The Diamond Age

The Diamond Age is not as good as snow crash and certainly not as good as cryptonomicon, but still well worth a read. Unique in its style and storytelling.

Set in the future where nation states have fallen apart, diamond age traces the life of Nell, a street urchin, who gets hold of the "Young Lady's Illustrated Primer", a magical book (a supercomputer really) and the effect it has on her growth.

Contrary to everybody's opinion, I found the ending to be pretty good even if a bit Neal Stephenesque...