Suppose Doc Savage actually existed. He Could Save the World: Doc Savage and the Era He Helped Shape is a chronological account of the extraordinary career of the preëminent superhero of the twentieth century, Clark Savage Jr., based on the premise that he was a real person.
Remaining true to the texts of the original pulp novels and incorporating Will Murray's additions to the canon, this chronological account builds on the groundbreaking work of previous chronologists Rick Lai and Jeff Deischer and incorporates the insightful research of other Savage scholars. At the same time, it diverges from its predecessors in two significant ways. Extrapolating from John L. Vellutini's remarkable article of nearly thirty years ago, Doc Savage's early career is set in the 1920s, rather than in the early 1930s, adding psychological nuance to the bronze man's formative years. In addition, the "final" years, the days following those recorded in the novels, are speculated about in a new way.
Other contributions include establishing Doc Savage's birthdate, an alternative interpretation of his maturing years during and after World War II, use of the first-person narrative of the late years to demonstrate aspects of the bronze man's character and abilities, and additional insight into and details about the actual locations and real-life figures from across the globe that populated his adventures.
He Could Save the World presents a complete chronology of Doc Savage's career within the twentieth-century world he helped shape.
(Please note: this book is for avid Doc Savage fans and assumes a wide familiarity with the novels and characters or at the very least a strong interest in becoming familiar with the novels and characters.)
