"Diamond Age" - читать интересную книгу автора (Стивенсон Нил)
Diamond Age or A Young Lady's Illustrated Primer Neil Stephenson PART THE FIRST A thete visits a mod parlor; noteworthy features of modern armaments. Source Victoria; description of its environs. Financial complications of Bud's lifestyle; visit to a banker. A visit from royalty; the Hackworths take an airship holiday; Princess Charlotte's birthday party; Hackworth encounters a member of the peerage. Bud embarks on a life of crime; an insult to a tribe amp; its consequences. Hackworth's morning ruminations; breakfast and departure for work. Bud is prosecuted; noteworthy features of the Confucian judicial system; he receives an invitation to take a long walk on a short pier. Nell learns to work the matter compiler; youthful indiscretions; all is made better. Hackworth arrives at work; a visit to the Design Works; Mr. Cotton's vocation. Particulars of Nell amp; Harv's domestic situation; Harv brings back a wonder. Security measures adopted by Atlantis/Shanghai. Nell sees something peculiar; Harv explains all. Hackworth compiles the Young Lady's Illustrated Primer; particulars of the underlying technology. Nell amp; Harv's general living situation; the Leased Territories; Tequila. Hackworth crosses the Causeway into Shanghai; ruminations. Hackworth in the hong of Dr. X. Hackworth departs from Dr. X's laboratory; further ruminations; poem from Finkle-McGraw; encounter with ruffians. Miranda; how she became a ractor; her early career. Harv brings Nell a present; she experiments with the Primer. A young hooligan before the court of Judge Fang; the magistrate confers with his advisers; Justice is served. Hackworth presents the Primer to Lord Finkle-McGraw. Nell's second experience with the Primer; the story of Princess Nell in a nutshell. Judge Fang visits his district; Miss Pao arranges a demonstration; the case of the stolen book takes on unexpected depth. Description of Old Shanghai; situation of the Theatre Parnasse; Miranda's occupation. Nell's further experiences with the Primer; the origin of Princess Nell. Judge Fang pays a visit to the Celestial Kingdom; tea served in an ancient setting; a "chance" encounter with Dr. X Hackworth receives an unexpected visit from Inspector Chang. Miranda takes an interest in an anonymous client. Further experiences with the Primer; Princess Nell and Harv in the Dark Castle. The torture chamber of Judge Fang; a barbarian is interrogated; dark events in the interior of China; an unignorable summons from Dr. X A domestic scene; Nell's visit to the playroom; misbehavior of the other children; the Primer displays new capabilities; Dinosaur tells a story. Judge Fang goes for a dinner cruise with a Mandarin; they visit a mysterious ship; a startling discovery; a trap is sprung. Hackworth's dilemma; an unanticipated return to the hong of Dr. X; hitherto unseen ramifications of Dr. X's premises; a criminal is brought to justice. More tales from the Primer; the story of Dinosaur and Dojo; Nell learns a thing or two about the art of self-defense; Nell's mother gets, and loses, a worthy suitor; Nell asserts her position against a young bully. Hackworth lunches in distinguished company; a disquisition on hypocrisy; Hackworth's situation develops new complications. From the Primer, the arrival of a sinister Baron; Burt's disciplinary practices; the plot againstthe Baron; practical application of ideas gleaned from the Primer; flight. Hackworth departs from Shanghai; his speculations as to the possible motives of Dr. X. Nell and Harv at large in the Leased Territories; encounter with an inhospitable security pod: a revelation about the Primer. Miranda's reactions to the evening's events; solace from an unexpected quarter; from the Primer, the demise of a hero, flight to the Land Beyond, and the lands of King Magpie. Princess Nell in the city of King Magpie; hyena trouble; the story of Peter; Nell deals with a stranger. Mysterious souvenir from Dr. X; Hackworth's arrival in Vancouver; the Atlantan quarter of that city; he acquires a new mode of conveyance. A morning stroll through the Leased Territories; Dovetail; a congenial Constable. A new friend; Nell sees a real horse; a ride through Dovetail; Nell and Harv are separated. Orphans of the Han are exposed to the benefits of modern educational technology; Judge Fang reflects on the fundamental precepts of Confucianism. Hackworth receives an ambiguous message; a ride through Vancouver; tattooed woman and totem poles; he enters the hidden world of the Drummers. PART THE SECOND Hackworth has a singular experience; the rite of the Drummers. Nell's life at Dovetail; developments in the Primer; a trip to the New Atlantis Clave; she is presented to Miss Matheson; new lodgings with an "old" acquaintance. Carl Hollywood's activities at the Parnasse; conversation over a milk shake; explanation of the media system; Miranda perceives the futility of her quest. General description of life with the Constable; his avocations and other peculiarities; a disturbing sight; Nell learns about his past; a conversation over dinner. Carl Hollywood returns from abroad; he and Miranda discuss the status and future of her racting career. Three girls go exploring; a conversation between Lord Finkle-McGraw and Mrs. Hackworth; afternoon at the estate. Miranda receives an unusual ractive message; a drive through the streets of Shanghai; the Cathay Hotel; a sophisticated soirée; Carl Hollywood introduces her to two unusual characters. From the Primer, Princess Nell enters into the lands of King Coyote. Nell's experiences at school; a confrontation with Miss Stricken; the rigors of Supplementary Curriculum; Miss Matheson's philosophy of education; three friends go separate ways. Hackworth awakes from a dream; retreat from the world of the Drummers; chronological discrepancies. From the Primer, Princess Nell crosses the trail of the enigmatic Mouse Army; a visit to an invalid. Hackworth is brought up-to-date by the great Napier. From the Primer, a visit to Castle Turing; a final chat with Miss Matheson; speculation as to Nell's destiny; farewell; conversation with a grizzled hoplite; Nell goes forth to seek her fortune. The Hackworths have a family reunion; Hackworth strikes out on his quest; an unexpected companion. Carl Hollywood takes the Oath; stroll along the Thames; an encounter with Lord Finkle-McGraw. Nell's passage through Pudong; she happens upon the offices of Madame Ping; interview with the same. Peculiar practices in the woods; the Reformed Distributed Republic; an extraordinary conversation in a log cabin; CryptNet; the Hackworths depart. From the Primer, Princess Nell's activities as Duchess of Turing; the Castle of the Water-gates; other castles; the Cipherers' Market; Nell prepares for her final journey. Nell goes to Madame Ping's Theatre; rumors of the Fists; an important client; assault of the Fists of Righteous Harmony; ruminations on the inner workings of ractives. Carl Hollywood returns to Shanghai; his forebears in the territory of the Lone Eagles; Mrs. Kwan's teahouse. The Hackworths in transit, and in London; the East End; a remarkable boatride; Dramatis Personae; a night at the theatre. Carl Hollywood's hack. From the Primer, Princess Nell's ride to the Castle of King Coyote; description of the castle; an audience with a Wizard; her final triumph over King Coyote; an enchanted army. Hackworth in China; depredations of the Fists; a meeting with Dr. X; an unusual procession. From the Primer, Princess Nell's return to the Dark Castle; the death of Harv; The Books of the Book and of the Seed; Princess Nell's quest to find her mother; Destruction of the Causeway; Nell falls into the hands of Fists; she escapes into a greater peril; deliverance. Carl Hollywood takes a stroll to the waterfront. Final onslaught of the Fists; victory of the Celestial Kingdom; refugees in the domain of the Drummers; Miranda. ABOUT THE AUTHOR ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Diamond Age or A Young Lady's Illustrated Primer Neil Stephenson By nature, men are nearly alike; by practice, they get to be wide apart. -Confucius
Moral reforms and deteriorations are moved by large forces, and they are mostly caused by reactions from the habits of a preceding period. Backwards and forwards swings the great pendulum, and its alternations are not determined by a few distinguished folk clinging to the end of it. -Sir Charles Petrie, THE VICTORIANS
