
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
- Wil’s Official Speculative Fiction Career Planning Guide
- The Touring Machine: Personal Digital Assistance on the Business Trip to Enlightenment
- Everything I Do is an Advertisement for Everything Else I Do
- Writing for Food: The Artist as Family Breadwinner
- Two sample novel proposals: Bad Medicine and Gas Giant
INTERVIEWS
- It Takes a Rocket Scientist: Amazon.com Interviews Wil McCarthy (1998)
- SFRevu Interviews & Reviews: Author: Wil McCarthy (1999)
- Locus Magazine: Profile (2001)
- Nanotechnology Now: Interview with Author Wil McCarthy (June 2003)
- Where There’s A Wil: SF Crow’s Nest (July 2003)