Trying to remember the name of this awesome book!!!
June 28, 2011 9:34 PM Subscribe
I am looking for a book I read a few years ago. It was a higher level science fiction and fantasy book that was somewhat reminiscent of the styles of both Haruki Murakami and William Gibson. All I can remember is the general plot and small bits of the book. I have included all the parts I can remember in the extended explanation. Thanks!
A poor little girl receives a technological prototype program in the form of a book that weaves stories that are about her and teaches her valuable life lessons and educates her. The book inserts her into fairy tales and gives her friends and in the fairytales she has has to think her way out of problems to get her and her friends free or save them from dangerous creatures in the fairytales. (this is how the book teaches her) The book was not designed for her but she ends up with it. Many people are looking for this book as it is the only one of its kind. The girl has an older brother about 12 who is kind to her. The girl and her family- comprised of her older brother and her mother- are poor and live in the slums. Mom is a party girl that doesn't care about her kids, she often brings home useless boyfriends.
The guy that designed the book works for a large corporation somehow lost the book and the little girl gets her hands on it . He's a good guy...I can't remember how I know but he wants it in the right hands...some higher up in the company wants it for evil purposes or at least to make money.
The little girls house has a 3-D matter printer which can make anything out of a catalogue but its all kinda crappy stuff. (everybody has them and its kind of like the walmart version of stuff)
There is some older Asian man on an island? Underground? That is part of some rebel faction of some sort that can fix things....they go to him later.
The book creates a story based entirely around the little girl and it teaches her all kinds of things about life and is almost sentient and changes how she grows up and lives her life.....
There are conveyances that include carriages with legs, almost like big mechanical spiders that you sit in.
The book has an interesting combination of technology (computers, robotics etc) mixed with Victorian and even Medieval items. Sorry if this is all over the place but I'm trying to piece together as much stuff as I can to jog my memory....any suggestions would be helpful!
A poor little girl receives a technological prototype program in the form of a book that weaves stories that are about her and teaches her valuable life lessons and educates her. The book inserts her into fairy tales and gives her friends and in the fairytales she has has to think her way out of problems to get her and her friends free or save them from dangerous creatures in the fairytales. (this is how the book teaches her) The book was not designed for her but she ends up with it. Many people are looking for this book as it is the only one of its kind. The girl has an older brother about 12 who is kind to her. The girl and her family- comprised of her older brother and her mother- are poor and live in the slums. Mom is a party girl that doesn't care about her kids, she often brings home useless boyfriends.
The guy that designed the book works for a large corporation somehow lost the book and the little girl gets her hands on it . He's a good guy...I can't remember how I know but he wants it in the right hands...some higher up in the company wants it for evil purposes or at least to make money.
The little girls house has a 3-D matter printer which can make anything out of a catalogue but its all kinda crappy stuff. (everybody has them and its kind of like the walmart version of stuff)
There is some older Asian man on an island? Underground? That is part of some rebel faction of some sort that can fix things....they go to him later.
The book creates a story based entirely around the little girl and it teaches her all kinds of things about life and is almost sentient and changes how she grows up and lives her life.....
There are conveyances that include carriages with legs, almost like big mechanical spiders that you sit in.
The book has an interesting combination of technology (computers, robotics etc) mixed with Victorian and even Medieval items. Sorry if this is all over the place but I'm trying to piece together as much stuff as I can to jog my memory....any suggestions would be helpful!
Neal Stephenson's The Diamond Age A Young Lady's Illustrated Primer
posted by namewithoutwords at 9:38 PM on June 28, 2011
posted by namewithoutwords at 9:38 PM on June 28, 2011
Ha! For once, that book is definitely the correct answer and not just popular opinion. ;^)
posted by carsonb at 9:40 PM on June 28, 2011
posted by carsonb at 9:40 PM on June 28, 2011
Response by poster: OMG you guys rock! I can't believe it was Neal Stephenson. I should have thought of that. Yay! Thanks so much. I'm off to the library!
posted by risaroni at 9:45 PM on June 28, 2011
posted by risaroni at 9:45 PM on June 28, 2011
The parts with the Drummers are weird, but the rest of the book is fan-freakin'-tastic.
posted by wenestvedt at 12:11 PM on June 30, 2011
posted by wenestvedt at 12:11 PM on June 30, 2011
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by carsonb at 9:37 PM on June 28, 2011 [3 favorites]