M.A.S.H. FAQ: Everything Left to Know About the Best Care Anywhere (FAQ Series)

The television show M*A*S*H has resonated so deeply with generations of viewers that it’s easy to forget the movie version exists, let alone the novels that sparked the entire franchise. But Dale Sherman hasn’t forgotten, and in M*A*S*H FAQ, he chronicles every iteration of the series, from its inspiration during the Korean War to its aftermath (and AfterM*A*S*H) on pop culture.

How thorough is Sherman’s work? Well, you’ll be over two hundred pages in before the show becomes the topic of discussion. As Sherman explores the curious history of the novels (and how certain novels deviate from the creator’s original vision), he provides valuable backstory on the war itself (including MASH units and mobile hospitals), the author H. Richard Hornberger, and even a stage-play version of the story!

Unfortunately, Sherman’s hard work and due diligence is underminded by a number of clumsy misprints and mistakes (including misidentified episodes like “Captain Pierce and Mr. Hyde,” which should read “Dr. Pierce”), far more than I’d come to expect in the Applause FAQ series by this point.

That being said, M*A*S*H FAQ has to be considered the definitive guide to all things 4077.