While The Diamond Age is a better novel than Snow Crash, it's not as good as the novels I've been giving four stars in recent months. Two years ago, it probably would have merited a higher rating, but my taste has changed. I'm no longer satisfied with this kind of pseudoscience romp. While it is one of the better science fiction genre novels I've read, it doesn't have the language craft that has become my main reading focus. The subject matter (nanotechnology and inter-cultural relations) is interesting but not compelling, and the plot elements all come together, albeit in a contrived way (much like a John Irving novel, but not as well done). For these reasons, I'd recommend this book highly to genre fans only.