Wil McCarthy

Wil McCarthy (born September 16, 1966, Princeton, New Jersey) is a science fiction novelist, Chief Technology Officer for Galileo Shipyards (an aerospace research corporation), and the science columnist for the Sci Fi Channel (United States). He currently resides in Colorado.[1]

Wil McCarthy invented the Wellstone, or Programmable matter concept: Programmable Matter(TM) 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.

Additional recommended knowledge

Weighing the right way

How to quickly check pipettes?

What is the Sensitivity of my Balance?

Books

Non-Fiction

• McCarthy, Wil (1993). Hacking Matter. USA: Basic Books. ISBN 0-465-04428-X. 

Fiction

• McCarthy, Wil (1994). Aggressor Six. USA: Roc Books. ISBN 0-451-45405-7. 
• McCarthy, Wil (1995). Flies from the Amber. USA: Roc Books. ISBN 0-451-45406-5. 
• McCarthy, Wil (1996). Murder in the Solid State. USA: Tor Books. ISBN 0-312-85938-4. 
• McCarthy, Wil (1996). The Fall of Sirius. USA: Roc Books. ISBN 0-451-45485-5.  (Sequel to Aggressor Six)
• McCarthy, Wil (1998). Bloom. USA: Del Rey Books. ISBN 0-345-40857-8. 
• McCarthy, Wil (2000). The Collapsium. USA: Del Rey Books. ISBN 0-345-40856-X.  (Book 1 of The Queendom of Sol)
• McCarthy, Wil (2003). The Wellstone. USA: Bantam Spectra. ISBN 0-553-58446-4.  (Book 2 of The Queendom of Sol)
• McCarthy, Wil (2004). Lost in Transmission. USA: Bantam Spectra. ISBN 0-553-58447-2.  (Book 3 of The Queendom of Sol)
• McCarthy, Wil (2005). To Crush the Moon. USA: Bantam Spectra. ISBN 0-553-58717-X.  (Book 4 of The Queendom of Sol) — Nebula Award nominee.

Short Works

• "Amerikano Hiaika", Aboriginal SF, May/June 1991.
• "The Dream of Houses", Analog, November 1995. Locus recommended reading list.
• "The Dream of Castles", Analog, April 1997.
• "The Dream of Nations", Analog, October 1998. Locus recommended reading list.
• "Once Upon a Matter Crushed", Science Fiction Age, May 1999. Theodore Sturgeon Award Nominee. Locus recommended reading list. Became the first chapter of The Collapsium.
• "Programmable Matter, A Retrospective", Nature, October 6 2000.
• "No Job Too Small", Aboriginal SF, Spring 2001.
• "Pavement Birds", Analog, July/August 2002.
• "Garbage Day", Analog, December 2002.

Non-Fiction Articles

• "Ultimate Alchemy", Wired Magazine 9.10, October, 2001
• "This looks like a job for...Superatoms", IEEE Spectrum, August, 2005