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ommentator MAUREEN CORRIGAN reviews two new collections of essays. "Criminal Convictions" by Nicholas Freeling (David R. Godine) and "Skin: Talking about Sex, Class and Literature" by Dorothy Allison (Firebrand Books).

Commentator MAUREEN CORRIGAN reviews "You Can''t be Neutral on a Moving Train," by Howard Zinn (Beacon).

Commentator Maureen Corrigan reviews "Bucket Nut" (Doubleday), a new crime novel by Liza Cody.

Detective writer MICKEY SPILLANE. One of the world's most popular writers of the hard-boiled private investigator genre. His most famous character is Mike Hammer. In 1989, SPILLANE wrote his first Mike Hammer story in 19 years. SPILLANE's latest book is called "Big Kill." Last year his book "My Gun is Quick" (Chivers North America), first published in 1950, was reprinted. (REBROADCAST FROM 11/22/89)Veteran crime novelist LAWRENCE BLOCK. He's written ten novels staring Manhattan private eye Matt Scudder. His latest is called "The Devil Knows Your Dead" (William Morrow). (REBROADCAST FROM 3/

2: Author DORIS GRUMBACH has written a second memoir, which picks up where her first, "Coming into the End Zone," left off. "Extra Innings: A Memoir" (W.W. Norton) begins with her feelings about the release of the first memoir, and chronicles her life in Maine, her travels, and coming to terms with mortality. GRUMBACH is a book reviewer for National Public Radio, and was literary editor for "The New Republic."

Founder of the anti-abortion group, "Operation Rescue," RANDALL TERRY. Last week his group tried to stop abortions by blocking access to clinics in seven cities across the United States, including Philadelphia. TERRY also has a new book, "Why does a nice guy like me keep getting thrown in jail?" (Huntington House Pub., Lafayette, LA; Resistance Press, Windsor, N.Y.

2: Biographer ANDREW GOWERS. He's co-written (with Tony Walker) a new biography of Yasser Arafat, "Behind the Myth: Yasser Arafat and the Palestinian Revolution." (Olive Branch Press). The book explores Arafat's nearly 40 years as a Palestinian activist. GOWERS and his co-author spent hundreds of hours interviewing PLO officials, including Arafat, as well as American, Arab and European officials. GOWERS is a Features Editor of the Financial Times and was the paper's Middle East Editor. He comments frequently on the Middle East for British radio and TV. A review of the book in the Wall Street Journal says, the authors "trace his ascent with skill and dispassion; if you want to understand Mr. Arafat, they tell the story."

Author and former British prisoner, Belfast-born GERRY (pronounced "Jerry") CONLON. In his memoir, "In the Name of the Father," he tells the story of his wrongful conviction and fifteen-year imprisonment by the British Governement for the 1974 terrorist bombings of two pubs near London. He was in prison with his father, Giuseppe, who was also falsely convicted as a co-conspiritor in the bombings

Singer, Songwriter, guitarist FREEDY JOHNSTON. (yes, it's "Freedy") He has five albums to his credit. His latest album is called "This Perfect World." His previous albums have garnered him much acclaim among music critics. One critic wrote, "the strongest album by a new male singer-songwriter in at least a decade." What's he sound like? His songs have been described as "post-punk honky-tonk. . . performed by a lonely, heartbroken wiseass." (Rebroadcast. Originally aired 6/

2: ROB NILSSON is a film maker and founder of the Tenderloin Action Group in San Francisco. NILSSON works with "drifters and dreamers who shared the same conundrums of heart and head that confront us all." He works with people living on the streets. They have a grass-roots theatre group and are putting together a film, "Chalk," a pool-hall drama, with material from the lives of the actors themselves. NILSSON began the project as a way to alleviate his own feelings concerning his younger brother who lives on the streets.

Critic Maureen Corrigan reviews Jacqueline Deval''s new book, "Reckless Appetites" (Ecco).

From 1953 until 1989 HELEN SUZMAN served as an Opposition Member of the South African Parliament. SUZMAN was a pioneering political leader in the fight against apartied and anti-semitism. For thirteen years she was the sole representative in the Parliament to reject race discrimination. In her book, "In No Certain Terms: A South African Memoir" (Knopf), she explains how she used her status to gain access to places out of bounds to the general public--prisons, black townships and "resettlement areas"--and how she came to know Nelson Mandella and other political prisoners.