Status
Available
Call number
Publication
New York: Orb, c2001.
Description
Sector General: A massive deep-space hospital station on the Galactic Rim, where human and alien medicine meet. Its 384 levels and thousands of staff members are supposedly able to meet the needs of any conceivable alien patient--though that capacity is always being strained as more (and stranger) alien races turn up to join the galactic community. Sentient viruses, interspecies romances, undreamed-of institutional catering problems--it all lands on Sector General's doorstep. And the only thing weirder than a hitherto unknown alien species is having a member of that species turn up in your Emergency Room. The first of two omnibus volumes reprints the works that began the Sector General series, which were previously published asHospital Station(1962),Star Surgeon (1963), andMajor Operation (1971).… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member RobertDay
I first read Jim White's 'Sector General' stories, about a gigantic multi-species hospital in a distant part of the Galaxy, back in the early 1970s in Ted Carnell's 'New Writings in SF' anthologies. I was just discovering science fiction; everything was new to me then. I had hardly seen them since,
Time, however, has erased many of the details, so I was a bit in anticipation to see what I'd find when I went back into these stories. I needn't have worried. Certainly, the majority of the stories in this first volume are quite old - 'Hospital Station' dates from 1961 (and was a 'fix-up' novel from earlier short stories) and 'Star Surgeon' from 1962 - and in places it shows. Dialogue is firmly in mid-Atlantic, and some attitudes firmly in the 1960s, almost to the point where it begins to sound like a pastiche of itself (be prepared to come across the phrase "your pretty little head"!). And although the human medical staff acknowledge that women can be medical professionals, in this volume at least, none make their appearance until the third novel, 'Major Operation' (1971), where the main human character's love interest, a nurse (described in quite chauvinistic terms in the earlier books) is promoted to pathologist - I suspect that this may have been as much to keep her in the books when her man flies off to strange new worlds to tackle increasingly odd medical crises. And indeed, the empathic alien insect doctor I mentioned earlier, Prilicia, turned out to my surprise to be male, and not female as I remembered the character! (I don't know if that says more about me than it does about the books...)
Other aspects of the books are equally dated: the Educator Tapes (which implant knowledge about alien species directly into the minds of medical staff) are just that, tapes; the Translator computers are massive, single-purpose and centralised; the spaceships are distinctly rocket-shaped.
None of this matters. Because the overwhelming theme of the books is the focus on the medical profession, its ethics and its principles - "do no harm", "save life wherever possible" and "all sentient life is worth saving". This is so clear from the outset that it overrides all other considerations; indeed, the main point-of-view character, Doctor Conway, has more alien friends than human ones through the appreciation of alien viewpoints due to his use of the educator tapes (the catch is that they don't just impart knowledge, they are full personality recordings of top alien surgeons and physicians, so anyone using the tapes has the benefit of thinking and feeling like an alien whilever they have the tape implanted). These viewpoints make the whole 'Sector General' series a most refreshing and different take on the entire space opera subgenre.
This even extends to the extended Galactic Federation that Sector General is a part of. The military arm of the Federation, the Monitor Corps, is actually founded on the same basis as the medical service, and only acts as a police force rather than a military force of conquest. In 'Star Surgeon' and 'Major Operation', the Corps actually acts in subordination to Conway and the medical teams; any objections lodged by Monitor officers are operational, not ideological.
White also points out that running a hospital is a matter of a bigger and better bureaucracy, and there are times when the action consists of Conway reading reports, or co-ordinating plans for treatment with colleagues, or discussing the progress of cases. But don't run away with the idea that this is action-lite, worthy and dull story-telling. By this time, the reader is fully engaged in the intellectual problems of finding cures for aliens who haven't been encountered before and who we might not be able to communicate with. And some of these aliens are perhaps as strange as any you might come across in any other fiction . Dismiss any thoughts you might have of aliens as humanoids with rubber masks. Creatures of all shapes and sizes, breathing all sorts of atmospheres and taking in nourishment in a range of different ways all present their own problems. And given the scope for misunderstanding in any first contact situation, it should not come as a surprise when such first contact deteriorates into a shooting war. Later, in 'Major Operation', the medical treatment itself is hard to differentiate from a shooting war. Action abounds.
Almost fifty years since I first encountered them, and sixty years after some of them were first written, these three novels held me captivated. Yes, I cringed at some things that we just don't do now; and in a few instances, I mentally inserted my own witty ripostes to some of the comments passed by characters. (I met Jim White on a few occasions. He was a charming man, and I'm sure he would have approved.) But I emerged from this reading with a feeling of elation, that this is what science fiction is about - challenging viewpoints and exposing the reader to something new and different. Recommended.
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but remembered them fairly clearly, especially the very first story, 'Medic', about a disgraced construction worker on the (then) unfinished Sector General having to care for an orphaned and injured alien, and figuring out for himself what to do. I also recollected the four-character species classification employed in the hospital, and one of the supporting characters, who was a giant empathic insect.Time, however, has erased many of the details, so I was a bit in anticipation to see what I'd find when I went back into these stories. I needn't have worried. Certainly, the majority of the stories in this first volume are quite old - 'Hospital Station' dates from 1961 (and was a 'fix-up' novel from earlier short stories) and 'Star Surgeon' from 1962 - and in places it shows. Dialogue is firmly in mid-Atlantic, and some attitudes firmly in the 1960s, almost to the point where it begins to sound like a pastiche of itself (be prepared to come across the phrase "your pretty little head"!). And although the human medical staff acknowledge that women can be medical professionals, in this volume at least, none make their appearance until the third novel, 'Major Operation' (1971), where the main human character's love interest, a nurse (described in quite chauvinistic terms in the earlier books) is promoted to pathologist - I suspect that this may have been as much to keep her in the books when her man flies off to strange new worlds to tackle increasingly odd medical crises. And indeed, the empathic alien insect doctor I mentioned earlier, Prilicia, turned out to my surprise to be male, and not female as I remembered the character! (I don't know if that says more about me than it does about the books...)
Other aspects of the books are equally dated: the Educator Tapes (which implant knowledge about alien species directly into the minds of medical staff) are just that, tapes; the Translator computers are massive, single-purpose and centralised; the spaceships are distinctly rocket-shaped.
None of this matters. Because the overwhelming theme of the books is the focus on the medical profession, its ethics and its principles - "do no harm", "save life wherever possible" and "all sentient life is worth saving". This is so clear from the outset that it overrides all other considerations; indeed, the main point-of-view character, Doctor Conway, has more alien friends than human ones through the appreciation of alien viewpoints due to his use of the educator tapes (the catch is that they don't just impart knowledge, they are full personality recordings of top alien surgeons and physicians, so anyone using the tapes has the benefit of thinking and feeling like an alien whilever they have the tape implanted). These viewpoints make the whole 'Sector General' series a most refreshing and different take on the entire space opera subgenre.
This even extends to the extended Galactic Federation that Sector General is a part of. The military arm of the Federation, the Monitor Corps, is actually founded on the same basis as the medical service, and only acts as a police force rather than a military force of conquest. In 'Star Surgeon' and 'Major Operation', the Corps actually acts in subordination to Conway and the medical teams; any objections lodged by Monitor officers are operational, not ideological.
White also points out that running a hospital is a matter of a bigger and better bureaucracy, and there are times when the action consists of Conway reading reports, or co-ordinating plans for treatment with colleagues, or discussing the progress of cases. But don't run away with the idea that this is action-lite, worthy and dull story-telling. By this time, the reader is fully engaged in the intellectual problems of finding cures for aliens who haven't been encountered before and who we might not be able to communicate with. And some of these aliens are perhaps as strange as any you might come across in any other fiction . Dismiss any thoughts you might have of aliens as humanoids with rubber masks. Creatures of all shapes and sizes, breathing all sorts of atmospheres and taking in nourishment in a range of different ways all present their own problems. And given the scope for misunderstanding in any first contact situation, it should not come as a surprise when such first contact deteriorates into a shooting war. Later, in 'Major Operation', the medical treatment itself is hard to differentiate from a shooting war. Action abounds.
Almost fifty years since I first encountered them, and sixty years after some of them were first written, these three novels held me captivated. Yes, I cringed at some things that we just don't do now; and in a few instances, I mentally inserted my own witty ripostes to some of the comments passed by characters. (I met Jim White on a few occasions. He was a charming man, and I'm sure he would have approved.) But I emerged from this reading with a feeling of elation, that this is what science fiction is about - challenging viewpoints and exposing the reader to something new and different. Recommended.
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LibraryThing member ptittle
James White’s Sector General series should be required reading for ANYONE assigned to first contact missions. Note in the first paragraph below (from Alien Emergencies), the inclusion of specialists in communications, philosophy, and psychology. Note the exclusion of specialists in any of the
“The Cultural contact people were the elite of the Monitor Corps, a small group of specialists in e-t communications, philosophy and psychology. Although small, the group was not, regrettably, overworked …
“… During the past twenty years,” O’Mara went on, “they have initiated First Contact procedure on three occasions, all of which resulted in the species concerned joining the Federation. I will not bore you with the details of the number of survey operations mounted and the ships, personnel and materiel involved, or shock you with the cost of it all. I mention the Cultural Contact group’s three successes simply to make the point that within the same time period this hospital became fully operational and also initiated First contacts, which resulted in seven new species joining the Federation. This was accomplished not by a slow, patient buildup and widening of communications until the exchange of complex philosophical and sociological concepts became possible, but by giving medical assistance to a sick alien.”
I can’t recommend White’s work enough. Finally, an intelligent approach to alien life. (Because yes, pretty much every novel I’ve read, and every movie I’ve seen, to date, has been embarrassing for its UNintelligent approach to alien. Why haven’t we discovered intelligent life out there? Because we’re too stupid to visit.)
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hard sciences. And the military. (Note also, the more effective way.)“The Cultural contact people were the elite of the Monitor Corps, a small group of specialists in e-t communications, philosophy and psychology. Although small, the group was not, regrettably, overworked …
“… During the past twenty years,” O’Mara went on, “they have initiated First Contact procedure on three occasions, all of which resulted in the species concerned joining the Federation. I will not bore you with the details of the number of survey operations mounted and the ships, personnel and materiel involved, or shock you with the cost of it all. I mention the Cultural Contact group’s three successes simply to make the point that within the same time period this hospital became fully operational and also initiated First contacts, which resulted in seven new species joining the Federation. This was accomplished not by a slow, patient buildup and widening of communications until the exchange of complex philosophical and sociological concepts became possible, but by giving medical assistance to a sick alien.”
I can’t recommend White’s work enough. Finally, an intelligent approach to alien life. (Because yes, pretty much every novel I’ve read, and every movie I’ve seen, to date, has been embarrassing for its UNintelligent approach to alien. Why haven’t we discovered intelligent life out there? Because we’re too stupid to visit.)
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LibraryThing member humouress
{First of 14 Sector General series; sci-fi, adventure, alien medicine}
Introduction by
This is the first book in Beginning Operations, which is an omnibus editions of books 1, 2 and 4 of the Sector General series. These were originally published in magazines.
Chapter 1: Medic
This is set when what will
It took me back to the days when my second son, especially, was a newborn. A baby is still a baby, with feeding demands and so on, no matter the species or physiology.
The process of being painted with food seemed to be a pleasant one for the young FROB. It ceased to cower in the corner and began blundering excitedly about the small bedroom. For O’Mara it became a matter of trying to hit a rapidly moving object while practicing violent evasive maneuvers himself, which set his injured leg throbbing more painfully than ever. His furniture suffered, too. Practically the whole interior surface of his sleeping compartment was covered with the sticky, sharp-smelling food compound, and also the exterior of the now-quiescent young alien, when Caxton arrived.
4.5 stars *****
Chapter 2: Sector General
The hospital is now well established and O’Mara has found his niche but this story is about Conway, a young doctor who has to counter his own prejudices against the Monitor Corps while rescuing a being whose ship has crashed deep into the hospital.
3.5-4****
Chapter 3: Trouble with Emily
Conway is chosen to assist a doctor of a telepathic, ethical species with a patient of yet another species who is perfectly healthy, whom the hospital staff name 'Emily' (a groan-worthy pun). Despite the doctor's brusque manner and mysterious manner about Emily, Conway finds that he quite likes him(?)/ her(?).
They were an old, wise and humble race, O’Mara concluded; intensely humble. So much so that they tended to look down on other races who were not so humble as they. Conway would have to be very tactful because this extreme, this almost overbearing humility might easily be mistaken for something else.
4.5*****
Chapter 4: Visitor at Large
Dr. Conway acquires a new assistant from another species, Dr. Prilica who is an empath, to help him in the Nursery wards. They also help track down a runaway juvenile delinquent whose parent is a patient in critical condition.
4****
Chapter 5: Out-Patient
The Monitor Corps brings in an urgent case; the wreckage of a ship of unknown origin and buried within it, a sole survivor. Dr. Conway has to tread carefully with this first contact of an advanced species who seems to disagree with his proposed treatment plan.
Conway approached the patient again and switched on the Translator. He knew before he spoke what the reaction would be so it was probably an act of wanton cruelty to say the words, but he had to test this theory once more for his own reassurance. He said, “Don’t worry, young fellow, we’ll have you back the way you were in no time ...” The reaction was so violent that Dr. Prilicla, whose empathic faculty made it feel everything which the patient felt at full intensity, had to leave the ward.
4****
I like the way that White has thought about other alien species and that they are non-humanoid - in fact, our nearest 'relatives' in his classification scheme, fellow DBLFs, look like furry caterpillars - and I appreciate the way that Tralthans and not humans are the best doctors (even though his main protagonists are, necessarily, human). I like the idea of his classification scheme itself, which quickly separates species into vital characteristics such as water/ oxygen/ chlorine breathers, telepathic abilities and so on which also helps the medical staff in identifying potential treatments.
I did find the way he builds suspense by getting his main characters to withhold information from their superiors for the good of the patient to be a bit repetitive. But as a magazine series (the stories' original format) that wouldn't have been so obvious and its real purpose is to keep the reader in the dark. For example in 'Outpatient'- medical issues aside - the resolution of the first-contact problem seems obvious in hindsight.
Averaging: 4.1-4.2****
The other two books in my omnibus edition of Beginning Operations are:
[Star Surgeon]
[Major Operation]
Introduction by
This is the first book in Beginning Operations, which is an omnibus editions of books 1, 2 and 4 of the Sector General series. These were originally published in magazines.
Chapter 1: Medic
This is set when what will
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become the first hospital to cater to hundreds of alien species is being built and is the aftermath of an accident involving two Hudlarian parents. O'Mara has to take care of an infant Hudlarian whose home planet has much denser gravity than ours.It took me back to the days when my second son, especially, was a newborn. A baby is still a baby, with feeding demands and so on, no matter the species or physiology.
The process of being painted with food seemed to be a pleasant one for the young FROB. It ceased to cower in the corner and began blundering excitedly about the small bedroom. For O’Mara it became a matter of trying to hit a rapidly moving object while practicing violent evasive maneuvers himself, which set his injured leg throbbing more painfully than ever. His furniture suffered, too. Practically the whole interior surface of his sleeping compartment was covered with the sticky, sharp-smelling food compound, and also the exterior of the now-quiescent young alien, when Caxton arrived.
4.5 stars *****
Chapter 2: Sector General
The hospital is now well established and O’Mara has found his niche but this story is about Conway, a young doctor who has to counter his own prejudices against the Monitor Corps while rescuing a being whose ship has crashed deep into the hospital.
3.5-4****
Chapter 3: Trouble with Emily
Conway is chosen to assist a doctor of a telepathic, ethical species with a patient of yet another species who is perfectly healthy, whom the hospital staff name 'Emily' (a groan-worthy pun). Despite the doctor's brusque manner and mysterious manner about Emily, Conway finds that he quite likes him(?)/ her(?).
They were an old, wise and humble race, O’Mara concluded; intensely humble. So much so that they tended to look down on other races who were not so humble as they. Conway would have to be very tactful because this extreme, this almost overbearing humility might easily be mistaken for something else.
4.5*****
Chapter 4: Visitor at Large
Dr. Conway acquires a new assistant from another species, Dr. Prilica who is an empath, to help him in the Nursery wards. They also help track down a runaway juvenile delinquent whose parent is a patient in critical condition.
4****
Chapter 5: Out-Patient
The Monitor Corps brings in an urgent case; the wreckage of a ship of unknown origin and buried within it, a sole survivor. Dr. Conway has to tread carefully with this first contact of an advanced species who seems to disagree with his proposed treatment plan.
Conway approached the patient again and switched on the Translator. He knew before he spoke what the reaction would be so it was probably an act of wanton cruelty to say the words, but he had to test this theory once more for his own reassurance. He said, “Don’t worry, young fellow, we’ll have you back the way you were in no time ...” The reaction was so violent that Dr. Prilicla, whose empathic faculty made it feel everything which the patient felt at full intensity, had to leave the ward.
4****
I like the way that White has thought about other alien species and that they are non-humanoid - in fact, our nearest 'relatives' in his classification scheme, fellow DBLFs, look like furry caterpillars - and I appreciate the way that Tralthans and not humans are the best doctors (even though his main protagonists are, necessarily, human). I like the idea of his classification scheme itself, which quickly separates species into vital characteristics such as water/ oxygen/ chlorine breathers, telepathic abilities and so on which also helps the medical staff in identifying potential treatments.
I did find the way he builds suspense by getting his main characters to withhold information from their superiors for the good of the patient to be a bit repetitive. But as a magazine series (the stories' original format) that wouldn't have been so obvious and its real purpose is to keep the reader in the dark. For example in 'Outpatient'- medical issues aside - the resolution of the first-contact problem seems obvious in hindsight.
Averaging: 4.1-4.2****
The other two books in my omnibus edition of Beginning Operations are:
[Star Surgeon]
[Major Operation]
Show Less
LibraryThing member catseyegreen
The first 3 novels of the Sector General Hospital.
Hospital Station.
A collection of short stories of varying quality. There is an interesting variety of alien lifeforms imagined here. I did not like the character O'Mara but he only features in the first story.
Star Surgeon
I like the concept of the
Major Operation
Conway is placed in charge of a new, mysterious patient. Very interesting.
read 2/20/2024
Hospital Station.
A collection of short stories of varying quality. There is an interesting variety of alien lifeforms imagined here. I did not like the character O'Mara but he only features in the first story.
Star Surgeon
I like the concept of the
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space station with 384 levels dedicated to providing the atmosphere, gravity, environmental and nutritional needs of 80 different species and how they all work together to save their critically ill patients. Unfortunately, the second half of the book is involved with war and dealing with casualties which I did not find very interesting. I have difficulty buying that personality as lacking in empathy and diplomacy as O'Mara's could really work as the head of such a facility. Conway's relationship with Murchison almost seems like an afterthought- not a real romance. Major Operation
Conway is placed in charge of a new, mysterious patient. Very interesting.
read 2/20/2024
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Subjects
Language
Original publication date
2001 (omnibus)
Physical description
655 p.; 21 inches
ISBN
0312875444 / 9780312875442