SCIENCE FACT

The explanation of complex, unfamiliar ideas is never easy.  However, proper science fiction requires not only requires a constant stream of this, but requires it to fit within the framework of a fast-moving storyline.  And to be entertaning in its own right, yes.  After years of this demanding practice, Wil McCarthy found on a variety of topics that the straight science, sans fiction, was a much easier way to turn a buck.  Which suits his lazy ass just fine.

GENERAL SCIENCE

  • “Science Forum: Mars” (With Geoffrey A. Landis): SF Age, Nov ’97
  • “1997: The Year in Wha…?”: Nebula Awards 33, Harcourt Brace & Compamy, 1999
  • Contributing Editor for WIRED magazine – click here for index of articles
  • McCarthy’s own economic indicator: the Fortune Cookie Index

NANOTECHNOLOGY/PROGRAMMABLE MATTER

  • “Science Forum: Nanotechnology” (With Geoffrey A. Landis): SF Age, September 1997
  • “Programmable Matter: A Retrospective“: NATURE, 05 October 2000
  • “The Heart of the (Programmable) Matter”: Science Fiction Weekly, March 2001
  • “Nanotechnology: Abuses Of, and Alternatives To”: SFWA Bulletin, Fall 2001
  • “Ultimate Alchemy“: WIRED, October 2001
  • “Beyond the Periodic Table”: Analog, February 2002
  • HACKING MATTER: Basic Books, February 2003
  • “The New Alchemy”: IEEE Spectrum, April 2003 (with Stephen Cass)
  • “Programmable Matter“: AARP Radio, 31 Dec 2003. For some reason, this material was misattributed to a book reviewer for THE FUTURIST.

COMPUTERS & ROBOTICS

  • “Bracing for GenX Computer Nostalgia”: ComputorEdge, May ’96
  • “The Mark IV Standardized Robotic System”, AUVSI 1999
  • “Semiautonomous Materials Handling with an Automated Skytrak Forklift”, AUVSI 2001

SCIENCE BOOK REVIEWS

  • “Deep Science Background in Two Easy Volumes”: SFWA Bulletin, Summer ’96
  • “Deep Science Background, Part II”: SFWA Bulletin, Fall ’97
  • “The Encyclopedia Britannica DVD”: SFWA Bulletin, Spring ’02

ADVICE FOR WRITERS

INTERVIEWS