Author Biography: barabaskid

Questions based on a collection of characters who share an initial with the surname of the author who created them. Shakespeare and Shylock, Ayn Rand and Hank Rearden; let's list like letters!

Combine basic arithmetic and (hopefully) common knowledge and you get "Arithmetricky". An example: the number of US states (50) minus the numerical husband of Anne Boleyn (Henry the 8th) = 42. A pen and paper may come in handy; calculators permitted.