Is there any archive format that supports both efficient compression of many small entries and direct access to individual entries?

I am not aware of a canned solution for your problem, so you may need to write it yourself.

In general the built compression table is interspersed with compressed data refering to it.

I cant really gove you an answer,but what I can give you is a way to a solution, that is you have to find the anglde that you relate to or peaks your interest. A good paper is one that people get drawn into because it reaches them ln some way.As for me WW11 to me, I think of the holocaust and the effect it had on the survivors, their families and those who stood by and did nothing until it was too late.