George R.R. Martin Publishes Research Paper On Fictional Alien Virus – Forbes
Author George R. R. Martin hasn’t finished “The Winds of Winter” yet, but he has written a physics … [+] paper.Eager for new writing by George R.R. Martin? Skip the fantasy section of your favorite bookstore and head to the American Journal of Physics, where Martin’s name appears on a new research paper exploring the evolution of a fictional virus.The virus in question comes from Wild Cards, a long-running science fiction and superhero anthology series written by a collection of authors. Best known for the Song of Ice and Fire fantasy novels adapted into HBO megahit Game of Thrones, Martin edits the series along with Melinda M. Snodgrass.The books focus on a deadly, genetically engineered alien virus called the Wild Card that’s released over New York City in 1946 and mutates human DNA worldwide, leaving most survivors as deformed “jokers,” but turning a few into gifted superhumans known as “aces.” Martin co-wrote the American Journal of Physics paper with Ian Tregillis, a Los Alamos National Laboratory physicist and contributing Wild Cards author. The duo dives into the physics of the virus using mathematical modeling and problem-solving techniques.“We present a fictional scenario that, while undeniably whimsical, provides the foundation for a unique exercise in extended problem solving, physics analysis and quantitative model development,” Martin and Tregellis write in the peer-reviewed paper published on Friday.The paper, titled “Ergodic Lagrangian dynamics in a superhero universe,” argues that scenarios from superhero comics and other popular media can serve as engaging, entertaining tools for better understanding physics problems. The authors adopted the mindset of a theoretician in the Wild Cards universe attempting to build a coherent mathematical framework for viral behavior. To do so, they employed the Lagrangian method, a model for analyzing the movement of objects through segmented steps.“We translated the abstract problem of Wild Card viral outcomes into a simple, concrete dynamical system,” Tregellis said in a statement. “The time-averaged behavior of this system generates the statistical distribution of outcomes.”Of course, “simple” may not be the word many readers would use to describe a paper packed with equations and technical language like “ergodic trajectory.” Don’t expect to find any of Martin’s White Walkers or fire-breathing dragons here.“Our overarching goal is to demonstrate the wide-ranging flexibility and utility of physical concepts by converting this vague and seemingly unapproachable problem to a straightforward dynamical system, thereby putting a wealth of conceptual and mathematical tools at students’ disposal,” the paper says.Martin fans continue to wait for him to complete his hotly anticipated next book, “The Winds of Winter,” which is 13 years in the making with no end in sight. In December, the author admitted he may never finish it, though he says he remains committed to trying.Tregellis, for his part, has penned a number of novels, plus five Wild Cards books.“Good storytelling is about characters: their wants, needs, obstacles, challenges, and how they interact with their world,” Tregillis said in the statement. “The fictional virus is really just an excuse to justify the world of Wild Cards, the characters who inhabit it, and the plotlines that spin out from their actions.”One Community. Many Voices. Create a free account to share your thoughts. Our community is about connecting people through open and thoughtful conversations. We want our readers to share their views and exchange ideas and facts in a safe space.In order to do so, please follow the posting rules in our site’s Terms of Service. We’ve summarized some of those key rules below. Simply put, keep it civil.Your post will be rejected if we notice that it seems to contain:User accounts will be blocked if we notice or believe that users are engaged in:So, how can you be a power user?Thanks for reading our community guidelines. Please read the full list of posting rules found in our site’s Terms of Service.
