Final Jeopardy: Authors (12-25-13)

The Final Jeopardy question (12/25/2013), in the category “Authors” was:

“The American Tolkien” was what Time Magazine called this author with the same 2 middle initials as Tolkien.

2-day champ Larry White has won $49,624 so far, which is pretty darn good for 2 games. On Christmas Day, his competition comes from these two players: Roxann Smith, from Los Angeles, CA; and Anthony Niblett, from Toronto, ON, Canada.

Larry found the Jeopardy! round Daily Double in “A Drop in Which Ocean” under the $1,000 clue. He was in second place with $600, $200 less than Anthony in the lead. He bet the $1,000 allowance and he was RIGHT.

The Mozambique Channel. show

WHAT IS THE INDIAN OCEAN?

Larry finished in the lead with $6,400. Anthony was second with $3,800 and Roxann was last with $2,400.

Larry found the first Daily Double in “Flag Terms” under the $800 clue. He was in the lead with $12,800, $2,600 ahead of Anthony in second place. He bet $6,000 and he was RIGHT.

From the Greek for “sign bearer”, it’s the type of flag used to send messages from ship to shore. show

WHAT IS SEMAPHORE?

Roxanne found the last Daily Double in “Medicine” under the $1,600 clue. In third place with $3,200, she was $16,400 behind Larry’s lead. She bet $3,000 and thought it was acetaminophen. That was WRONG.

The name of this anti-inflammatory comes from the longer version, isobutyphenyl propionic acid. show

WHAT IS IBUPROFEN?

Larry finished in the lead with $19,600. Anthony was next with $11,000 and Roxann was in third place with $5,000.

Only ONE of the contestants got Final Jeopardy! right.

WHO IS GEORGE R.R. MARTIN?

In a 2011 Time Magazine article, Lev Grossman wrote: “In 2005 I wrote a review of George R.R. Martin’s novel A Feast for Crows in which I called him “the American Tolkien.” The phrase has stuck to him, as it was meant to. I believed Martin was our age’s and our country’s answer to the master of epic fantasy. Now it’s six years later, and I’ve read Martin’s new novel, A Dance with Dragons, and I’m happy to report that I was totally right.” (An American Tolkien for a Jaded Age)

Roxann wrote down “Mencken.” She lost her $4,998 bet and finished with $2.00.

Anthony got it right, adding $8,601 to his total. He finished with $19,601.

Larry wrote down Bradbury. He lost $3,000 and the game, ending up in second place with $16,600. And we have a new champ. “Another Canadian winner,” Alex quipped, “they’re coming out of the woodwork.”

To everyone celebrating Christmas, we hope it’s been very merry.