For generations, the name "Ellery Queen" has been synonymous with the finest in mystery fiction. When cousins Frederic Dannay (1905-1982) and Manfred Lee (1905-1971) created the iconic character and byline in 1929, they had no idea how influential he (and they) would become. Books, movies, television programs, and radio shows have firmly rooted their characters in the public consciousness. To this day, their work remains among the best examples of "fair play" mystery fiction. Their fans -- including such luminaries as Stephen King, Agatha Christie, and Anthony Boucher -- are legion.

This volume assembles 16 stories by a wide variety of authors, all written (sometimes tongue-in-cheek) as homages to, and parodies and pastiches of, the character -- and writing team -- known as "Ellery Queen."

Included are:

INTRODUCTION: Elementary Questions, by Josh Pachter and Dale C. Andrews
INTRODUCTION: Sorely Missed Adventures, by Richard Dannay
INTRODUCTION: The Sincerest Form of Flattery, by Rand Lee
THE MYSTERY OF THE RED BALLOONS, by Thomas Narcejac
DYING MESSAGE, by Leyne Requel
THE GILBERT AND SULLIVAN CLUE, by Jon L. Breen
OPEN LETTER TO SURVIVORS, by Francis M. Nevins
THE REINDEER CLUE, by Edward D. Hoch
THE BOOK CASE, by Dale C. Andrews and Kurt Sercu
TEN MONTHS' BLUNDER, by J.N. Williamson
THE ENGLISH VILLAGE MYSTERY, by Arthur Porges
ELROY QUINN'S LAST CASE, by Dennis M. Dubin
THE NORWEGIAN APPLE MYSTERY, by James Holding
THE MAN WHO READ ELLERY QUEEN, by William Brittain
E.Q. GRIFFEN EARNS HIS NAME, by Josh Pachter
THE LAST CHECK, by Patricia McGerr
THE DEATH OF THE MALLORY QUEEN, by Lawrence Block
THE RANSOM OF EQMM #1, by Arthur Vidro
THE TEN-CENT MURDER, by Joseph Goodrich