Colonel William A. Phillips

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The NY Times had an obituary[1] on Hoch that mentioned Vanishing Velma who disappeared while on a Ferris wheel. Maybe somebody could summarize that plot -- with spoiler alerts, since it would be interesting to know how she disappeared.

The quote is:

"In his story “The Vanishing of Velma,” a woman disappears from a moving Ferris wheel. In “The Problem of the Candidate’s Cabin,” a murder takes place in a locked cabin containing only the lately departed and a caged chimpanzee." NY Times 1/24/2008

Peter from NYC —Preceding unsigned comment added by 68.173.18.151 (talk) 23:38, 27 January 2008 (UTC)[reply]

In "The Mummy from the Sea" story (1981), Simon Ark's publisher friend says he has known him for 25 years yet does not really believe Simon Ark is 2,000 years old. Every normal human being changes over 25 years. If Simon Ark still looked like he did when he first met him, then he is possibly immortal. If Simon Ark looks 25 years older, then he is a fantasist. I would think most if not all readers had decided Simon Ark was as old as he claimed to be so it would not have hurt for it to be proved in one of the stories.

In "The Unicorn's Daughter" (1981), it is said that Simon Ark would have passed for a vigorous seventy five (years old). In "The Witch of Park Avenue", it says "Simon lifted himself to his feet" (from a chair) and "Simon lumbered along after me". It appears that Simon Ark is feeling his age, mid-70's or older. There is also the point that Simon Ark is well enough off financially to spend his time travelling the world though he does not work for a living. One might ask how an immortal could get money (especially if he looked 75 years old) whereas a mere human being could have saved money from decades of work or some kind of inheritance, even from his parents. (80.31.144.16 (talk) 14:30, 17 August 2015 (UTC))[reply]

He does maybe four jobs a year in the 1960's and 1970's so is on $80,000 or more a year. He owns a small house and lives a very simple lifestyle, often sitting on the verandah drinking beer and watching the wage slaves go to work or come home. And he does not pay taxes and being a man about 40, he has no visible means of support. Which bothers no one.(5.8.186.99 (talk) 12:25, 30 July 2017 (UTC))[reply]