Publishers did double-takes, then scrambled to sign up scientists with stories to tell and theories to explain. As a result, popular science books--those that bring scientific knowledge to the public in a voice that the layman can understand and appreciate--have become something of a trend, and more scientists than ever before are venturing into the world of mass-market publishing.
Indicators are that the genre will continue to expand for some time--just what one would expect following a big bang. Strengthening the anticipated demand for popular science books is the speculation that the public's fascination with science is on the rise, spurred on in part, no doubt, by Hollywood's blockbuster science-fiction movies and hopes for cures for catastrophic diseases like AIDS and cancer. "We're always on the lookout for science books," says Leslie Meredith, executive editor at Bantam.
There are two stages to book publishing--writing, editing, and printing the manuscript serve ...
