In 1993, Fox debuted a strange new television show called The X-Files. The show was an afterthought for the network, given little promotion, and shunted off to Friday nights. But The X-Files became one of Fox’s biggest hits, and the series went on to define the rest of the decade—and change the landscape of television in the process. In 2018, when it turns 25, The X-Files will have spawned more than 208 episodes, two movies, endless online discussions, and a massive international fanbase. When the show returned for its highly anticipated 10th season in January 2016, it was one of the most watched programs on Fox that year, with 16.10 million viewers tuning in to the premiere.

But what makes this show so beloved to both genre geeks and TV fans alike, and why has it had such a lasting appeal? In Monsters of the Week, TV critics Zack Handlenand Todd VanDerWerff will attempt to answer this question and more. The book will include reviews of every episode of the series, as well as reviews of both movies, revised and edited from the recaps the authors wrote for The A.V. Club, as well as original interview sidebars with some of the people who made the show what it was.

Like Mad Men Carousel and Breaking Bad 101, this critical companion will also include original black-and-white illustrations and a foreword, written by none other than showrunner and creator of the show, Chris Carter. This will be the book about The X-Files, the definitive guide whether you’re a lifelong viewer wanting to relive memories of watching the show as a kid, or a new fan uncovering the conspiracy for the first time.

Zack Handlen is a freelance writer whose work regularly appears online at the A.V. Club. He has also written for io9, Inverse, and the Toast and is the author of If You Like Monty Python. He lives in Lewiston, Maine.

Todd VanDerWerff is the critic-at-large for Voxand the first TV editor of the A.V. Club. His work has also appeared in the Los Angeles Times, Salon, and Grantland. He lives in Los Angeles.