(urth) Short story 2: The Case of the Vanishing ghost

[Gerry Quinn]

From: Marc Aramini 


> Also, one more bit of word play I neglected to mention.  The introductory material says 
> 
> "The characters of this mystery have become so familiar to the reader that I shall 
> neglect to add the last formalized touch of naming the principal ones. Instead, 
> they shall be referred to by the names every reader uses in his own mind. To call 
> The Great Detective 'Philo Queen'for example, would be a needless waste of time."
> 
 > The name "Philo Queen" seems to be a pun on Descartes position that Philosophy
> is the queen of philosophy and also to evoke the sexuality of the Shu Fli Pi ghost 
> (shoofly pie and filo, common southern desserts).  I am fairly confident there is
> no intentional parallel with Rex Stout (king-queen wordplay) at this point. 
I haven’t read the story in question, but I will note that two classic mystery series had detectives named, respectively, Philo Vance and Ellery Queen.
I would guess that the reference is to these names, plus, as you say, the adage that “philosophy is the queen of science”.
- Gerry Quinn
 
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