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Kalel21
06/18/2009, 08:29
I'm not sure if this one will be easy or hard:

I'm thinking of a character from classic mystery fiction.


20 Q to figure out who it is.
Ignatz_Mouse
06/18/2009, 08:55
It is male?
Kalel21
06/18/2009, 08:57
It is male?

Yes.

1 down. 19 to go.
anonym0use
06/18/2009, 08:59
does the character predate 1900?
Kalel21
06/18/2009, 09:00
does the character predate 1900?

No.

2 down. 18 to go.
anonym0use
06/18/2009, 09:02
does the character predate 1950?
Kalel21
06/18/2009, 09:04
does the character predate 1950?

Yes.

3 down. 17 to go.
anonym0use
06/18/2009, 09:06
Is the character American?
Kalel21
06/18/2009, 09:07
Is the character American?

4 down. 16 to go.
anonym0use
06/18/2009, 09:11
Is the character American?4 down. 16 to go.

That is not an answer. :laugh:
Kalel21
06/18/2009, 09:13
That is not an answer. :laugh:

Sorry, I left out the kinda important part.

Yes, he's American.
Thawmus
06/18/2009, 10:17
Is the character under the age of 18?
Kalel21
06/18/2009, 10:21
Is the character under the age of 18?

No.

5 down. 15 to go.
Thawmus
06/18/2009, 10:27
No.

5 down. 15 to go.

Well there goes everyone I know. Have fun, kids!
anonym0use
06/18/2009, 10:28
Here's what we have:
American
Male
Over the age of 18
From 1900 - 1950.
Thawmus
06/18/2009, 10:28
Has this mystery fiction ever been translated into a play or musical?
Kalel21
06/18/2009, 10:30
Has this mystery fiction ever been translated into a play or musical?

No.

6 down. 14 to go.
Thawmus
06/18/2009, 10:42
No.

6 down. 14 to go.

Well, there goes everyone I know, have fun, kids!
wintremute
06/18/2009, 10:46
Is this character in law enforcement?
Kalel21
06/18/2009, 10:58
Is this character in law enforcement?

Not in an official government capacity, no.

7 down. 13 to go.
Captain Beyond
06/18/2009, 11:54
Is the character "Hard Boiled"?
wintremute
06/18/2009, 12:52
Does the character play Parcheesi on the third Sunday of every month.


Wait, don't answer that yet. I need to check my sources.
Kalel21
06/18/2009, 12:57
Is the character "Hard Boiled"?

No.

8 down. 12 to go.
Kalel21
06/18/2009, 13:54
Where'd everyone go? Did I stump you all so soon?


:laugh:
Thawmus
06/18/2009, 15:34
Is the character ever involved with a "Maltese" anything?
Captain Beyond
06/18/2009, 16:02
Is the character ever involved with a "Maltese" anything?
That guy's hard boiled.
Captain Beyond
06/18/2009, 17:00
Does the character use operatives?
Thawmus
06/18/2009, 21:53
That guy's hard boiled.

Well, there goes everyone I know, have fun, kids!

(I think for reals this time...)
Kalel21
06/19/2009, 08:52
Does the character use operatives?

Yes, he does.


9 down. 11 to go.
Captain Beyond
06/19/2009, 11:38
Is the character obese?
Kalel21
06/19/2009, 11:42
Is the character obese?

No.

10 down. 10 to go.
Ignatz_Mouse
06/19/2009, 12:15
Where'd everyone go? Did I stump you all so soon?


:laugh:

You've gone to my personal Vertigo/Wildstorm.
Kalel21
06/19/2009, 12:54
Should I just give the answer, or does anyone want to keep trying. (He really is a well-known character.)
Ignatz_Mouse
06/19/2009, 13:04
Should I just give the answer, or does anyone want to keep trying. (He really is a well-known character.)

I'm sure I will know the name, but I have zero capaity to narrow it down further.
Kalel21
06/19/2009, 13:37
Let's try this:

There are ten questions left. I will give ten clues, waiting a few minutes (at least) between each clue to give anyone a chance to guess.

What you know so far:

Male, American character
Not considered part of the hard-boiled genre
Created between 1900 and 1950.
Uses operatives.
Not obese.
Not officially in Law Enforcement.


CLUE #1 of 10: This character is a private detective.
Kalel21
06/19/2009, 13:43
CLUE #2 of 10: This character runs his own detective agency.
Captain Beyond
06/19/2009, 13:56
I was shooting for Nero Wolfe earlier but I guess he might not be considered American anyway and Archie's hard boiled so --- I'm gonna hazard a guess here and try Ellery Queen.
Kalel21
06/19/2009, 13:57
Nope. Ellery was a mystery writer, not a P.I. (Didn't you read that chapter in my book????? :laugh:)



CLUE #3 of 10: This character was created in prose fiction.
Captain Beyond
06/19/2009, 14:01
Nope. Ellery was a mystery writer, not a P.I. (Didn't you read that chapter in my book????? :laugh:)



CLUE #3 of 10: This character was created in prose fiction.
Yeah, I did but I forgot that part about him.

Did he ever have a radio show?
Kalel21
06/19/2009, 14:07
Yeah, I did but I forgot that part about him.

Did he ever have a radio show?

Yes, he did-- that counts as a clue.


CLUE #5 of 10: This character arguably became more famous in a medium other than prose fiction.
Captain Beyond
06/19/2009, 14:11
Rassafrassum! See now I've got to wait til my wife goes to work to dig your book out so she doesn't yell at me for making a mess.

Is he covered in your book?
Kalel21
06/19/2009, 14:13
Rassafrassum! See now I've got to wait til my wife goes to work to dig your book out so she doesn't yell at me for making a mess.

Is he covered in your book?

Yes.

CLUE #7 of 10: He's not the main character, but a supporting character.
Kalel21
06/19/2009, 14:23
CLUE #8 of 10: This character lives and works in Los Angeles.
Captain Beyond
06/19/2009, 14:26
I guess we can rule out Philo Vance:devious:.
Kalel21
06/19/2009, 14:28
CLUE #9 of 10: This character and his agency often work for a particular lawyer.
Ignatz_Mouse
06/19/2009, 14:29
This sounds like a Perry Mason supporting character-- but I don't know their names.
Kalel21
06/19/2009, 14:32
This sounds like a Perry Mason supporting character-- but I don't know their names.

CLUE #10 0f 10: This character is a Perry Mason supporting character whose name Ignatz Mouse does not know.
Captain Beyond
06/19/2009, 14:33
Are we talking about Paul Drake?
Kalel21
06/19/2009, 14:34
Yes, it is Paul Drake.
Captain Beyond
06/19/2009, 14:51
Ok, I'll try one of these. Here's your chance for revenge Kal.