DOC SAVAGE 68

FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE

OCTOBER 1938

The Crime College: The scope of Doc’s detective agency seems to have expanded. It is a worldwide agency comprised solely of men processed through Doc's Crime College.

Eugene Sandow: There is a reference to Sandow in this story. Just who was this person? Frederick Müller was a Prussian born strong man who was famous for his strength and advocacy of physical culture. He died in 1925 after enjoying a long career as a professional strongman under the name of Eugene Sandow.

It is interesting to note Sandow's recommendations on using isometric exercises. This may be the source of that part of Doc's exercise routine. Here are some interesting quotes from his book, Strength and How to Obtain It by Eugene Sandow.

“He is gentle, and only uses his powers against his fellow men when called upon to do so in the defense of the oppressed and helpless.”

Sandow also instructs in the technique of isometric exercise where one set of muscle strains against another. Sandow was the author of many other popular works on physical culture near the turn of the last century.

Energy Weapons: Beam weapons become so commonplace by now that one is used for revenge in Fortress of Solitude. Interestingly enough, it appears to be the same weapon we encountered in The Metal Master. The description of the device John Sunlight used to exact his revenge on Serge Manoff is remarkably similar.

It looks like Doc Savage has been a busy man. The Metal Master's ray only worked on metal. Doc has experimented along these lines and found a ray that dissolves human flesh!

Cannibalism: Another aspect of the Crime College treatment appears. Doc Savage offers to perform surgery on everyone. There is a two-fold purpose in this offer. First it would destroy their memories of the horrible events they have undergone. There is a strong suggestion of cannibalism during the period they are marooned in the icebound ship. Secondly, and more importantly for Doc, they would not remember anything about the Fortress of Solitude.

October 30, 1938 – The Mercury Theatre on CBS broadcasts Orson Welles' live radio play, War of the Worlds. Mass panic ensues from the "real" invasion.