mod-parlor-culture

In this opening chapter of The Diamond Age, Bud, a young man involved in dangerous drug-related work, visits a mod parlor to upgrade his skull gun, a weapon implanted in his forehead. The chapter details the technological enhancements Bud has undergone, including muscle stimulators and implanted devices, and describes the process of installing and testing his new weapon. It also highlights the social environment and the precariousness of Bud's lifestyle, marked by violence, technological augmentation, and a gritty urban setting.