Once upon a midnight (Score 1)

I'm sorry that this might be a little off-topic. However, a few weeks ago, I saw a great one-man play (Once upon a Midnight) retelling the story of Poe's life from his point of view, full of biographical information and dramatic readings from Poe's work. Poe was played by John Astin (who was in the Addams Family and played Buddy in the late, great Night Court), who did an unbelievably funny, insightful, and touching job. I think it might be still touring, so I highly recommend it if you get a chance to see it.

I would not be surprised if the cipher really is Poe. He was very interested in such things and by all accounts was more than capable of coming up with an intelligent encryption. (Also equally capable of coming up with a complete hoax, as he did on at least one occasion...)

Astin (as Poe) read from his last work, the obscure and hard-to-find work of metaphysical speculation called Eureka, and Poe's philosophy sounded very much similar to Frank Tipler's Omega Point Theory. Very interesting, very much ahead of its time, and I'd like to get a copy of it, except it doesn't seem to be in print anywhere.