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

The X-Files is a cultural touchstone at this point, a show that represented the ’90s zeitgeist and tapped into our most primal fears, doubts, and feelings at the time, while instilling dual senses of mystery and a spirit of community with our fellow X-philes. The universe of Mulder, Scully, Skinner, Doggett, and Reyes was full of horrors and threats, but it was also seeded with magic, wonder, companionship, and the indomitable power of the truth.

The X-Files FAQ comes off a bit more fanboyish than some of the other FAQ entries in the Applause series — giving a pass to weaker episodes like “Detour, for instance” — but for the most part, this is a deeply pensive book about the strong themes, storytelling, and visual style that made The X-Files the larger-than-life pop culture influence it became over nine seasons of television.

From a season-by-season breakdown of major storylines, recurring themes, and minor (but still key) moments in the show’s evolution, the book 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.