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kazuyadarklight's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.25
vitaminwaterfan's review against another edition
It was on my kobo, and then my kobo died forever and I didn’t buy a new one
niche's review against another edition
4.0
Good setting, okay writing
Contains the first three Sector General books. I like it for the setting and alien concepts rather than the writing or the characters who can feel rather annoying or cliche in their repetitive roles. Conway, the ever deductive protagonist, must keep his plan a secret until the big reveal test result thwarting incredulous onlookers' voiced skepticism. I would have liked to have seen the competencies of other earth-human staff presented more than just being vehicles for Conway's "eureka" moments. I loved pretty much all the alien characters, though.
Contains the first three Sector General books. I like it for the setting and alien concepts rather than the writing or the characters who can feel rather annoying or cliche in their repetitive roles. Conway, the ever deductive protagonist, must keep his plan a secret until the big reveal test result thwarting incredulous onlookers' voiced skepticism. I would have liked to have seen the competencies of other earth-human staff presented more than just being vehicles for Conway's "eureka" moments. I loved pretty much all the alien characters, though.
kayeness's review against another edition
2.0
Absolutely cool idea--a galactic hospital treating all manner of alien creatures. A concept that would make a fun tv show. Unfortunately, it was horribly hamstrung by the style of writing and the mores of the time. A lot of it felt like a bad Harlequin romance from the '70s or the stuffier dated early Star Trek.
jmartindf's review against another edition
4.0
Good, classic, golden age science fiction. Well imagined medical fiction, focusing on the doctors of Sector General Hospital, as they treat very strange aliens.
charlesdarwin's review against another edition
5.0
What a great set of stories.
It's very much the TV show ER meets Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, meets the Asimov robot series (where two guys solve a whole bunch of robot problems that nobody else can figure out).
It's obviously dated - especially with its treatment of human women. However, some of the technology, the humanism, and themes are very relevant in 2017.
The 4-letter system they use to classify sentient beings (who, by the way, all refer to themselves as "human" in their own language) is brilliant. The imagination of the author to create not only alien species but their anatomy, gravity requirements, atmosphere, food, and then on top of it: their ailments that the protagonist needs to diagnose is second to none.
I can't believe I haven't read this sooner! If you are a sci-if fan and you are looking for a classic that you might have overlooked, then you should check this book out.
It's very much the TV show ER meets Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, meets the Asimov robot series (where two guys solve a whole bunch of robot problems that nobody else can figure out).
It's obviously dated - especially with its treatment of human women. However, some of the technology, the humanism, and themes are very relevant in 2017.
The 4-letter system they use to classify sentient beings (who, by the way, all refer to themselves as "human" in their own language) is brilliant. The imagination of the author to create not only alien species but their anatomy, gravity requirements, atmosphere, food, and then on top of it: their ailments that the protagonist needs to diagnose is second to none.
I can't believe I haven't read this sooner! If you are a sci-if fan and you are looking for a classic that you might have overlooked, then you should check this book out.
hoppy500's review against another edition
3.0
Beginning Operations (A Sector General Omnibus) by James White
I was looking forward to reading this book because I had very much enjoyed a couple of the later works of this author. However, Beginning Operations (which is an omnibus of the first three Sector General novels) did not quite live up to my expectations.
This is classic science fiction from the 1960s, but with a rare pacifist message.
The book is really a series of short stories or vignettes which unfold in the setting of the same massive galactic hospital.
While the content is very imaginative and positive, it certainly has a dated feel to it.
James White proved that he had a fertile imagination through the aliens he envisaged, who are certainly not of the Roswell kind. He described oxygen, chlorine, and methane breathers, and the many strange shapes and sizes of those from planets with wildly different environments and gravitational strengths. There are even some who need hard radiation to survive, and like to bathe in the heat of atomic furnaces.
However, it will probably be noted that the author failed to predict technologies and attitudes of the coming decades. For example, despite the many widely differing environments on the hospital station, many of which would be instantly lethal to a being unsuited to them, people can simply walk in and out through the airlocks without any security measures like ID cards or passwords. For this reason, a runaway shape-changing alien is able cause havoc on the station. Also, the staff do not carry portable communicators, and have to rush to the nearest wall unit to answer urgent messages.
All the doctors and administrators seem to be male, while the nurses who get ordered around are female and sometimes objects of desire. At one point, the protagonist's superior states that misogyny is an allowable neurosis. So, while some elements of the story may be considered groundbreaking, in other ways it is very much a work of its time.
Although this is pacifist literature in an age dominated by military science fiction, and features many species of aliens all working together toward a common objective, the way that humans sometimes refer to their alien colleagues and patients is less than flattering, and seems to imply an overall sense of human superiority. Some of the medical cases are quite interesting, but the minimal character development can sometimes make the stories feel a little flat and unengaging.
I would, however, highly recommend other works by this author. All Judgement Fled (1968) is in some ways similar to Hospital Station, but has more complex and convincing characters and a more interesting plot. The Silent Stars Go By (1991) shows a far greater level of maturity, and is probably his best work.
niche's review
4.0
Good setting, okay writing
Contains the first three Sector General books. I like it for the setting and alien concepts rather than the writing or the characters who can feel rather annoying or cliche in their repetitive roles. Conway, the ever deductive protagonist, must keep his plan a secret until the big reveal test result thwarting incredulous onlookers' voiced skepticism. I would have liked to have seen the competencies of other earth-human staff presented more than just being vehicles for Conway's "eureka" moments. I loved pretty much all the alien characters, though.
Contains the first three Sector General books. I like it for the setting and alien concepts rather than the writing or the characters who can feel rather annoying or cliche in their repetitive roles. Conway, the ever deductive protagonist, must keep his plan a secret until the big reveal test result thwarting incredulous onlookers' voiced skepticism. I would have liked to have seen the competencies of other earth-human staff presented more than just being vehicles for Conway's "eureka" moments. I loved pretty much all the alien characters, though.
carol26388's review
3.0
I found a small, unassuming mass market member of this series at the library, probably because "White" is awfully close to "Zelazny." That was back in the old days when inter-library loan was a serious pain in the butt, so I discovered new reads by eyeballing Every Single Book in the Sci-Fi/Fantasy section. Because how else would I know it was there? The only way was to use these paper cards and that's how you found out if the library had that book (the cards were typewritten, no less, and sometimes had White-out corrections and sometimes very precise, tiny writing by a librarian). I know that this reference will be confusing to the kids, so here's a picture:
Which, by the way, made my Virgo heart super nostalgic for this:
At any rate, that was how I discovered the Sector General series, which was an absolute treat. This was even before I was a medical person, mind you; back in the day when I loved all things biological. What I loved about the series then are the same things I love about it now: first, the conviction that there is a path of co-existence; and second, that the universe is full of some really strangely cool beings. As one brilliant reviewer said, "it's more Star Trek than Star Trek" because there aren't any villains.
But the absolute truth is that I sort-of-read and sort-of-skimmed this. A lengthy introduction clues the reader in to how Sector General began, and the transition from magazine serial to full-length story. Having read many of the later books, the first book, [b:Hospital Station|1695570|Hospital Station (Sector General, #1)|James White|https://d2arxad8u2l0g7.cloudfront.net/books/1352460814s/1695570.jpg|1692514] seems particularly rough. Chapters introduce some of the main cast at Sector General. Interestingly, some of the concepts played around with here will get their day in print, namely, how Chief O'Mara really became Station head ([b:Mind Changer|64480|Mind Changer (Sector General, #11)|James White|https://d2arxad8u2l0g7.cloudfront.net/books/1390213716s/64480.jpg|62592]), the problems with diagnostician tapes ([b:Star Healer|1707262|Star Healer (Sector General, #6)|James White|https://d2arxad8u2l0g7.cloudfront.net/books/1387742578s/1707262.jpg|1704428]), and how giant silky caterpillars manage in space.
The second book, [b:Star Surgeon|1695599|Star Surgeon (Sector General, #2)|James White|https://d2arxad8u2l0g7.cloudfront.net/books/1187031294s/1695599.jpg|1692544] suffers from early writer-itis, particularly the transition from serial stories to full-length books. Chapters seem choppy, with little sense of an overall arc, and in fact, storylines that one would think continue end up being sidelined.
The last [b:Major Operation|1695610|Major Operation (Sector General, #3)|James White|https://d2arxad8u2l0g7.cloudfront.net/books/1298927740s/1695610.jpg|1692555] ended up being a very odd mix. While conceptually the aliens were fascinating, at a certain point there is so much danger and lives lost by the hospital staff, it seems to negate the anti-violent premise.
The last thing I'll throw in there is that these early editions have a strong sexist bent... when a woman--a nurse--finally appears. Her role will be improved in later editions, but there's a fair bit of objectification here. Annoying, but generally benevolent in that old-man kind of way, particularly as she is amazingly competent.
I wanted to go back and re-read to do one of my real reviews, but just... couldn't. And the library called in their loan (because they are still my main supplier). For a really thoughtful, comprehensive review, see https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/650725768?book_show_action=true&from_review_page=1
Two and a half stars, rounding up because of positivity.
Which, by the way, made my Virgo heart super nostalgic for this:
At any rate, that was how I discovered the Sector General series, which was an absolute treat. This was even before I was a medical person, mind you; back in the day when I loved all things biological. What I loved about the series then are the same things I love about it now: first, the conviction that there is a path of co-existence; and second, that the universe is full of some really strangely cool beings. As one brilliant reviewer said, "it's more Star Trek than Star Trek" because there aren't any villains.
But the absolute truth is that I sort-of-read and sort-of-skimmed this. A lengthy introduction clues the reader in to how Sector General began, and the transition from magazine serial to full-length story. Having read many of the later books, the first book, [b:Hospital Station|1695570|Hospital Station (Sector General, #1)|James White|https://d2arxad8u2l0g7.cloudfront.net/books/1352460814s/1695570.jpg|1692514] seems particularly rough. Chapters introduce some of the main cast at Sector General. Interestingly, some of the concepts played around with here will get their day in print, namely, how Chief O'Mara really became Station head ([b:Mind Changer|64480|Mind Changer (Sector General, #11)|James White|https://d2arxad8u2l0g7.cloudfront.net/books/1390213716s/64480.jpg|62592]), the problems with diagnostician tapes ([b:Star Healer|1707262|Star Healer (Sector General, #6)|James White|https://d2arxad8u2l0g7.cloudfront.net/books/1387742578s/1707262.jpg|1704428]), and how giant silky caterpillars manage in space.
The second book, [b:Star Surgeon|1695599|Star Surgeon (Sector General, #2)|James White|https://d2arxad8u2l0g7.cloudfront.net/books/1187031294s/1695599.jpg|1692544] suffers from early writer-itis, particularly the transition from serial stories to full-length books. Chapters seem choppy, with little sense of an overall arc, and in fact, storylines that one would think continue end up being sidelined.
The last [b:Major Operation|1695610|Major Operation (Sector General, #3)|James White|https://d2arxad8u2l0g7.cloudfront.net/books/1298927740s/1695610.jpg|1692555] ended up being a very odd mix. While conceptually the aliens were fascinating, at a certain point there is so much danger and lives lost by the hospital staff, it seems to negate the anti-violent premise.
The last thing I'll throw in there is that these early editions have a strong sexist bent... when a woman--a nurse--finally appears. Her role will be improved in later editions, but there's a fair bit of objectification here. Annoying, but generally benevolent in that old-man kind of way, particularly as she is amazingly competent.
I wanted to go back and re-read to do one of my real reviews, but just... couldn't. And the library called in their loan (because they are still my main supplier). For a really thoughtful, comprehensive review, see https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/650725768?book_show_action=true&from_review_page=1
Two and a half stars, rounding up because of positivity.
therewithal's review
3.0
I had vague memories of liking the Sector General books as a kid and wanted to revisit them. I still think the entire concept of stories where the conflict is figuring out how to heal strange alien life forms instead of fighting them is great, and he did come up with a lot of very weird and interesting aliens. But looking at the books now, they're also terribly dated and awful about women and Conway is kind of an asshole, and the formula of him pulling the answers out of nowhere at the last minute every time got a little old. (Also, it cracked me up that he consumes nothing but steak, like a true 1950s manly man of the future.)
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