''Whole Earth Review'' (''Whole Earth'' after 1997) was a magazine which was founded in January 1985 after the merger of the '' Whole Earth Software Review'' (a supplement to the '' Whole Earth Software Catalog'') and the ''

CoEvolution Quarterly ''CoEvolution Quarterly'' (1974–1985) was a journal descended from Stewart Brand's '' Whole Earth Catalog''. Stewart Brand founded the ''CoEvolution Quarterly'' in 1974 using proceeds from the '' Whole Earth Catalog.'' It evolved out of the o ...

''. All of these periodicals are descendants of Stewart Brand's ''

Whole Earth Catalog The ''Whole Earth Catalog'' (WEC) was an American counterculture magazine and product catalog published by Stewart Brand several times a year between 1968 and 1972, and occasionally thereafter, until 1998. The magazine featured essays and articl ...

''. The last published hard copy issue of the magazine was the Winter 2002 issue. The next issue (Spring, 2003) was planned but never published in hard copy format. Bruce Sterling attempted to solicit funds for this issue by writing that "friends at ''Whole Earth Magazine'' have experienced a funding crunch so severe that the Spring 2003 special issue (#111) on Technological Singularity, edited by

Alex Steffen Alex Steffen (born 1968) is an American futurist who writes and speaks about sustainability and the future of the planet. He emphasizes the importance of imagining persuasive, positive possible futures: "It's literally true that we can't build ...

of the Viridian curia, hasn't been printed and distributed. ''Whole Earth'' is soliciting donations to get the issue printed, and has put some of the content online." Eventually, elements of the 2003 issue appeared only in digital format on the ''Whole Earth'' website.

Overview

Fred Turner discusses the creation of the ''Whole Earth Review'' in ''From Counterculture to Cyberculture: Stewart Brand, the Whole Earth Network, and the Rise of Digital Utopianism.'' Turner notes that in 1983, ''The Whole Earth Software Catalog'' was proposed by John Brockman as a magazine which "would do for computing what the original 'Whole Earth Catalog''had done for the counterculture: identify and recommend the best ''tools'' as they emerged." The first issue was released in the Fall of 1984. ''The Whole Earth Software Catalog'' was a

business failure __NOTOC__ Business failure refers to a company ceasing operations following its inability to make a profit or to bring in enough revenue to cover its expenses. A profitable business can fail if it does not generate adequate cash flow to meet ...

, however, and was only published twice, with only three of ''The Whole Earth Software Review'' supplements published .Fred Turner. ''From Counterculture to Cyberculture'', (Chicago, University of Chicago Press, 2006): 130. At the same time, another Brand publication, ''

'' evolved out of the original ''Whole Earth Supplement'' in 1974. In 1985, Brand merged ''CoEvolution Quarterly'' with ''The Whole Earth Software Review'' to create the ''Whole Earth Review.'' This is also indicated in the issues themselves. Fall 1984, Issue No. 43 is titled ''The Last CoEvolution Quarterly.''The cover also states, "Next issue is 'Whole Earth Review': livelier snake, new skin." In January 1985, Issue No. 44 was titled ''Whole Earth Review: Tools and Ideas for the Computer Age.'' The cover also reads "The continuation of ''CoEvolution Quarterly'' and ''Whole Earth Software Review''." In an article titled "Whole Earth Software Catalog Version 1.1," Stewart Brand states that there are three intended audiences for the new ''Whole Earth Review'': a) The audience of ''The Whole Earth Software Catalog'', b) The audience of ''The Whole Earth Software Review'' and c) The audience of ''

''. The office of ''Whole Earth Review'' was next door to ''

The WELL The Whole Earth 'Lectronic Link, normally shortened to The WELL, was launched in 1985. It is one of the oldest continuously operating virtual communities. By 1993 it had 7,000 members, a staff of 12, and gross annual income of $2 million. ...

'', another project that Stewart Brand and associates co-founded. Sausalito Journal; Whole Earth State-of-Art Rapping
/ref> ''Whole Earth'' had a special role in promoting alternative technology or appropriate technology. In deciding to publish full-length articles on specific topics in natural sciences, invention, arts, etc., ''Whole Earth'' (like its predecessor, ''CoEvolution Quarterly'') was a journal aimed primarily at the educated layperson. The industrial designer and educator J. Baldwin served as the technology editor. Tool and book reviews were in abundance, and ecological and technology topics were interspersed with articles treating social and community subjects. One of the journal's recurring themes was “the commons” (a thing, institution or geographic space of, or having to do with, the community as a whole), and the related “ tragedy of the commons”.''Whole Earth Review'' (1985-2003) issues #44-110. Sausalito, Ca: POINT Foundation Stewart Brand and the later editors invited reviews of books and tools from experts in specific fields, to be approached as though they were writing a letter to a friend. ''Whole Earth'' editors Kevin Kelly and

Howard Rheingold Howard Rheingold (born 1947) is an American critic, writer, and teacher, known for his specialties on the cultural, social and political implications of modern communication media such as the Internet, mobile telephony and virtual communities ( ...

both went on to edit other magazines.

Notes

References

* Turner, Fred

External links

Official website
{{Whole Earth Defunct political magazines published in the United States Defunct magazines published in the United States Environmental magazines Magazines established in 1985 Magazines disestablished in 2003 Whole Earth Catalog Magazines published in California 1985 establishments in California