Professor Augustus S. F. X. Van Dusen, Ph.D., LL.D., F.R.S., M.D., M.D.S. is a fictional character in a series of detective short stories and a novel by Jacques Futrelle, the best known being The Problem of Cell 13. In the stories, Professor Van Dusen solves a variety of different mysteries with his friend and companion, Hutchinson Hatch, reporter of a fictional newspaper called The Daily New Yorker. The professor is known as “The Thinking Machine”, solving problems by the remorseless application of logic. This nickname was given to him after his winning of a match against the fictional chess champion of the day, Tschaikowsky, in a demonstration to show the power of applying pure logic. He was able to win against the reigning champion, having only been taught the game the morning of the match. Many of his titles are actually honorary degrees awarded to him, serving only to amuse the universities and scientific institutions that crown him with those titles. Van Dusen’s catchphrases include, “Two and two always equal four,” “Nothing is impossible” and “All things that start must go somewhere.”
Alias Thinking Machine
Real Names/Alt Names Professor Augustus S. F. X. Van Dusen, Ph.D., LL.D., F.R.S., M.D., M.D.S.
First Appearance “The Problem of Cell 13” in Boston American (30 October to 5 November 1905)
First Publisher Dodd, Mead & Company
Appearance List Short stories: the first series published by Boston American: “The Problem of Cell 13” (30 October to 5 November 1905), “The Ralston Bank Burglary” (6 November to 12 November 1905), “The Flaming Phantom” (13 November to 19 November 1905), “The Great Auto Mystery” (20 November to 26 November 1905), and seven more. The second series included twelve stories in Associated Sunday Magazines and one in The Saturday Evening Post. A third and fourth series followed. Collections: The Thinking Machine (1907), The Thinking Machine on the Case (1908). Television: “The Problem of Cell 13” was broadcast as “The Problem of Cell Block 13” on the American TV series Kraft Mystery Theater in 1962.
Sample Read The Chase of the Golden Plate (1906) [Internet Archive]
Description Professor Augustus S. F. X. Van Dusen, Ph.D., LL.D., F.R.S., M.D., M.D.S. is a fictional character in a series of detective short stories and a novel by Jacques Futrelle, the best known being The Problem of Cell 13. In the stories, Professor Van Dusen solves a variety of different mysteries with his friend and companion, Hutchinson Hatch, reporter of a fictional newspaper called The Daily New Yorker. The professor is known as “The Thinking Machine”, solving problems by the remorseless application of logic. This nickname was given to him after his winning of a match against the fictional chess champion of the day, Tschaikowsky, in a demonstration to show the power of applying pure logic. He was able to win against the reigning champion, having only been taught the game the morning of the match. Many of his titles are actually honorary degrees awarded to him, serving only to amuse the universities and scientific institutions that crown him with those titles. Van Dusen’s catchphrases include, “Two and two always equal four,” “Nothing is impossible” and “All things that start must go somewhere.”
