CALLING ALPHA CONTROL: RON GROSS 4.0

EPISODE SYNOPSIS: We welcome back AGAIN a very special friend of the Alpha Control Podcast; the “Artist-Laureate” of Irwin Allen’s original Lost in Space - Mr. RON GROSS. Ron is an incredibly talented & prolific graphic artist who is skilled in both traditional and digital rendering techniques. Many of his beautiful creations employ a distinctive hybrid production methodology that he personally developed. Ron's Lost in Space related works include assorted box art illustrations for both Polar Lights and Moebius Models. In association with Kevin Burns of Synthesis Entertainment, Ron also designed the official 45th and 50th Lost in Space anniversary logos. Fans of the series are most familiar with his stunning calendars & poster art based on the original Irwin Allen television properties. As well as an officially licensed - Limited-Edition Lost in Space Deluxe Trading Card set from Monsterwax, featuring his own dazzling Artwork, as well as a fascinating series ‘In Universe’ storyline released in 2019.

RON’S BIO: Ron grew up in Aurora Illinois and resides in the greater Chicago area to this day.  After retiring from a distinguished career as a Sales Executive, Ron's fully devoted himself to his passion for creating art.  When we spoke with Ron last time, we focused on his THEN “newly-released” book, "Fantasy Worlds Beyond: The Irwin Allen Art of Ron Gross". Published in Spring 2021, this beautiful Art Book burnished his well-deserved fame among serious Lost in Space aficionados.  Now Ron has followed up his many accomplishments, with yet another fantastic project: his newly released book, "Lost in Space: The Initial Adventures." More than 5 decades in the making, this richly illustrated novelization of the multi-episode story arc that launched series contains a variety of "lost scenes” throughout - as well as Ron’s own speculative exploration of the mysteriously planned, but never developed sixth episode of the story arc titled; “Refuge of the Damned”. A topic that has intrigued Lost in Space fans for years.

So, today we’re going to speak in-depth with Ron about his fabulous New Book & how he managed to make this childhood passion a reality. So, sit back, relax & enjoy “ACT IV” of our compelling ongoing conversation with gifted Lost in Space graphic artist & author Mr. Ron Gross.

PODCAST INFO: This interview was conducted on 25 APR 2022.

LINKS: http://www.outerportals.com/home.html

Lost in Space: The Initial Adventures: Gross, Ron: 9798433306585: Amazon.com: Books

Fantasy Worlds Beyond: The Irwin Allen Art of Ron Gross: Gross, Ron: 9798727194386: Books - Amazon

http://www.monsterwax.com/LIScards.html

https://www.facebook.com/alphacontrolpodcast/

EMAIL: alphacontrolpodcast@gmail.com

CALLING ALPHA CONTROL: DR. STEVEN D. BLOOM PART II

EPISODE SYNOPSIS: We welcome a special guest to Alpha Control; Dr. Steven D. Bloom. As well as being a big fan of LIS & Science Fiction in general, Steve is the author of a fascinating book titled, The Physics and Astronomy of Science Fiction. Published in 2016 by McFarland; the book explores a wide range of Sci-Fi Movies, TV series, Books & Short Stories by exploring their underlying concepts of physics & astronomy. Written for those of us who are NOT real ‘rocket scientists’, Steve’s entertaining & highly readable book assesses the accuracy and plausibility of many of the complex concepts that often appear in science fiction, such as Interstellar Travel, Time Travel, Teleportation, Robots, Alien Life as well as other genre fixtures.

STEVE’S BIO: Steve Bloom grew up in the New York City suburbs where in the early 1970’s he would rush home from his neighborhood school to watch re-runs of Lost in Space. There began his love for science and astronomy in particular. Later, he would go on to major in Astrophysics at Columbia University and then earned his Ph.D. in Astronomy from Boston University in 1994. After that, he continued doing research as a post-doctoral fellow at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center located outside Washington DC in Greenbelt, MD and then at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, CA. Today Dr. Bloom is a professor of physics and astronomy at Hampden-Sydney College, located near Farmville, Virginia, where he lives with his wife, daughter and cat.

As I mentioned last time, when we got together to record, Steve was VERY generous with his time! Which is why I decided to split our conversation into TWO Special Calling Alpha Control interviews. Today, we’ll pick up the discussion where we left off last time, talking about LIS & Steve’s wonderfully informative book on the “science of science fiction”. I think you’ll be both delighted & amazed by some of what you learn in this interview. So, sit back, relax & enjoy Part II of this intriguing conversation with DOCTOR STEVEN D. BLOOM. 

PODCAST INFO: This interview was conducted on 6 JAN 2022.

LINKS: Amazon.com: Steven D Bloom: Books, Biography, Blog, Audiobooks, Kindle

https://mcfarlandbooks.com/product/the-physics-and-astronomy-of-science-fiction/

https://physastro.net/

www.stevendbloom.net

https://www.facebook.com/alphacontrolpodcast/

http://www.monsterwax.com/LIScards.html

EMAIL: alphacontrolpodcast@gmail.com

CALLING ALPHA CONTROL: DR. STEVEN D. BLOOM PART I

EPISODE SYNOPSIS: We welcome a special guest to Alpha Control; Dr. Steven D. Bloom. As well as being a big fan of LIS & Science Fiction in general, Steve is the author of a fascinating book titled, The Physics and Astronomy of Science Fiction. Published in 2016 by McFarland; the book explores a wide range of Sci-Fi Movies, TV series, Books & Short Stories by exploring their underlying concepts of physics & astronomy. Written for those of us who are NOT real ‘rocket scientists’, Steve’s entertaining & highly readable book assesses the accuracy and plausibility of many of the complex concepts that often appear in science fiction, such as Interstellar Travel, Time Travel, Teleportation, Robots, Alien Life as well as other genre fixtures.

STEVE’S BIO: Steve Bloom grew up in the New York City suburbs where in the early 1970’s he would rush home from his neighborhood school to watch re-runs of Lost in Space. There began his love for science and astronomy in particular. Later, he would go on to major in Astrophysics at Columbia University and then earned his Ph.D. in Astronomy from Boston University in 1994. After that, he continued doing research as a post-doctoral fellow at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center located outside Washington DC in Greenbelt, MD and then at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, CA. Today Dr. Bloom is a professor of physics and astronomy at Hampden-Sydney College, located near Farmville, Virginia, where he lives with his wife, daughter and cat.

When we recorded this episode, I had a lot of questions for the Professor & he was VERY generous with his time. In fact, so much so, I’ve decided to split our conversation into TWO Special Calling Alpha Control interviews, where we’ll discuss Steve’s love for Sci-Fi entertainment, (especially LIS) and dig deeply into his wonderfully informative book on the “science of science fiction”. I think you’ll be both delighted & amazed by what you learn in this two-parter interview. So, sit back, relax & enjoy Part I of this intriguing conversation with DOCTOR STEVEN D. BLOOM.

PODCAST INFO: This interview was conducted on 6 JAN 2022.

LINKS: Amazon.com: Steven D Bloom: Books, Biography, Blog, Audiobooks, Kindle

https://mcfarlandbooks.com/product/the-physics-and-astronomy-of-science-fiction/

https://physastro.net/

www.stevendbloom.net

https://www.facebook.com/alphacontrolpodcast/

http://www.monsterwax.com/LIScards.html

EMAIL: alphacontrolpodcast@gmail.com