Mind Changer

ISBN: 0-312-86663-1 Order from: Amazon.com

Somewhat of a make-up novel with intellectual puzzles, subdued conflicts and mild romance in the nostalgic world of Sector General.

Reviewed by David on December 19, 1998

Genre: Science Fiction (Medical, Aliens)

Synopsis: Major O'Mara, the Chief Psychology Officer of the large and prestigious multi-species Sector General hospital, is nearing the age of mandatory retirement. Appointed the Administrator of the hospital, the gruff, untrained but brilliant member of the Monitor Corps, O'Mara has to cope with a suspicious epidemic, bouts of xenophobia as well as selecting and training his replacement.

His recollections of the past are used to introduce some of the relationships that formed O'Mara's sarcastic and amazingly effective personality, as well as expose the normally hidden sentimentality of the hero.

Full Review: James White has almost single-handedly created the sub-genre of Space Medicine. I still have recollections of enjoying many years ago some of the earlier stories about Sector General, with its exotic and confusing mixture of species, and its relentless optimism in solving the grave problems of its patients (and sometimes staff) through common sense, unstinting effort, and leaps of intuition.

One of the most pleasant was the story of the young construction worker, O'Mara, and his distressed but heroic efforts in saving the life of an alien child whose parents were killed in a construction accident. O'Mara's life and accomplishments are shown here in a series of episodes illustrating his enormous sense of duty, his occasionally clumsy social skills, and his well-masked but intense compassion for the individuals in his care.

This latest book in the series is a pleasant, low-key novel that illustrates some of the better qualities of the classical SF tradition: celebration of progress and the triumph of decency and individual effort over adversity.

Critical Mass, a well written essay by David Langford describes the universe of Sector General and its somewhat nostalgic charm.

Universe: Sector General

Overall: 5.5; Plot: 5; Characters: 5.5; Style: 5; World-building: 6; Originality: 6;

ISBN: 0-312-86663-1 Order from: Amazon.com