# New game: Dead Guy in the Envelope **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 14, 2006, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-game-dead-guy-in-the-envelope/372749 "2006-09-14T20:47:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 9
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2006, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-game-dead-guy-in-the-envelope/372749/161 "2006-09-16T21:09:04Z")
Urk. Okay, a random guess: Alan Adler ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2006, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-game-dead-guy-in-the-envelope/372749/162 "2006-09-16T21:33:36Z")
I also have to say, dayum. Those science fiction writers live a long freaking time. My husband suggested a couple of names of oldtimers, and they are all still alive. One was 98 years old. It’s sad when you look someone up and are disappointed to find that they are still alive. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2006, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-game-dead-guy-in-the-envelope/372749/163 "2006-09-16T22:25:18Z")
[QUOTE=jsgoddess] Urk. Okay, a random guess: Alan Adler [/QUOTE] No. ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2006, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-game-dead-guy-in-the-envelope/372749/164 "2006-09-17T00:46:08Z")
Is he in the Science Fiction Hall of [Fame](http://www.sfhomeworld.org/exhibits/homeworld/scifi_hof.asp) ? ---
**Author:** ![Ignatz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/3be4f8/32.png) [@Ignatz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ignatz)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2006, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-game-dead-guy-in-the-envelope/372749/165 "2006-09-17T17:17:27Z")
Did he write _God Bless You, Mr. Rosewater_? I read that in an English-Fiction course (one novel-per week, with a test on mundane events and phrases), (AARGH) and thought that the frontispiece (?) of which had one of the best lines in English Lit. Its main character, Eliot Rosewater, President of the Rosewater Foundation, says, “The Second World War was over–and there I was at high noon, crossing Times Square with a Purple Heart on.” Og Bless You, Kurt V. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2006, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-game-dead-guy-in-the-envelope/372749/166 "2006-09-17T20:11:19Z")
[QUOTE=jsgoddess] Is he in the Science Fiction Hall of [Fame](http://www.sfhomeworld.org/exhibits/homeworld/scifi_hof.asp) ? [/QUOTE] No, to my personal surprise. > [@Ignatz](#): > > Did he write God Bless You, Mr. Rosewater? No. ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2006, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-game-dead-guy-in-the-envelope/372749/167 "2006-09-17T21:27:16Z")
[QUOTE=Bryan Ekers] No, to my personal surprise. [/QUOTE] Damn. I think I am officially stumped. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2006, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-game-dead-guy-in-the-envelope/372749/168 "2006-09-17T21:37:37Z")
Riduculously easy hint: his name is most famously linked to another Jewish man, who also died 10 to 20 years ago, also older than 65 years of age at the time. ---
**Author:** ![Scruloose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e68b1a/32.png) [@Scruloose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scruloose)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2006, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-game-dead-guy-in-the-envelope/372749/169 "2006-09-17T21:57:57Z")
Robert Bloch? ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2006, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-game-dead-guy-in-the-envelope/372749/170 "2006-09-17T22:05:22Z")
[QUOTE=Scruloose] Robert Bloch? [/QUOTE] No, but that’s a good guess. ---
**Author:** ![Sternvogel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bc79bd/32.png) [@Sternvogel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sternvogel)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2006, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-game-dead-guy-in-the-envelope/372749/171 "2006-09-17T22:13:00Z")
Was this Dead Guy in the Envelope gay? ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2006, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-game-dead-guy-in-the-envelope/372749/172 "2006-09-17T22:37:01Z")
[QUOTE=Sternvogel] Was this Dead Guy in the Envelope gay? [/QUOTE] Unless he was very deeply closeted, no. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2006, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-game-dead-guy-in-the-envelope/372749/173 "2006-09-18T17:17:50Z")
Was he better known for his short stories or novels? ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Rosewater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/898d66/32.png) [@Mr.Rosewater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Rosewater)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2006, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-game-dead-guy-in-the-envelope/372749/174 "2006-09-18T17:25:26Z")
[QUOTE=Ignatz] Did he write _God Bless You, Mr. Rosewater_? I read that in an English-Fiction course (one novel-per week, with a test on mundane events and phrases), (AARGH) and thought that the frontispiece (?) of which had one of the best lines in English Lit. Its main character, Eliot Rosewater, President of the Rosewater Foundation, says, “The Second World War was over–and there I was at high noon, crossing Times Square with a Purple Heart on.” Og Bless You, Kurt V. [/QUOTE] Kurt Vonnegut is not dead yet. Certainly not dead 10-20 years ago. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2006, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-game-dead-guy-in-the-envelope/372749/175 "2006-09-18T19:50:24Z")
[QUOTE=Elendil’s Heir] Was he better known for his short stories or novels? [/QUOTE] That’s not a “yes or no” question. ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2006, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-game-dead-guy-in-the-envelope/372749/176 "2006-09-19T00:49:33Z")
Just tell us already… ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2006, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-game-dead-guy-in-the-envelope/372749/177 "2006-09-19T18:10:46Z")
=Sigh= :rolleyes: OK, then. Was he best known for his short stories? ---
**Author:** ![N9IWP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/n9iwp/32/3154_2.png) [@N9IWP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/N9IWP)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2006, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-game-dead-guy-in-the-envelope/372749/178 "2006-09-19T20:05:59Z")
Another tack: Does his last name begin with the letter A though M (inclusive)? Brian ---
**Author:** ![Rebo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rebo/32/13005_2.png) [@Rebo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rebo)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2006, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-game-dead-guy-in-the-envelope/372749/179 "2006-09-20T02:03:57Z")
To the next player if we ever finish this, PLEASE don’t pick someone so (apparently) obscure! ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2006, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-game-dead-guy-in-the-envelope/372749/180 "2006-09-20T19:16:41Z")
[QUOTE=Elendil’s Heir] =Sigh= :rolleyes: OK, then. Was he best known for his short stories? [/QUOTE] No. > [@N9IWP](#): > > Does his last name begin with the letter A though M (inclusive)? No. > [@Dolores Reborn](#): > > PLEASE don’t pick someone so (apparently) obscure! His name would be instantly familiar to, I’m sure, most of the regulars in Café Society. The characters he created are likely familiar to _all_ SDMB members. Last hint, and if it’s not solved (or at least leaning in that direction) by the end of Wednesday, I’ll reveal the answer: his associate, mentioned in post #168, was Canadian. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-game-dead-guy-in-the-envelope/372749.md?page=8) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-game-dead-guy-in-the-envelope/372749.md?page=10)