E.T.'s phone home -- S.E.T.I. is listening! The Search for Extra-Terrestrial Intelligence is the topic under discussion this week on Prisoners of Gravity. Commander Rick talks with several of the contributors to the speculative science fact book First Contact, including co-editor Ben Bova and contributing authors Hal Clement ("Alternative Life Designs") and David Brin ("Mystery of the Great Silence"). With SF authors J. Brian Clarke (The Expediter), Larry Niven (The Mote in God's Eye), Robert J. Sawyer (Far-Seer), magazine editor Charles Ryan (Aboriginal Science Fiction), comic book writer D. Larry Hancock (The Silent Invasion) and filmmaker Dan Curtis. Dan discusses the UFO believers in his documentary, In Advance of the Landing.

Walter Koenig (Chekov) and Michael Dorn (Worf) bring a Star Trek perspective to this week's show as SF authors Douglas Adams (The Hitch Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy), Lois McMaster Bujold (Barrayar), Spider Robinson (Time Travelers Strictly Cash) and comic book creators Dave Gibbons (Watchmen), Garth Ennis (Hellblazer) and Neil Gaiman (Sandman) provide the anecdotes, and Julius Schwartz and Forrest J. Ackerman explore the history, as Commander Rick examines the phenomenon of fandom. Harlan Ellison (The Essential Ellison) is his usual acerbic self as he enlightens Rick on the dark side of fandom.

Commander Rick looks at why outlaws and rebels are such appealing characters in science fiction and comic books, featuring writers Andre Norton (the Witch World series); Monica Hughes (the Isis Trilogy); Nancy Holder ("Robin's Witch" in The Fantastic Adventures of Robin Hood); Charles de Lint (Jack, the Giant-Killer); S.N. Lewitt (Cybernetic Jungle); Mirrorshades editor Bruce Sterling (author, The Hacker Crackdown) with Mirrorshades contributors Pat Cadigan ("Rock On"), Lewis Shiner ("Till Human Voices Wake Us"), Paul de Filippo ("Stone Lives") and William Gibson ("The Gernsback Continuum"); plus Robert Silverberg ("The Pardoner's Tale") and Mike Resnick (editor, Alternate Outlaws), with comic book creators Denny O'Neil (writer/editor, Batman) and Peter David (The Incredible Hulk).

Commander Rick pays tribute to science fiction writer Ray Bradbury, ground-breaking author of such timeless works as The Martian Chronicles. In addition to an extensive interview with Bradbury, Rick talks to Bradbury's first agent, Julius Schwartz, to examine his early career. Author Robert J. Sawyer and author/editor Ben Bova discuss Bradbury's influence on the science fiction field. Rick also examines the latest project to celebrate his work, the comic book series The Ray Bradbury Chronicles, featuring interviews with contributing artists Dave Gibbons and P. Craig Russell.

Commander Rick captures the Hallowe'en spirit by exploring the allure of madness in science fiction and comics, with guests including speculative fiction authors Maya Kaathryn Bohnhoff ("A Tear in the Mind's Eye"), Doris Lessing (Briefing for a Descent Into Hell), James Morrow (This Is the Way the World Ends) and Steven Gould ("Peaches for Mad Molly"). Peter David discusses his mad Star Fleet Commander, Quentin Stone (A Rock and a Hard Place) and how Multiple Personality Disorder affects The Incredible Hulk. Also from the world of comics: Mike Baron (The Badger), Michael D. Allred (Madman), Alan Grant (Judge Dredd), Pete Milligan (Shade, the Changing Man) and Dave Gibbons (Watchmen).

Commander Rick examines both the fictional and real world future of space travel with his guests J. Brian Clarke (The Expediter), Hal Clement (Cycle of Fire), James Patrick Kelly ("The Propagation of Light in a Vacuum"), Robert J. Sawyer (Golden Fleece) and Bob Shaw (The Ragged Astronauts). As well, Iain M. Banks discusses the importance of naming spaceships, Ray Bradbury waxes poetic on his first visit to a NASA launch, and Bruce Sterling, Ben Bova and Jerry Pournelle square off to debate the importance of putting people in space rather than machines.

How does the city affect the characters who live there and the way a story is told is the question Commander Rick answers tonight with the help of comic book creators Will Eisner (Invisible People), Peter Kuper (New York, New York), Alan Grant (Judge Dredd), and Dave Gibbons (Watchmen), and speculative fiction writers: Discworld creator Terry Pratchett discusses designing a fantasy city (Small Gods), Mary Gentle (The Architecture of Desire) and James Patrick Kelly (Look Into the Sun) discuss the use of architecture in fiction, while William Gibson ("The Gernsback Continuum") discusses his future metropolises and Michael Moorcock (The Dreaming City) talks about dodging bullets in L.A.

Madonna has nothing on Commander Rick, who looks at the role of sex in speculative fiction and comics, featuring SF authors Ben Bova (Mars), Spider Robinson (co-author, Starseed), Lisa Tuttle ("In Translation"), James Morrow (This Is The Way The World Ends), Lesley Choyce (editor, Ark of Ice), and Omni magazine's SF editor Ellen Datlow, talking about her erotic SF and horror anthologies, Alien Sex and Blood and Roses; and from comics, writer Alan Moore and artist Melinda Gebbi discuss their collaborative erotic comic, "Lost Girls", and writer/artist Aline Kominsky-Crumb (Love That Bunch) discusses how sex has shaped her own work.

Commander Rick examines the use of time travel in science fiction, with SF authors Connie Willis (discussing her latest novel, Doomsday Book), L. Sprague de Camp (Lest Darkness Fall), Michael Moorcock (Behold the Man), Gregory Benford (Timescape), John Gribbin ("Don't Look Back"), Robert Silverberg (co-author with Isaac Asimov of The Ugly Little Boy), Spider Robinson (Time Travelers Strictly Cash), Geoffrey A. Landis ("Ripples in the Dirac Sea") and Joe Haldeman ("The Hemingway Hoax").

Commander Rick examines the shared world concept in science fiction and comics with a special look at some of the most popular multi-author books available. James Morrow (contributor to the What Might Have Been series), points out the difference between shared worlds and theme anthologies. George R.R. Martin discusses the incredibly popular Wild Card series which he created and edits. C.J. Cherryh discusses writing for Thieves' World, Heroes in Hell and creating her own shared world in Merovingen Nights. Neil Gaiman discusses designing shared worlds (Temps, The Weerde and Villains) and working within the DC Comics universe (The Sandman). Rick examines the shared universe at Marvel Comics with X-Men contributors Fabian Nicieza, Walt Simonson and John Byrne. The Star Trek universe is scrutinized by contributing authors Peter David, Garfield and Judith Reeves-Stevens and J. M. Dillard. And finally, Harlan Ellison, creator of the ground-breaking shared world Medea, gives his thoughts on the proliferation of shared world projects.

Commander Rick looks at Medea, the most influential and innovative shared world anthology in science fiction, with creator Harlan Ellison, artist Frank Kelly Freas, and contributing authors Kate Wilhelm, Robert Silverberg, Frederik Pohl, and Jack Williamson. He then looks at Silverberg's recent shared world anthology, Murasaki, which was inspired by Ellison's Medea, with contributors David Brin, Gregory Benford and Nancy Kress.

This week's episode of Prisoners of Gravity pays tribute to Jack Kirby, the man whose dynamic art style redefined superhero comics when he co-created Captain America in 1941. In the early 1960s Jack Kirby and Stan Lee created The Fantastic Four, The Incredible Hulk and Thor -- characters who now form the core of the Marvel Comics Universe. Kirby and his work are praised by Will Eisner, creator of The Spirit; Walt Simonson, the writer/artist who inherited Thor and The Fantastic Four at Marvel Comics; and Scott McCloud, writer/artist of Zot! Also featuring comic book creators Max Allan Collins (writer, Ms. Tree), Kevin Eastman (co-creator, The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles), Len Wein (writer, The Uncanny X-Men), Dave Gibbons (artist, Watchmen), with Canadian fantasy writer Charles de Lint (Spiritwalk) and science fiction writer Samuel R. Delany (Dhalgren).

Commander Rick examines the role of weapons in genre fiction, from magic swords to portable nuclear weapons, featuring writers Terry Pratchett (the Discworld series), Iain M. Banks (Use of Weapons), Lois McMaster Bujold (Barrayar), and Michael Moorcock (the Elric series), Warren Murphy (co-author, The Destroyer series), Sean Stewart (Passion Play), Walter Jon Williams (Voice of the Whirlwind), Jerry Pournelle (creator, There Will Be War series), Shirley Meier (co-author, Saber and Shadow), with comic book creators Kevin Eastman (co-creator, The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles), M.W. Kaluta (artist, The Shadow), and Mike Baron (artist, The Punisher).

PRISONERS OF GRAVITY'S 100TH SHOW!! As we enter the Information Age, science fiction grapples with the effect of this new culture. Commander Rick interviews the ever-controversial Timothy Leary, plus science fiction writers Douglas Adams (Mostly Harmless), Bruce Sterling (Islands in the Net), Robert J. Sawyer (Golden Fleece), John Brunner (Stand on Zanzibar), David Brin (Earth), George Zebrowski (Stranger Suns), and Martha Soukup (Rosemary's Brain). The Commander also looks at the impact of information on society with Clifford Stoll (The Cuckoo's Egg), the first person to track down and catch a computer hacker; Bill McKibben (The Age of Missing Information); and Paul Wollaston from Apple Computers.

Commander Rick discusses awards with the award-winners: science fiction writers John Brunner, Samuel R. Delany, Harlan Ellison, William Gibson, Joe Haldeman, Nancy Kress, James Morrow, Jerry Pournelle, Kristine Kathryn Rusch, and Lisa Tuttle, the only writer to ever decline the Nebula Award (for her story, "The Bone Flute"), plus writer Neil Gaiman, mystery author Sharyn McCrumb, and comic book artist Dave Gibbons.

Commander Rick examines the cross-over between the mystery and science fiction genres, featuring renowned British author, P.D. James, whose latest book, The Children of Men, is set in a futuristic world in which men have become sterile. Rick also chats with science fiction writers John E. Stith (Redshift Rendezvous), Sean Stewart (Passion Play), Vernor Vinge (Marooned in Realtime), Martin H. Greenberg (editor of numerous SF and mystery anthologies), Maxim Jakubowski (SF and mystery writer), Garfield and Judith Reeves-Stevens (The Chronicles of Galen Sword) and mystery writer Sharyn McCrumb, whose Edgar Award-winning 1988 mystery, Bimbos of the Death Sun, was set at a science fiction convention. Editor Mike Resnick discusses his mystery/science fiction crossover Whatdunits anthologies, and contributing authors Beth Meacham and Jane Yolen discuss their stories.

TIE-IN TO CANADIAN BLACK HISTORY MONTH, FEB. 1993. Commander Rick looks at how racism is handled in comic books and speculative fiction, featuring writers Samuel R. Delany, the first Black science fiction writer and winner of the Nebula Award (for his novel, Babel-17); African-American writer Jewelle Gomez (The Gilda Stories); Native American writer Owl Goingback; Asian-American science fiction writer William F. Wu; science fiction writer Karen Haber discussing the mutant as a metaphor for racism; and SF author Spider Robinson (co-author, Starseed); and renowned fantasist Andre Norton. Commander Rick looks at racism in comic books with writer/artist Will Eisner (creator, The Spirit) whose latest graphic novel, To The Heart of the Storm, deals with issues of anti-Semitism during the Second World War; Black comic book artist Denys Cowan discusses Milestone comics, the new multicultural imprint he's directing for DC Comics; Louise Simonson (writer, Superman: The Man of Steel) discusses racism at The Daily Planet; Gilbert Hernandez (co-creator, Love and Rockets). Cartoonist Dan Piraro (Bizarro) also puts in an appearance.

Commander Rick profiles three innovative creators: Jeff Smith, creator of the charming comic book series, Bone; best-selling Canadian fantasy author Guy Gavriel Kay, A Song for Arbonne; and Quebec science fiction writer Elisabeth Vonarburg, In The Mothers' Land.

TIE-IN TO FREEDOM TO READ WEEK (MAR. 1-8, 1993). Commander Rick looks at the future of electronic books and the impact of new technologies on reading and literature. Guests include science fiction writers Douglas Adams (The Hitch Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy), Clive Barker (The Thief of Always), Michael Moorcock (The Revenge of the Rose), and Ben Bova (Cyberbook), Pat Cadigan (Synners), and comic book creators Sergio Aragones (artist, Mad Magazine), John Byrne (The Next Men), and Carl Lieberman, creator of the computerized version of the Canadian comic book series, Mr. X. Also featuring Paul Wollaston of Apple Computers and John Lowry of Discis Software.

The pros and cons of living forever are examined this week, with Anne Rice, author of the best-selling Vampire Chronicles (discussing her latest, The Tale of the Body Thief), and horror writer Clive Barker (The Thief of Always). Other guests include science fiction writers Larry Niven (Ringworld), Joan D. Vinge (The Snow Queen), Spider Robinson (Time Pressure), Joe Haldeman (Buying Time), Ian MacDonald (The Broken Land), Vernor Vinge (Marooned in Realtime), Brian Stableford ("The Magic Bullet"), and Gregory Benford ("Doing Lennon"). With comic book creators Neil Gaiman (writer, The Sandman), Len Wein (creator/writer, Swamp Thing) and Peter David (writer, The Incredible Hulk).

Featuring authors Clive Barker (The Thief of Always), Bruce Sterling (co-author, The Difference Engine), Samuel R. Delany (Triton), James Morrow (City of Truth), Geoff Ryman (The Child Garden), Iain Banks (Consider Phlebas), Sean Stewart (Passion Play), Kim Stanley Robinson, whose novel Pacific Edge is regarded as the premier modern utopia novel, plus the writers of the comic book, Miracleman, Alan Moore and Neil Gaiman, with the comic book's artist, Mark Buckingham.

Rick discusses computer games with science fiction writer Douglas Adams, whose book, The Hitch Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy, has been adapted into a computer game; author Frederik Pohl discusses the interactive computer version of his science fiction novel, Gateway; and comic book artist Dave Gibbons talks about Beneath A Steel Sky, the interactive computer game he's working on. Also beaming aboard Reality 1 are creators from the computer gaming companies Psygnosis (Jerry Wolosenko, president) and Sierra On-Line (Roberta Williams, creator of the game "King's Quest", Andy Hoyos, art designer, and Mark Siebert, music designer).

Featuring "the Queen of Crime Fiction", P.D. James, discussing her latest novel, The Children of Men, plus science fiction writers Sean Stewart (Passion Play), David Brin (Earth), Lois McMaster Bujold (Falling Free), Walter Jon Williams ("Prayers on the Wind"), James Patrick Kelly ("Death Therapy"), Roger MacBride Allen (The Modular Man), Michael G. Coney (The Jaws That Bite, The Claws That Catch), and Garfield and Judith Reeves-Stevens (Second Nature). Rick also interviews John Byrne (artist, The Uncanny X-Men), Matt Wagner (writer, Sandman Mystery Theater), and M.W. Kaluta (artist, The Shadow), about crime and punishment in the world of comic books.

The Commander's guests include science fiction author and critic Harlan Ellison; Terry Pratchett, author of Small Gods, the latest novel in his best-selling Discworld series; James Morrow talking about his upcoming book, Towing Jehovah; Spider Robinson (author, Time Pressure); Donald Westlake (author, Humans); and Connie Willis (author, Doomsday Book). Rick also discusses the Islamic interpretation of God's will with Salman Rushdie. Rick also talks to Douglas Adams, author of Mostly Harmless, Clive Barker, author of Imajica, and Brian Stableford, author of Journey to the Centre who discusses the atheism of science fiction.

Commander Rick examines how and why creators put themselves into their stories. Featuring comic book creators Will Eisner (writer/artist, To the Heart of The Storm), Barry Windsor-Smith (artist, Conan the Barbarian), Neil Gaiman (writer, The Sandman), plus independent comic book creators Aline Kominsky-Crumb (Love That Bunch), Seth (Palooka-ville), Joe Matt (Peep Show), Chester Brown (Yummy Fur), Daniel Clowes (Eightball), plus science fiction author Samuel R. Delany (The Einstein Intersection), fantasy writers Michael Moorcock (Elric of Melnibone) and Michael Coney (Pallahaxi Tide), and horror author Anne Rice (discussing her latest novel in her best-selling vampire series, The Tale of the Body Thief).

Commander Rick examines the impact of over-population, and the Zero Population Growth movement, on current ecological concerns. Featured guests include science fiction writers David Brin discussing his near future novel, Earth; Frederik Pohl, co-author (with Isaac Asimov) of the non-fiction ecology book, Our Angry Earth; Kim Stanley Robinson (Pacific Edge); Joe Haldeman (The Forever War); Jerry Pournelle (co-author, The Mote In God's Eye); Barry B. Longyear (Sea of Glass); and comic creator Paul Chadwick (writer/artist, Concrete).

Commander Rick examines the ownership that creators have over their creations, featuring science fiction author Harlan Ellison, who sued the producers of the film, The Terminator, for appropriating his Outer Limits teleplay, "Soldier"; plus comic book creators Scott McCloud (writer/artist, Zot!); Will Eisner (Creator, The Spirit); Neal Adams (artist, Batman); Len Wein (creator, Swamp Thing); Dale Keown (creator/artist, Pitt); Kevin Eastman (co-creator, The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles); and Dave Sim (creator, Cerebus).