Journal VI

Diamond Age has so far been a great delight to read. The world developed by Neal Stephenson is rich and full of depth. The story mainly focuses around three major story lines, including John Percival Hackworth, Judge Fang, and the most primary character, Nell. The story focuses on the lives of these characters, as well as many other, and they're interactions and connection with a device know as, The Young Lady's Illustrated Primer.
The tale begins in the Neo-Victorian world the Hackworth is a part of. He befriends one of the highest ranking Neo-Victorian and "Equity Lord" Lord Alexander Chung-Sik Finkle-McGraw. Finkle-McGraw collabrates with Hackworth to create the Primer. Hackworth has other motives for creating the Primer and it's uses. He goes to Dr. X, a crime lord, to get the proper information and technology for the conception of the Primer. After the Primer has come together and is whole, Hackworth is rolled by some hoodlums that work for Dr. X. One of which is Harv, brother of Nell. He pinches the Primer from Hackworth on orders to return it to Dr. X, but after Harv's sister has bonded with it, he denies ever finding it. So it is that the story continues with Nell developing a very close relationship with the Primer and subsequently a ractor named, Miranda, who becomes a sort of combined mother figure. Nell creates stories that coincide with her life ad the Primer gives her a sort escape from the very awful events that befall her. The Primer also teaches Nell how to speak properly, read, do math and defend herself, as just a few examples. She becomes very attached to the Primer; all who see her with it can tell how much she truly needs and loves the book. Judge Fang is a Confucian judge in the Celestial Kingdom and investigates the Hackworth's mugging in the Least Territories, after he had illegal second copy of the Primer created. This investigation leads him to call into question his allegiances to the Coastal Republic. Judge Fang is a and some of his coworkers resign from they're positions in the judicial system due to this. Hackworth is later caught in his deception in creating the second Primer and is ordered to develop a huge amount of Primers for the orphaned girls of Shang-hai. A lot more happens but I can't some it up just yet.
The various technologies and devices used in this futuristic vision of the world, are described is great detail. Stephenson, gives these devices flaws that could be found in any kind of technological machinery, making them seem even more real. The Primer is described beautifully and sounds as though it has a great deal of charm to it. The world also sounds very frightening with all of it's new technologies for killing people on a domestic level and the intensity of the advertising. The whole world of this book feels very whole, mysteries and all.