NationStates Jolt Archive

Who is the greatest fictional detective?

the Hardy Boys :cool:

I'd say Sherlock Holmes. But he's quite an obvious one.

Who is the greatest fictional detective?

Zadig. After all, he was the first.

the Hardy Boys :cool:

The (Secret) Seven > The (Famous) Five > The Three (Investigators) > The Two (Hardy Boys)

Simple maths.

The three (Investigators) > the two (Hardy Boys)

Simple maths.
cant argue with the maths

Those meddling kids!!!

Hercule Poirot. :cool:

I'd say Sherlock Holmes. But he's quite an obvious one.

Nah: it can't be. Once you enter the Holmesian canon into the competition, then it is obvious that Holmes' smarter brother - Mycroft - has to get the gold hat.

Marlow, Judge Dee, and Holmes in that order for me (with a special mention for Mito Komon (http://www.e-budokai.com/chambara/mitokomon.htm)).

My vote goes to Sherlock Holmes. I think Doyle's creation is a superb detective that has been copied many times

My vote goes to Sherlock Holmes. I think Doyle's creation is a superb detective that has been copied many times

Yeah, but as I pointed out earlier, what about the fact that his brother is a better detective than Holmes is? Somewhat makes Sherlock an non-answer, no?

Maigret.

Why? Because his creator Georges Simenon not only wrote roughly 450 novels during his lifetime, he also slept with (at conservative estimates) 8,000 women. That's good enough for me.

Honestly I've never read the rest except Sherlock Holmes. :(

Inspector Gadget.

The kids from the mystery van, hands down... i mean they have the highest rate of mysteries solved (1 every week)

I think David Jason plays Jack frost brilliantly.

And Marlowe's early lead crumbles. Sigh.

EDIT: Really. If Faulkner writing a screenplay for Chandler doesn't sell you people, what is it gonna take?

Lazlo Woodbine, 4sets to each story, what more do you need?

or the only serious one i have actually read out side of Holmes:
Rebus

And Marlowe's early lead crumbles. Sigh.

EDIT: Really. If Faulkner writing a screenplay for Chandler doesn't sell you people, what is it gonna take?

Ah, come on now, much as I love The Big Sleep, how many times did you have to watch it before you worked out at least a guess at who killed whom? There is certainly a case to be made for not making things easy for the audience, but then there is also a case of going just too far with it all - although to be fair, the story goes that Faulkner even phoned up Chandler to ask who killed the Chauffer, and he didn't know either.

Ah, come on now, much as I love The Big Sleep, how many times did you have to watch it before you worked out who killed whom? There is certainly a case to be made for not making things easy for the audience, but then there is also a case of going just too far with it all.

No, I agree with that. Chandler was better without Faulkner's help. The movie tries to be too Hollywood while simultaneously being too Faulkner. Too tidy and too complicated at the same time.

On the other hand, they are supposed to be mysteries . . .

On the other hand, they are supposed to be mysteries . . .

Indeed. I think my favourite scene in the film is when Marlowe is investigating the bookshop (selling prOn, although we are never told this in the film) and walks into the bookshop across the road, has a drink and (presumably) shags the girl working there of whom nothing more is ever said. Genius.

Perhaps Mycroft was more intelligent than Sherlock, (indeed I believe he was, so I'm not disputing that point) but that doesn't change the fact that the question is asking for the best fictional detective, and Mycroft isn't a detective. He may occasionally be called upon for deductive aid by his brother, but he actually works in politics, and is far too lazy to actually go out and solve crimes like Sherlock.

Indeed. I think my favourite scene in the film is when Marlowe is investigating the bookshop (selling prOn, although we are never told this in the film) and walks into the bookshop across the road, has a drink and (presumably) shags the girl working there of whom nothing more is ever said. Genius.

What does he do? He pulls out a pint of bourbon, takes off the girl's glasses, says "But there's no such thing as a 1934 Ben Hur with an errata on page 162," and next thing you know we pan out to the rainy street. Man, that Marlowe knew how to work a stakeout.

I voted for Poirot, because he's Belgian, and he has a funny moustache.

Colombo (Columbo?)
Starsky
Hutch

It is impossible to call between Sam Spade and Phillip Marlow, Hammet and Chandler are two of my favorite authors. They are both great but the all time greatest fictional detective is still has to be Batman.

What does he do? He pulls out a pint of bourbon, takes off the girl's glasses, says "But there's no such thing as a 1934 Ben Hur with an errata on page 162," and next thing you know we pan out to the rainy street. Man, that Marlowe knew how to work a stakeout.

It does rather put Starsky and Hutch eating take away chicken in their car in the shade, doesn't it?

Speaking of Starsky and Hutch, was this post in order of greatness?

Colombo (Columbo?)
Starsky
Hutch

Cause man, Hutch is gonna be pissed.

William (Jack) Frost.

Barney Miller

Simon Greens Hawk and Fisher great reading!

Here are a few more to consider.

Simon, but not Simon.

The Fat Man, but not Jake.

Barney Fife.

I'm personally appalled that they weren't on the poll.

Absolutely Frost! He has the nose, the nose!
And yes, I agree, David Jason plays Frost superbly. Sometimes it seem like that film 'The Truman Show', with Frost being real and everyone else is acting!

Mikorlias of Imardeavia

Does Thomas Magnum from "Magnum P.I."qualify?

Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar (http://www.wayback.net/jd.htm)

Come on, how can you resist 'the man with the action packed expense account?'

Inspector Jacques Clouseau

i dnt kno i just wanted to pres the button :D

Inspector Jacques Clouseau

Damn it! I thought I would be the first to nominate him! (sulks in corner)

Thompson and Thomson.

Or however they spell their names.

Or Tintin.

C'mon. Everyone knows it's Encyclopedia Brown.

C'mon. Everyone knows it's Encyclopedia Brown.

:D

Thompson and Thompson! :p :D

Did anybody mention the Scooby gang yet?

I...I...dont beleive it.
YOU FORGOT DIRK GENTLY! I HATE YOU! YOU WILL BURN!
*runs off in search of a proper lynch mob*
Seriously...how could you forget Douglas Adams (second) best book series? Huh? You horrible person.

Wow - somebody out there knows Judge Dee! I was almost dissapointed.

Holmes and Poirot.