted as a technology visionary—if not a world visionary—and a skilled literary technician; he is that. On this level, Diamond Age is interesting, sometimes humorous, and mostly fun to read. Stephenson's imagination is also heavy on the dark and gritty side of the future; more than I care to read about, so those parts were not as good. I don't think I'm sticking my head in the sand here. I know those things exist in the world and won't go away in the future, but there is a line between acknowledging the part they represent and dwelling on them because they are titillating. But, intrigue—for better or worse—is part of life and we must, as best we can, recognize it and learn to deal with it.

    This book in spite of its futuristic, insightful, science-oriented, and social-fabric reconstructing observations, is not that different from a good Louis L'Amour novel, say The Lonesome Gods. I know highbrow, self-proclaimed sophisticates and sci-fi mavens will turn up their noses at this; L'Amour was merely a writer of shoot 'em up, fast-paced westerns. But Stephenson in his own way is no different, he just does sci-fi.

    What is the purpose of a book? For many years I read fiction books on a very surface level. It was hard for me to see symbolism and deeper meanings. However, there are always deeper meanings—especially in the best fiction of any genre. How sad if Hugo's Les Miserables was only the story of an overly punished convict and an overly zealous public official! What is the purpose of an automobile? No matter how many accoutrements we load on it, all of which make the experience of being in a car more enjoyable, still for most of us, the purpose of an automobile is to get us from one place to another, at least at this point. The purpose of a book is the same regardless whether it is loaded with skull guns, tag mites, and a primer (book), or horses, six-shooters, and campfires. Where the book takes us is the real reason we read the book. There is no one-destination-fits-all answer to any book. And, the author of a well-written book has no idea what destinations or answers individual readers will find. A good author creates the terrain we move through; what we get out of it is up to us.

    I'm not going to expose the plot lines or describe the primary characters, Stephenson does an excellent job of that—read the book. I want to share some feelings and perspectives I experienced while reading. Books—and by extension, computers, in whatever form they may take going forward—hold the foundations of knowledge. We are foolish if we do not take advantage of and learn from those foundations. As Stephenson says in this book, "...a book is different—it is not just a material possession but the pathway to an enlightened mind." However, having knowledge does not mean we are enlightened or educated. Many people can have great knowledge and still be stupid. Knowledge is not wisdom. Enlightenment—which includes wisdom—is learned through the application of knowledge, but you cannot gain wisdom without doing. And some of that doing, maybe a lot of it, will result in failing, but it isn't failure if you keep going. Enlightenment is vital to a good life, and because it is vital it must be completely personalized, individualized. Education through public school programs is an oxymoron, especially when you get to advanced degrees. Job training through public school programs is doable, but never fully adequate. In The Diamond Age, Nell gains an education and enlightenment; in the Lonesome Gods, Johannes does too. We can learn from both of them.

    Human nature is what it is. Society always creates frameworks where some people feel like they are better or more important than others. And those that manage to rise in whatever framework a society has established will go to great effort to keep their status and make sure others cannot rise. That is part of the reason social programs created to fight poverty will never work. If those of lower status rise, the high and mighty that run the programs would not be needed. It is a rare group of individuals that not only recognizes this, but willingly accepts it and acts accordingly. That is at least part of why the American Revolution had such a different outcome from the French Revolution. To use Stephenson's words, "...there is an ineffable quality to some technology, described by its creators as concinnitous, or technically sweet, or a nice hack—signs that it was made with great care by one who was not merely motivated but inspired. It is the difference between an engineer and a hacker." Or a credentialed expert and a creator of freedom and opportunity.
    35 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on January 13, 2013
    For myself, this was the most imaginative and fantastical work by N.S. with the most enjoyable characters and most vividly imagined world. I don't know what happened after this book, but after it came out, each following work seemed to spiral into ever-odder explorations of esoterica of diminishing interest to myself. Cryptonomicon was good, but it left me hungry for Diamond Age and Snow Crash. The Baroque Cycle was glacially slow and I quickly found myself distracted by other books, never to return. Anathema's synopsis held little interest for me and most recently, REAMDE (WARNING: SPOILERS FOLLOW) started out promising then quickly devolved into another tale of Russian mobsters, spies-- and most tiresome of all-- a kidnapping/terrorist plot that consumed the last 3/4ths of the novel only to end with flat predictability.

    It's clear Stephenson loves his craft and works hard on his books, but to me it is clear his interests have wandered into some strange areas, that for me are not what I am looking for anymore. I would never suggest to someone to write only for their readers, unless making money were the only import to them as a writer. I will hold out for another novel like Diamond Age to hopefully appear in the future as lately my tastes are misaligned with his work.

    The first cover and jacket design on this edition was far and away better than the cut-rate fluff used in later editions. If you can find this version used, the cover is far more visually appealing.
    One person found this helpful
    Report

Top reviews from other countries

Translate all reviews to English
  • Bruce from Toronto Book Club
    5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent sci-fi idea and setting
    Reviewed in Canada on February 25, 2024
    It seems like every Stephenson novel has a new wonderful idea that he uses to tell a story. The Diamond Age is about an interactive book for girls, that is supposed to educate them in a way that the dull school system does not. There are a number of intersecting plot lines that I really like. I just read the Baroque Cycle recently, and although I must admit those 3 novels are very ambitious, but that it fails to entertain. Diamond Age is much more enjoyable than Baroque Cycle.
  • Johan B
    4.0 out of 5 stars Aardig boekje
    Reviewed in the Netherlands on December 21, 2024
    Cadeautje zoon
  • Markus W
    5.0 out of 5 stars Großartig und inspirierend (für Fans allemale)
    Reviewed in Germany on October 21, 2023
    Ich lese wenige Romane, dabei selten Science Fiction. Ich bin eher in Sachbüchern und Fachliteratur zuhause.
    Aber Neil Stevenson hat es mir seit Jahrzehnten angetan, begonnen "damals" mit Cryptonomicon.
    Ich bin kein Literaturkritiker, und würde es mir als nicht-Native-Speaker nicht anmaßen, etwas zum Schreibstil zu sagen, aber subjektiv habe ich mich in seiner (teils scheinbar erfundenen) Sprache immer wohlgefühlt. Seine Art, Geschichten und Charaktere zu weben, ist komplex. Für mich ist aber das herausstechende Merkmal, wie detailverliebt Stephenson die hypothetischen gesellschaftlichen und technologischen Entwicklungen, die die Basis seiner Novellen bilden, ausarbeitet und zu Ende denkt. Ich finde, das gibt den Büchern eine Tiefe und mir immer wieder Grund zum Lachen, wenn ein solcher zu-Ende-gedachter Strang in einer Pointe mündet.
    Ich mache hier keine Inhaltsangabe, erzähle nichts über das Buch, außer vielleicht, dass mich darin die Perspektive fasziniert, aus der Stephenson die Frage beleuchtet, was man eigentlich wollen können wird, wenn fast alles machbar und erreichbar ist und nur noch die Phantasie entscheidet; und welchen Wert und welches Ziel Bildung noch haben kann, wenn alles schon gedacht und getan ist.
    Ich würde das Buch Menschen empfehlen, die anderen Bildung vermitteln wollen, egal ob beruflich oder anderweitig.
  • Sagar Vibhute
    4.0 out of 5 stars A heady brew!
    Reviewed in India on October 31, 2021
    This book starts heavy and gets heavier. Characters are introduced and by some measure erased fast and plotlines come tumbling out and about.

    This is my third or fourth Stephenson book and as with his other works he doesn't play lightly with the readers' attention. If you stick with it the story gets better with each chapter.

    The ending is not the strongest ...
  • Amazon Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars The original
    Reviewed in Mexico on April 14, 2017
    Diamond Age is a masterpiece and every post-cyberpunk lover probably has already read it. If you're still unsure, give it a try. Everything about it is fantastic.