Beginning Operations: Sector General Omnibus 1 (S.F. Masterworks) - Softcover

White, James

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1399636219 ISBN 13: 9781399636216

Publisher: Gateway, 2026

Synopsis

The first three novels in the incredible Sector General series.

Welcome to SECTOR GENERAL - a colossal space hospital that attends to species ranging from an ultra-intelligent prune in a blob of syrup, to a teleportative brontosaurus, to a shape-shifting amoeba that constantly melts like an ice lolly on a summer's day. The hospital's staff is equally diverse, counting among its ranks an exoskeletal, insect-like assistant and a six-legged, elephantine surgeon.


Then there is Dr Conway. An Earth-human, he is new to the job but will not let lingering first day jitters stop him from taking on his first big case: treating a hundred-unit gestalt of mind-sharing aliens. Throughout the course of the series, his quick thinking and passion for his profession allow Dr Conway to ascend from Junior Intern all the way to Senior Diagnostician. But this esteemed position is its own double-edged sword, for doctors of this rank have up to ten 'Education Tapes' permanently imprinted in their brains. While these recordings are invaluable when it comes to treating such a wide variety of life-forms, they also pass on the personality of the donor, the consequences of which can range from a mere aversion to a particular food to a concerning attraction towards members of other species . . . But the interstellar society of Sector General and beyond is ultimately a peaceful one where, aside from the occasional pre-arranged war to release tensions, the biggest blows come from the acerbic tongue of the hospital's Chief Psychologist, the enigmatic Major O'Mara.

About this title

About the Author

James White (1928-1999) was a Northern Irish author of science fiction novellas, short stories and novels. White abhorred violence, probably as a result of his experiences during WW2, and his best known work is the Sector General series which was nominated for several awards.

Edition details

• Publisher: Gateway
• Publication date: 2026
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1399636219
• ISBN 13: 9781399636216
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 512