While it would be impossible for one volume to reference every interesting piece of trivia in the world of mysteries (after all, that's what they make computers for), William DeAndrea has captured most of the key writers, character, movies, TV series, and books in this 1994 Edgar-winning volume. The alphabetical entries often include lengthy lists of books or movies and their publication/release dates--a bonus for completists looking for forgotten Nero Wolfe tales or classic noir films to rent. Some entries, like that for "The A-Team" are tongue-in-cheek: "characters used what critic Ric Meyers has called 'antineutron bullets'--they destroy property for miles around, but never harm a human being." As an added bonus, DeAndrea has included 11 extended essays on historically vital issues like dime novels, pulps, Sherlockiana, and even The Batman. The book closes with a listing of mystery bookstores, organizations and awards, magazines, and a glossary for those of us who forgot what an "Inverted Detective Story" or a "McGuffin" was.