The Diamond AgeThe Diamond Age
Score Modern
What it's about
In a future Shanghai where nanotechnology can build anything, society has split into tribes, the most powerful being the neo-Victorians, who have revived the manners of nineteenth-century England. An engineer creates a secret, priceless interactive book, A Young Lady's Illustrated Primer, designed to raise a girl to think for herself. When it's stolen, it ends up in the hands of Nell, a poor, neglected four-year-old, and it begins to raise her.
Why it's worth reading
It won the Hugo Award and is one of the most inventive science fiction novels of its decade. Its ideas about technology, education and the internet look more prescient every year.
You'll love it if you liked
Hyperion
A Memory Called Empire
The Left Hand of DarknessGood to know
It's dense with invented technology, and the ending is abrupt. It includes violence and some sexual content.
By the numbers
- Readers73 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics67 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Bestseller32 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #39 of the 313 science fiction books we rank
- #209 of the 1,573 modern books we rank
- #412 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
Thought-provoking, Adventurous, Dark
More by Neal Stephenson
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Quick answers
Is The Diamond Age worth reading?
Yes. It won the Hugo Award and is one of the most inventive science fiction novels of its decade. It ranks #412 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 79.6 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is The Diamond Age about?
In a future Shanghai where nanotechnology can build anything, society has split into tribes, the most powerful being the neo-Victorians, who have revived the manners of nineteenth-century England. An engineer creates a secret, priceless interactive book, A Young Lady's Illustrated Primer, designed to raise a girl to think for herself. When it's stolen, it ends up in the hands of Nell, a poor, neglected four-year-old, and it begins to raise her.
How long does it take to read The Diamond Age?
About 13 hours (536 pages), or about 4 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What awards has The Diamond Age won?
Hugo Award winner (1996).
What should I read after The Diamond Age?
If you liked it, try Hyperion by Dan Simmons, A Memory Called Empire by Arkady Martine or The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. Le Guin.