Wil McCarthy
Encyclopedia
Wil McCarthy is a science fiction
novelist, Chief Technology Officer for Galileo Shipyards (an aerospace research corporation), and the science columnist for Syfy
. He currently resides in Colorado
.
Wil McCarthy invented the Wellstone, or Programmable matter
concept: Programmable Matter smart material is any bulk substance whose physical properties can be adjusted in real time through the application of light, voltage, electric or magnetic fields, etc. Primitive forms may allow only limited adjustment of one or two traits (e.g., the "photodarkening" or "photochromic" materials found in light-sensitive sunglasses), but there are theoretical forms which, using known principles of electronics, should be capable of emulating a broad range of naturally occurring materials, or of exhibiting unnatural properties which cannot be produced by other means.
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
novelist, Chief Technology Officer for Galileo Shipyards (an aerospace research corporation), and the science columnist for Syfy
Syfy
Syfy , formerly known as the Sci-Fi Channel and SCI FI, is an American cable television channel featuring science fiction, supernatural, fantasy, reality, paranormal, wrestling, and horror programming. Launched on September 24, 1992, it is part of the entertainment conglomerate NBCUniversal, a...
. He currently resides in Colorado
Colorado
Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
.
Wil McCarthy invented the Wellstone, or Programmable matter
Programmable matter
Programmable matter refers to matter which has the ability to change its physical properties in a programmable fashion, based upon user input or autonomous sensing...
concept: Programmable Matter smart material is any bulk substance whose physical properties can be adjusted in real time through the application of light, voltage, electric or magnetic fields, etc. Primitive forms may allow only limited adjustment of one or two traits (e.g., the "photodarkening" or "photochromic" materials found in light-sensitive sunglasses), but there are theoretical forms which, using known principles of electronics, should be capable of emulating a broad range of naturally occurring materials, or of exhibiting unnatural properties which cannot be produced by other means.
Novels
- Flies from the Amber (1995) ISBN 0-451-45406-5
- Murder in the Solid State (1996) ISBN 0-312-85938-4
- BloomBloom (novel)Bloom, written in 1998, is the fifth science fiction novel written by Wil McCarthy. It was first released as a hardcover in September 1998...
(1998) ISBN 0-345-40857-8
The Waisters
- Aggressor SixAggressor Six (novel)Aggressor Six is one of the earliest works of science fiction writer Wil McCarthy.-Plot:In this novel humanity is under assault by an overwhelming technologically superior alien race called "Waisters" who are threatening to exterminate the human race...
(1994) ISBN 0-451-45405-7 - The Fall of Sirius (1996) ISBN 0-451-45485-5
The Queendom of Sol
- The Collapsium (2000) ISBN 0-345-40856-X
- The WellstoneThe Wellstone (novel)The Wellstone is a 2003 hard science fiction novel by Wil McCarthy, the first sequel to his 2000 The Collapsium. In it he explores the lives of immortal humans in the near future...
(2003) ISBN 0-553-58446-4 - Lost in Transmission (2004) ISBN 0-553-58447-2
- To Crush the Moon (2005) ISBN 0-553-58717-X — Nebula AwardNebula Award for Best NovelWinners of the Nebula Award for Best Novel, awarded by the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America. The stated year is that of publication; awards are given in the following year.- Winners and other nominees :...
nominee.
Short works
- "Amerikano Hiaika", Aboriginal SF, May/June 1991.
- "Dirtyside Down", Universe 3, 1994.
- "The Dream of Houses", Analog, November 1995. LocusLocus (magazine)Locus, subtitled "The Magazine Of The Science Fiction & Fantasy Field", is published monthly in Oakland, California. It reports on the science fiction and fantasy publishing field, including comprehensive listings of all new books published in the genre. It is considered the news organ and trade...
recommended reading list. - "The Dream of Castles", Analog, April 1997.
- "The Dream of Nations", Analog, October 1998. LocusLocus (magazine)Locus, subtitled "The Magazine Of The Science Fiction & Fantasy Field", is published monthly in Oakland, California. It reports on the science fiction and fantasy publishing field, including comprehensive listings of all new books published in the genre. It is considered the news organ and trade...
recommended reading list. - "Once Upon a Matter Crushed", Science Fiction Age, May 1999. Theodore Sturgeon AwardTheodore Sturgeon AwardThe Theodore Sturgeon Memorial Award is given each year for the best science fiction short story of the year and is the short fiction counterpart of the Campbell award , published in English....
Nominee. LocusLocus (magazine)Locus, subtitled "The Magazine Of The Science Fiction & Fantasy Field", is published monthly in Oakland, California. It reports on the science fiction and fantasy publishing field, including comprehensive listings of all new books published in the genre. It is considered the news organ and trade...
recommended reading list. Became the first portion of The Collapsium. - "Programmable Matter, A Retrospective", NatureNature (journal)Nature, first published on 4 November 1869, is ranked the world's most cited interdisciplinary scientific journal by the Science Edition of the 2010 Journal Citation Reports...
, October 6, 2000. - "No Job Too Small", Aboriginal SF, Spring 2001.
- "Pavement Birds", Analog, July/August 2002.
- "Garbage Day", Analog, December 2002. Became part of The Wellstone.
Non-fiction articles
- "Ultimate Alchemy", Wired Magazine 9.10, October, 2001
- "This looks like a job for...Superatoms", IEEE SpectrumIEEE SpectrumIEEE Spectrum is a magazine edited by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers. The IEEE's description of it is:IEEE Spectrum began publishing in January 1964 as a successor to Electrical Engineering...
, August, 2005