Scan barcode
A review by carol26388
Beginning Operations by Brian Stableford, James White
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.