It is a doorstop, a cornerstone, the foundation piece in a great wall of geekdom.
It is the Internet in convenient book form, shamelessly bidding to land on holiday gift lists.
It is pop-culture arcania, embiggened.
"Simpsons World: The Ultimate Episode Guide, Seasons 1-20" (It Books, $150) compiles facts about America's longest-running TV family with a vengeance: 1,200 pages and almost 9 pounds distilled from more than 8,000 minutes of creamy television goodness.
What's the name of the town recycling center on the enduring Fox series? Uriah's Heap. Who was Sideshow Bob's cellmate? Snake. What was the first blackboard gag? "I will not waste chalk."
The officially sanctioned "Simpsons World" is nearly as overwhelming as it is impressive. What's so dizzying is not just the small print and vibrant colors adorning each regular episode's two-page spread. It's the astonishing rush of detail and the realization that, yes, there are many people who will care.
Around and amid the episode listings (title, credits, air date, key points, guest voices, things you'd have to hit pause to catch), there are more: All of Homer's "D'oh!" utterances, explained. All the couch gags and blackboard gags. All the times Homer, in that salivating, always hungry tone, said, "Mmmm ... [something]."
And, joy of ultimate-fan joys, an index.
