Good resources for learning about Buddhist theology

[Sol]

Does anyone know of any good reference works for an ok-informed novice in the realm of comparative religion? I've been looking to better understand Buddhist thought and practice and understand a lot of the basic stuff (The life of the Buddha, 4 noble truths, the Eightfold Path) but I don't really understand all that much and I want to know more.

[Okay, maybe Mike Johnson is a competent parliamentarian.]

Damien Keown's Very Short Introduction is a good place to start because it has the advantage of lucidly explaining a bunch of Buddhist metaphysical and cosmological concepts that a lot of other Western sources elide.