Relativity

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Zine
Title: Relativity
Publisher: Relativity Press/Buffalo Leg Scrapers
Editor(s): Elaine Gustainis and Jill Hargen
Date(s): 1992-?
Series?:
Medium: print
Size:
Genre:
Fandom: multimedia
Language: English
External Links: fiction is online here
Click here for related articles on Fanlore.
a 1992 flyer

Relativity is a gen anthology of connected short stories taking place that focuses on the premise that many of the people on TV are related. Relativity is a universe of its own, which crosses over Remington Steele, Scarecrow & Mrs. King, Equalizer and a number of other fandoms. It was conceived and is "owned" by one person, but others have written stories set there.

The shared universe is called "The Cousin Universe". A glossary for the universe can be found here.

Some art by Mariann Howarth is here.

From a July 1993 ad in GAZ: "Have you ever noticed how Lee Stetson of "Scarecrow and Mrs. King" looks a lot like Andy Travis of "WKRP in Cincinati who in turns looks a lot like Murphy Michaels of "Remmington Steele" who also looks a lot like Skip Charmichael of "Salvage One"? And have you also noticed how.al of them resemble Scot HcCal of "The Equalizer and Alan Hunter of MTV fame? There's actualy a very good explanation for this: they're COUSINS! Relativity is about these characters and their very large family, the far-flung Michaels clan. If you like cross-over stories, then this is the zine for you!"

From the Editorial in Issue 1

It started out as a joke. Really. After we learned James Read would no longer be on Remington Steele, I wrote my own version of the "Murphy Leaving the Agency" story. Pat Gonzales was kind enough to print it in Steele Files. But that wasn't enough.

Murphy was such a "nice" guy. It was hard to get used to not having him around. Then, suddenly, we started discovering other "nice" guys. WKRP had just started its syndicated run here in our area and Elaine was watching it (with headphones on so as not to disturb anyone). One day she had to share with me Andy Travis' cute buns. After that we all started watching the show and guess what? Andy was a "nice" guy too.

Then Scarecrow and Mrs. King premiered. I remembered Bruce Boxleitner from "How the West Was Won" as a scrawny kid with long, stringy hair and a funny-looking nose. I guess I missed the last season, because suddenly this boy grew up. Now, as Lee, he was playing a "nice" guy and doing a great job.

Elaine then decided that Joel Higgins must be a cousin as well. After a long campaign to put him in the family, I relented, but insisted on a character. I didn't want a cousin Joel, and I didn't think Edward Stratton from Silver Spoons fit into the family tree. So we brain stormed and remembered Salvage One. Thus, Skip entered the scene.

Now comes the joke. We were talking about these men and how they were so totally wonderful they must be related. Funny, right? I thought a little story would be enjoyable. I wanted to put them all together in some kind of western setting, say a rodeo. Out of that, and a few throw-away lines from WKRP, came "Reunion."

When I wrote this epic, Scarecrow was still in its first season. We'd been given very little of Lee's background other than the fact that he was an orphan and had been raised by an uncaring uncle who was life-time military. So I made up a history. Unfortunately, the writers decided they needed to supply some of that information too. Only they got it wrong. I guess they hadn't read "Reunion."

The cousin universe is definitely different than the aired Scarecrow world. However, I feel vindicated in that Scarecrow was never consistent with their facts. I guess they didn't think anyone would notice if they gave Lee three different ages when he was orphaned, or that suddenly his mother was British, yet he had a red-necked uncle named Clayton. We still don't know how he was related.

In any case, that was the beginning of the cousin universe. As time went on, more and more people joined the family. It was hard to keep going back to "Reunion" and make sure they were all mentioned, so I quit trying. Anybody who doesn't appear in the story just didn't make it that year, I suppose.

I placed "Reunion" first in the zine since it was written first. You should really read it first. The rest of the stories are placed in chronological order of when they take place, not when they were written. They shouldn't be too hard to follow. If you get confused along the way, there is a family tree...

Issue 1

Relativity 1 was published in May 1992 and contains 201 pages. Fandoms included are Remington Steele, WKRP in Cincinnati, Scarecrow and Mrs. King, and Equalizer.

On the cover, "Wouldn't you like to be a Cousin too?"

The interior art is by Mariann Howarth, Joy Riddle, J. Jordan, and Robin Cloward.

It premiered at the 1992 MediaWest*Con.

cover of issue #1, Annita K. Smith
  • Twenty Minutes of Apology from Jill
  • Twenty More Minutes of Apology from Elaine
  • Reunion (Glorieta, July 1984) by Jill Bailey Hargan ("When Amanda King's son is kidnapped, she meets Lee's family for the first time.") (56 pages)
  • Finale (San Diego, Spring 1961) by Jill Hargan (4 pages)
  • Beginnings (Glorieta, July 1961) by Jill Hargan ("Little Lee Stetson learns the Colonel is not the only family he has.") (32 pages)
  • There and Back Again (Glorieta, July 1962) by Jill Hargan (3 pages)
  • The Meeting (Los Angeles, Fall 1964) by Maura I. Kelly (7 pages)
  • The Parting (Glorieta, May 1965) by Jill Hargan (3 pages)
  • Cousin Primer By Robin Cloward (2 pages)
  • Big Cousin/Little Cousin (Glorieta, 1972) by Marianne Evensen ("Lee and Scott McCall get to know each other.") (5 pages)
  • Trading Secrets (Los Angeles, 1972) by Gina Martin (7 pages)
  • A Friend in Need (Los Angeles, 1975) by Jill Bailey Hargan ("Murphy and Laura in the early days at Havenhurst develop their close friendship during afamily crisis.") (4 pages)
  • Requiem (Glorieta, August 1980) by Jill Hargan (2 pages)
  • A Member of the Family (Denver, Christmas 1984) by Annita K. Smith ("Lee and Amanda are off to Denver for a Christmastime mission. When Lee disappears, Amanda seeks Murphy's aid to find him.") (16 pages)
  • The Case of the Burgled Vending Machine (New York City, 1986) by Maura I. Kelly (8 pages)
  • Rock-a-Bye (Cincinnati, March 1988) by Annita K. Smith (5 pages)
  • Oh, No, We've Created a... (Los Angeles, 1995) by Maura I. Kelly
  • The Past is Steele With Us (Cincinnati/New York City, Spring 1994) by Jill Hargan ("Caitlin Travis' past catches up with her and it's up to the Equalizer and Remington Steele to find her and save the Travis family.") (30 pages)
  • Epilogue (New York City, Spring 1994) by Robin Cloward
  • Glossary By Elaine M. Gustainis

Issue 2

cover of issue #2, Mariann Howarth

Relativity 2 was published in 1993 and contains 219 pages. Fandoms included are REMINGTON STEELE, WKRP IN CINCINNATI, SCARECROW & MRS KING and EQUALIZER. Interior art by Joy Riddle, Annita K. Smith, Mariann Howarth, and Robin Cloward.

  • Twenty Minutes of Apology from Jill
  • Twenty More Minutes of Apology from Elaine
  • Reunion III: It's Steele a Small World, Murphy (Anaheim, Fall 1986) by Jill Hargan (30 pages)
  • The Wedding (Bel Air, February, 1965) by Maura I. Kelly (8 pages)
  • Rites of Passage (Elkridge, Spring 1970) by Jill Hargan (3 pages)
  • Home is a Wounded Hart (Glorieta, Fall 1971) by Jill Hargan (3 pages)
  • The Case of the Jamestown Weed (Glorieta, January 1972) by Marianne Evensen (27 pages)
  • Murphy's Steele (Los Angeles, January 1985) by Annita K. Smith (28 pages)
  • Nightmare (Arlington, Fall 1985) by Annita K. Smith (22 pages)
  • A Piece of Luck (San Diego, April 1987) by Maura I. Kelly (3 pages)
  • Always Somethin' There to Remind Me (Aspen, April 1987) by Elaine M. Gustainis (14 pages)
  • We Gather Together (Rockville, November 1990) by Jill Hargan (19 pages)
  • The Letter (Glorieta, Spring 1994) by Maura I. Kelly and Jill Hargan (4 pages)
  • Mistaken Steele Los Angeles, Summer 2000) by Jill Hargan (28 pages)
  • Apocryphal Cousin Stories: Michaels by Moonlight (Santa Monica, Somewhere Near the Pier, Summer, Later that Same Day, 1993) by Robin Cloward (7 pages)
  • Glossary (Anaheim, 1993) by Elaine M. Gustainis


Issue 3

cover of issue #3, Joy Riddle

Relativity 3 was published in 1994 and contains 300 pages. Fandoms include REMINGTON STEELE, WKRP IN CINCINNATI, SCARECROW & MRS KING, The Real Ghostbusters, and EQUALIZER.

The cover art is by Joy Riddle. Other art is by Robin Cloward, Brenda Wagner, Joy Riddle, Annita K. Smith, and Mariann Howarth.

  • Twenty Minutes of Apology from Jill
  • Twenty More Minutes of Apology from Elaine
  • Reunion II: Get Me to the Church on Time (Santa Fe, Summer 1985) by Jill Hargan (42 pages)
  • Das Deutsch Scarecrow Cuckoo (Cologne, Germany, Spring 1976) by Marianne Evensen (28 pages)
  • Dreams End (Houston, Summer 1977) by Jill Hargan (9 pages)
  • Made of Steele (Los Angeles, Winter 1985) by Annita K. Smith (34 pages)
  • Home for Christmas: Steele Style (Los Angeles, Christmas 1985) by Annita K. Smith (3 pages)
  • Steele Worker on the Line (Denver, Spring 1986) by Pat Gonzales (41 pages)
  • Wrong Assumptions (Washington, D.C., Fall 1986) by Becky Condra (11 pages)
  • Moving Day (Rockville, Spring 1987) by Becky Condra (3 pages)
  • Echoes of the Past (Rockville/Glorieta, Spring 1995) by Brenda Wagner (6 pages)
  • A Time for Lia (Los Angeles, Spring 1995) by Brenda Wagner (13 pages)
  • Birthright (Boston/Glorieta, SUmer 1995) by Jill Hargan (27 pages)
  • Bay City Baby Blues (Bay City, March 1996) by Maura I. Kelly (14 pages)
  • Home is Where the Heart Is (Glorieta, Summer 1998) by Mariann Howarth (16 pages)
  • Downtime (Santa Fe, Summer 1999) by Annita K. Smith (3 pages)
  • Murphy and the Brain (Washington, D.C., Spring 2000) by Sharon Dickerson (17 pages)
  • Apocryphal Cousin Stories - Just Say No, or Me - Owww? (Glorieta/Greenwich Village, Summer 1956, 57 & 87) by Eileen Roy (2 pages)
  • Moondance (Santa Monica, Summer 1993) by Robin Cloward (The Real Ghostbusters) (10 pages)
  • Politically Correct (Washington, D.C., Fall 1995 & Spring 2295) story by Mark "Abdul" Torres (7 pages)
  • Glossary By Elaine M. Gustainis

Issue 4

cover of issue #4, Kate Nuernberg
WKRP art from issue #4, MJRiddle

Relativity 4 was published in 1995 and contains 311 pages.

  • Twenty Minutes of Apology from Jill (i)
  • Twenty more minutes of apology from Elaine (ii)
  • Reunion IV: Lost, but Steele found by Jill Hargan, art by Peggy Spalding (multifandom) (55 pages)
  • All Snug in their Beds by Annita K. Smith (multifandom) ( 7 pages)
  • Passing the Torch by Jill Hargan (Remington Steele/Scarecrow and Mrs. King) (5 pages)
  • Ho Ho Ho, Boy!! by Annita K. Smith (Quantum Leap) (5 pages)
  • Too Little, Too Late by Jill Hargan, art by Mariann Howarth & Cathy L. (Remington Steele/Scarecrow and Mrs. King) (13 pages)
  • Meeting in the Middle by Becky Condra, artwork by Mariann Howarth & Cathy L. (Scarecrow and Mrs. King) (13 pages)
  • Legacy Story by Jill Hargan, art by Cathy L. (Scarecrow and Mrs. King) (5 pages)
  • A New Steele in the Family by Sharon Dickerson (Remington Steele) (7 pages)
  • So Long, Farewell – 111 by Jill Hargan, art by Mariann Howarth (WKRP) (5 pages)
  • Family by Annita K. Smith & Jill Hargan, art by Annita K. Smith & Joy Riddle (Quantum Leap/WKRP/Remington Steele) (30 pages)
  • Steele Like Old Times by Maura I. Kelly, artwork: Mike Cole & Joy Riddle (Remington Steele/Hat Squad/Another World) (18 pages)
  • A Time to Heal (Annapolis, November 1998) by Jill Hargan, artwork Cathy L. (Scarecrow and Mrs. King) (12 pages)
  • Photographs and Memories by Annita K. Smith (Quantum Leap) (10 pages)
  • You’re Steele My Little Girl by Steve Kelley (Remington Steele) (23 pages)
  • Letting Go by Becky Condra, artwork by Cathy L. (Scarecrow and Mrs. King) (3 pages)
  • Solomon’s Wisdom by Pat Gonzales (Remington Steele) (7 pages)
  • Apocryphal Cousin Stories
  • Blue Moon (Los Angeles, 1993) by Robin Cloward (Totally Made-Up Cousins) (10 pages)
  • By the Light of the Moon by Elaine Gustainis, art by Peggy Spalding (Lois and Clark/multifandom) (30 pages)
  • The Wolf Claw Medallion Mystery by Gina Martin & Maura I Kelly, art by Mariann Howarth & Annita K. Smith (X-Files/multifandom) (18 pages)
  • Reunion CCCXII by Mark Torres (multifandom) (3 pages)
  • A Brief History of the Michaels Family –
  • Uncle Jake’s Eulogy Contest –
  • Glossary –
  • Family Tree Appendix I
  • Cast of Characters Appendix II
  • Timeline Appendix III


Issue 5

cover of issue #5, Annita K. Smith

Relativity 5 was published in 1996 and contains 317 pages,

It has cover art by Annita K. Smith.

The interior art is by Brenda Wagner, Peggy Spalding, Joy Riddle, and Annita K. Smith.

  • Twenty Minutes of Apology from Jill
  • Twenty More Minutes of Apology from Elaine
  • Hazards of the Job (Virginia Wilderness - Spring 1864) by Gina Martin (North & South/Wild Wild West) (6 pages)
  • Choice of the Heart (San Diego, March 1948) by Jill Hargan (5 pages)
  • For What It's Worth Glorieta, April 1965) by Gina Martin (21 pages) (Man from U.N.C.L.E.)
  • Blowin' in the Wind (South Viet Nam, May 1965) by Maura I. Kelly & Gina Martin (Equalizer/Tour of Duty/Man from U.N.C.L.E.) (15 pages)
  • The Best Laid Plans (Glorieta, June 1967) by Jill Hargan (12 pages)
  • Memorial (Bel Air, May 1970) by Maura I. Kelly (Rags to Riches) (4 pages)
  • Nephew (Various Locations, September 1984) by Diane Echelbarger (many fandoms) (64 pages)
  • Loose Ends (San Francisco, December 1984) by Diane Echelbarger (many fandoms) (7 pages)
  • The First Time Glorieta, July 1985) by Maura I. Kelly
  • Circle of Life (Santa Clarita, February 1986) by Maura I. Kelly (many fandoms) (3 pages)
  • The "I Don't Want To Spoil the Party" Affair (Bel Air, December 1986) by Gina Martin (8 pages) (Man from U.N.C.L.E.)
  • An Announcement (Arlington/Glorieta, June 1987) by Becky Condra (Scarecrow & Mrs. King) (23 pages)
  • And the Results Are... (Arlington, September 1988) by Becky Condra (Scarecrow & Mrs. King)(23 pages)
  • The Watch (New York, September 1990) by Maura I. Kelly (EQUALIZER) (17 pages)
  • Shake, Rattle, and Steele (Los Angeles, January 1994) by Jill Hargan (Remington Steele) (8 pages)
  • Odd Man Out (Glorieta, July 1995) by Diane Echelbarger (Hat Squad) (3 pages)
  • Steele Accountable (Los Angeles, May 1997) by Jill Hargan (Remington Steele) (31 pages)
  • Taps (Annapolis, March 2005) by Jill Hargan (Scarecrow & Mrs. King) (12 pages)
  • One of the Family (Normandy, France, June 1944 - Arlington, Spring 1987) by Tammy Parnell (Scarecrow & Mrs. King/Wonder Woman/multi-fandom) (12 pages)
  • TO THE STARS (San Diego, April 1995) by Elaine Gustainis (Lois & Clark/Salvage One) (16 pages)
  • The Ghost of Jacob Marley Michaels (Various Locations, October-December, 1995) by Annita K. Smith (The Real Ghostbusters) (15 pages)
  • Reality Check (Santa Fe, November 1995) by Annita K. Smith
  • Erorrs & Omisions by Jill Hargan
  • Glossary by Elaine M. Gustainis

Issue 6

cover of issue #6, Peggy Spalding

Relativity 6 was published in 1997 and contains 188 pages. The art is by Peggy Spalding and Joy Riddle.

  • Twenty Minutes of Apology from Jill
  • Twenty More Minutes of Apology from Elaine
  • Reunion V: New Beginnings (Glorieta, July 1988) by Jill Hargan (15 pages)
  • Caught in the Crossfire (Glorieta, December 1964) by Jill Hargan (Rags to Riches) (4 pages)
  • Second Chances (Washington, D.C., February 1985) by Jill Hargan (Scarecrow & Mrs. King) (6 pages)
  • It's Not Steeling, It's Borrowing (Los Angeles, June 1990) by Pat Gonzales (Remington Steele) (30 pages)
  • Unspoken Sacrifices (Cincinnati, November 1990) by Jill Hargan (WKRP in Cincinnati) (10 pages)
  • Weekend Getaway (Rockville/Pinetop, Fall 1994) by Erin Cady (Scarecrow & Mrs. King)(10 pages)
  • Brothers (Albuquerque, July 1995) by Jo Seaver (Hat Squad/Rat Patrol) (7 pages)
  • The Homecoming (Boston, July 1995) by Jo Seaver (Hat Squad) (2 pages)
  • Reversal of Fate (Bay City, August 1996) by Maura I. Kelly (Quantum Leap/Another World) (9 pages)
  • The Anniversary (Rockville, February 1997) by Erin Cady (Scarecrow & Mrs. King) (6 pages)
  • Watching and Waiting (Rockville, May 2006) by Becky Condra (Scarecrow & Mrs. King) (2 pages)
  • Merry Christmas, Brian (Los Angeles/Denver, December 2010) by Steve Kelley (Remington Steele) (7 pages)
  • Apocryphal Cousin Stories - The Sign of the Wolf Claw (Los Angeles, October 1996) by Maura I. Kelly & Gina Martin (She Wolf of London/X-Files/Something's Out There/PROFILER) (17 pages)
  • Mystery at Neewatoree Falls (Neewatoree Falls, April 1997) by Elaine Gustainis (Lois & Clark/Salvage One) (14 pages)
  • Distant Connections (Delta Quadrant, Stardate 2423) by Annita K. Smith (Star Trek: Voyager) (16 pages)
  • The Fate of the Wolf Claw (Delta Quadrant, Stardate 2423) by Gina Martin & Maura I. Kelly
  • Tag (Delta Quadrant, Stardate 2423) by Gina Martin (Star Trek: Voyager) (2 pages)
  • Reunion... Not! (The Year: 2260) by Mark Torres (Babylon 5) (5 pages)
  • Glossary, Family Tree, Cast Of Characters, Timeline by Elaine M. Gustainis (16 pages)

Issue 7

cover of issue #7, Mariann Howarth

Relativity 7 published in 1998, contains 145 pages, and has cover art by Mariann Howarth.

  • Twenty Minutes of Apology from Jill
  • Twenty More Minutes of Apology from Elaine
  • The Eagle Has Landed (Glorieta, July 1969) by Jill Hargan (Mixed) (8 pages)
  • Advance to Steele (Los Angeles, June 1986) by Jill Hargan, Maura I. Kelly & Elaine Gustainis (Remington Steele) (24 pages)
  • The Power of Love (Washington, D.C., September 1986) by Joanne Alper (Scarecrow & Mrs. King) (21 pages)
  • Panic in the Skies (Albuquerque/Denver, August 1991) by Erin Cady (Scarecrow & Mrs. King)(14 pages)
  • Amber Waves of Grain (Hutchinson, Summer 1998) by Elaine Gustainis (multi-fandom) (18 pages)
  • Steele Mixing Business with Pleasure (Los Angeles, September 2020) by Maura I. Kelly (Remington Steele) (7 pages)
  • Apocryphal Cousins Stories: The Play's the Thing (Glorieta, July 1991) by Sheila Paulson (12 pages) (The Real Ghostbusters)
  • The Wolf Claw Medallion Interlude (Sunnydale, February 1998) by Gina Martin & Maura I. Kelly (She Wolf of London/Buffy: The Vampire Slayer) (20 pages)
  • GLOSSARY by Elaine M. Gustainis


Issue 8

cover of issue #8

Relativity 8 - Spring 1999

  • Twenty Minutes of Apology from Jill
  • Twenty More Minutes of Apology from Elaine
  • Reunion VI: Murphy's Law (Denver/Glorieta, July 1989) by Jill Hargan & Elaine Gustainis
  • The Neighborhood (Arlington, 1984-1987) by Cathy L.
  • Messages (Washington, D.C., September 1984) by Cathy L.
  • The Assignment (Washington, D.C., March 1985) by Cathy L.
  • Dinner and a Very Special Bottle of Wine (Washington, D.C., September 1986) by Jane North
  • The Necklace(Washington, D.C., October 1986) by Cathy L.
  • Nightcrawler Scene Fillers (Washington, D.C., October 1986) by Cathy L.
  • Birthday (Washington, D.C., February 1987) by Bridget Frawley
  • The Accident Arlington, March 1988) by Erin Cady
  • Empty Rooms (Rockville, June 1989) by Cathy L.
  • Quarantine (Rockville, April 1996) by Jill Hargan & Elaine M. Gustainis
  • I Steele Don't Like You (Los Angeles/Mammoth, January 1997) by Maura I. Kelly
  • Apocryphal Cousins Series: The Wolf Claw Medallion Interlude II (Sunnydale, April 1999) by Maura I. Kelly & Gina Martin
  • Time Don't Run Out on Me ( North Atlantic, April 1912) by Elaine M. Gustainis
  • Glossary by Elaine M. Gustainis


Issue 9

cover of issue #9

Relativity 9 - Spring 2000

  • Twenty Minutes of Apology from Jill
  • Twenty More Minutes of Apology from Elaine
  • Cleveland Rocks (Washington, D.C., Cincinnati, May 1980) by Elaine M. Gustainis
  • Linguistics 101 (Egypt, July 1980) by Elaine M. Gustainis
  • Emily and Mrs. King (Washington, D.C., August 1983) by Ann Mer
  • All Fall Down (Iraq, Germany, June 1986) by Cathy L.
  • Rebuttal I to Reunion VI: What Happened to Lee? (Glorieta, July 1989) by Cathy L.
  • Rebuttal II to Reunion VI: Hey, What About Jenny (Glorieta, July 1989) by Erin Cady
  • Michael's Edition (Chicago, March 1999) by Erin Cady & Elaine M. Gustainis
  • Apocryphal Cousin Stories - Action Zero (Somewhere, Does it Really Matter?) by Mark Torres
  • Glossary by Elaine M. Gustainis


Issue 10

Relativity 10 was published in 2002 and has a cover by Cathy L.

  • Twenty Minutes of Apology from Jill
  • Twenty More Minutes of Apology from Elaine
  • Reunion VI: Flying is Still the Safest Way to Travel (Nageezi, July 1990) by Elaine M. Gustainis & Jill Hargan
  • Crossroads (Glorieta/Washington, D.C., September 1954) by Jill Hargan
  • Haircut (Glorieta, July 1960), by Jill Hargan
  • The Empty Hours (Los Angeles, February 1987) by K. Hanna Korossy
  • Steele Secrets (Los Angeles/Rockville, October 1990) by Christina Getrost. Story Idea by Cathy L.
  • Michael's Peak (Dante's Peak, July 1998) by Elaine M. Gustainis
  • Steele on Target (Anaheim, October 2001) by Marianne Evensen
  • Apocryphal Cousin Stories
  • Round Robin Cousins (Glorieta, Spring 1990) by All of Us
  • A Walk on the Moon (San Diego/The Moon, Spring 1997) by Mary F. Wardell