Usually, unofficial concordances to sf tv series either delve deep into geekish detail (most tie-in material for the Star Trek franchise falls into this category) or overdose on fanboy (and fangirl) squee. This book is a bit different. It opens with a reasonably level-headed examination of how the 'Stargate SG-1' franchise moved from a mid-range film with a not very sympathetic main character to a syndicated tv series with a very personable cast, a healthy sense of its own ridiculousness and a premise which I found engaging and yet at the same time maddening (the biggest secret in world history is kept almost water-tight by an ever-increasing circle of people beyond the main players - yeah, right...)

There then follows a series of biographical pieces on the main cast members which does lapse into squee when it isn't rehashing PR releases. But then we reach the episode guides, and unlike most of these guides, which give a plot synopsis and pointers to key story arc elements (for those series with a story arc), Jo Storm instead looks at the themes and underlying ideas explored in each episode. (But just in case you thought we were going all intellectual here, each episode entry ends with a quote, often one of Richard Dean Anderson's one-liners.)

An examination of Stargate fandom is also included, though for those not familiar with any fandoms it will seem - well, alien.

The intellectual approach makes a pleasant change. The episode guide only covers Stargate SG-1 up to the end of season eight; seasons 9 & 10, the tv films, Stargate Atlantis or the slow-motion car crash that was Stargate: Universe are not covered. ( )