The X-Files FAQ: All That's Left to Know About Global Conspiracy, Aliens, Lazarus Species, and Monsters of the Week - Softcover

Muir, John Kenneth

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1480369748 ISBN 13: 9781480369740

Publisher: Applause, 2015

Synopsis

The X-Files FAQ explores Chris Carter's popular 1990s science-fiction TV series, which aired on Fox for nine seasons and inspired spin-offs, including feature films, TV shows, toys, novels, and comic books. The book explores the series in terms of its historical context and analyzes how many of the episodes tackle the events of their time: the Clinton era. The X-Files FAQ also tallies the episodes that are based on true stories, selects touchstone moments from the almost decade-long run, and organizes the series by its fantastic subject matter – from serial killers to aliens, from prehistoric menaces to ethnic and religious-based horrors. In addition, the book recalls the TV antecedents (Kolchak: The Night Stalker) and descendants (Fringe) of The X-Files, examines the two feature films, and investigates Chris Carter's other creations, including Millennium, The Lone Gunmen, Harsh Realm, and The After. Featuring numerous stills and the show's most prominent writers and directors, The X-Files FAQ allows readers to relive the “Mytharc” conspiracy and the unforgettable monsters of the week – from the Fluke Man to the Peacocks.

About this title

About the Author:

John Kenneth Muir (Charlotte, NC) is the author of 25 reference books, including Horror Films of the 1970s and Horror Films FAQ. John's blog, Reflections on Cult Movies and Classic TV, was selected as one of the Internet's “100 Top Film Study” sites in 2010., In 2009, John appeared in the documentary Nightmares in Red, White and Blue with John Carpenter and Joe Dante. Muir is a communications and journalism teacher at South Piedmont Community College.

Review:

''If an overview of the series and an exploration of its core and recurring themes is what you're after, then look no further than this well-written and well-researched offering.'' - Entertainment Focus

With The X-Files FAQ, John Kenneth Muir presents us with a well-written . . . look back at our favorite show. The book covers all nine seasons and two movies, going so far as to delve into precursors, spin-offs, and homages that would later be produced. The X-Files FAQ: All That's Left to Know About Global Conspiracy, Aliens, Lazarus Species, and Monsters of the Week is a result of either painstaking research, or abiding love. I suspect it's a combination of the two. . . [T]his is a solid guide to The X-Files and would make a great addition to any Phile's bookshelves. --XFiles News

John Kenneth Muir, who also penned 2013's Horror Films FAQ for Applause's ongoing pop-culture line of guides, has the unenviable job of distilling a decade-plus of content into a single trade paperback, yet rises to the challenge by refusing to do what the average reader might expect: give an episode guide. Although Muir does tackle many episodes, he tends to do so in thematic groupings while exploring what made The X-Files click (and sometimes not). Later chapters tackle the guest stars, the two movies, the official spin-offs, the countless knock-offs and, yep, even the porn parodies. The truth is in here. --Bookgasm

''The X-Files FAQ: All That's Left to Know About Global Conspiracy, Aliens, Lazarus Species, and Monsters of the Week delivers on its title. This book tackles everything, from the political climate that set the stage for Chris Carter's inspiration to Fox Mulder and Dana Scully action figure sets still available for diehard fans. Muir chronicles every season, pulling out the important details and episodes and deconstructing the ''Mytharc'' as it was slowly revealed over the nine years The X-Files was on the air.'' - Horror Talk

''From a season-by-season breakdown of major storylines, recurring themes, and minor (but still key) moments in the show's evolution, [The X-Files FAQ] takes new readers into the world, unlocking the show's secrets for them, while offering a thoughtful trip down memory lane for the diehard fans who already know so much of this by heart.'' --Manhattan Book Review

About this edition

• Publisher: Applause
• Publication date: 2015
• ISBN 10: 1480369748
• ISBN 13: 9781480369740
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 368