«Если», 1997 № 01

«Космический госпиталь» Джеймса Уайта не прост один из знаменитейших сериалов за всю историю научной фантастики, не просто оригинальнейшая из «космических опер» нашего времени, но — истинное ЯВЛЕНИЕ В ЖАНРЕ! Над невероятными похождениями бригады межгалактических врачей смеются уже несколько поколений любителей фантастики — в том числе и в нашей стране. Потому что «Космический госпиталь» — это ЕДИНСТВЕННАЯ фантастическая сага, в которой приключения и юмор переплетены настолько плотно, что отделить одно от другого практически НЕВОЗМОЖНО!..

“Five miles below the surface, Ross was awakened from the deep sleep of suspended animation to find himself in an empty world. There was no noise, or people, and no motion save for the steady activity of the hospital robots” (blurb). Ross, the sole survivor of World War Last, must meet up with some other human beings — even if he’s got to create them himself. And, with the hibernation technique and omnicompetent robots at his command, he eventually does just that. After a fashion. White’s most beautifully fitted piece of work, with this fitting Dedication: “TO PEGGY, who isn’t the last girl on Earth, just the only one.”

Nominated for Hugo Award for Best Novel in 1962.

A non pochi lettori, l’apparizione in un’orbita vicina al nostro pianeta di questa gigantesca e silenziosa astronave, ricorderà l’arrivo, in una sperduta baia sudamericana, del misterioso veliero di Benito Cereno. Anche qui — come nel famoso romanzo di Herman Melville — gli uomini mandati a prendere contatto con l’equipaggio si trovano di fronte a una enigmatica situazione: chi comanda, in realtà, a bordo? Chi sono i “buoni” e chi i “cattivi” ? Ma questo classico tema marinaresco si complica presto di tutte le snervanti, contraddittorie, confusionarie difficoltà che possono affliggere una moderna missione spaziale: la burocrazia militare, l’opinione pubblica, la televisione, l’impotenza tecnologica, la responsabilità di decidere — per chi è prigioniero nei labirinti della nave — sulla vitale questione: massacrare o lasciarsi massacrare?

Hospital Station is a 1962 science fiction book by author James White and is the first volume in the Sector General series. The book collects together a series of five short stories previously published in magazine between 1957 and 1960.

“Medic” — During the construction of Sector 12 General Hospital, construction worker O'Mara is suspected of negligently causing the death of two alien workers. Pending an investigation he is restricted to quarters and given the aliens' child to care for.

“Sector General” — The first story of the main series' narrative. Doctor Conway has spent two months on the station and is about to be confronted with several emergencies as well as his first educator tape.

“Trouble with Emily” — Conway is ordered to assist with a project involving a large dinosaur-like alien.

“Visitor at Large” — A SRTT shape-changing alien runs amok in the hospital. Conway and a newly arrived Prilicla are enlisted to capture it.

“Out-Patient” — Following the recovery of a badly injured alien from a wrecked ship, Conway must pursue a radical treatment.

ORBIT HOSPITAL ist ein Klinikum im All, das allen raumfahrenden Lebensformen der Galaxis medizinische Hilfe leistet. Es nimmt alle Geschöpfe auf, ob sie ein Dutzend Gliedmaßen haben oder gar keine, ob sie sich von Radioaktivität ernähren oder Wasser atmen — von anderen exotischen Gewohnheiten und Bedürfnissen ganz zu schweigen. Es ist ein ökologisches Tollhaus und ein organisatorischer Irrwitz, aber es ist für alle da und es funktioniert. Es ist im wahrsten Sinne des Wortes — lebensnotwendig.

Dr. Conway must deal with an unconscious patient, classification ELPH, who may be a cannibal or a demigod, or both. It came from the “other galaxy”, and the species is well known, almost infamous, to the Ians, who are also from another galaxy. It is extremely long-lived, and regularly takes complete rejuvenation treatments, including the brain and memory, to keep itself young. By doing this, it is practically immortal. It, although unconscious, appeared to have the ability to negate the most powerful drugs and resist surgery to cure its skin condition. This later turned out to be the work of the entity’s “doctor”, who is an intelligent, organized collection of microscopic, virus-type cells. Once Doctor Conway realizes this, he uses a wooden stake to make the ELPH’s doctor focus itself in one small location, at which time it is removed from the ELPH, informed regarding the physiology-problems of its patient, and put back in. The patient, whose name is Lonvellin, quickly makes a full recovery, and it leaves to do what it does best: missions that involve taking backwards planetary cultures and pulling them up “by their bootstraps”. His particular mission, this time, is to cure a diseased planet called Etla, and he recruits Dr. Conway and the “Monitor Corps” to help him. When The Empire that controls the Planet of Etla misinterprets Lonvellin’s efforts as an Act of War, the Empire declares war on the Sector General space hospital.

Conway helps organise the evacuation of most of the station’s staff and patients, and following the death or injury of more senior staff, becomes the most senior surviving physician. After a brutal series of attacks, and with the hospital on the brink of defeat, a group of Federation and Empire soldiers convince Conway to help in a mutiny against the Federation commander Dermod. The Empire soldiers had been told that the Federation had attacked Etla, rather than trying to help it, but seeing the way all casualties were treated equally on the station, and in particular witnessing Conway breaking down after failing to save the life of an alien Empire soldier, convinced them that they had been lied to.

ORBIT HOSPITAL ist ein Klinikum im All, das allen raumfahrenden Lebensformen der Galaxis medizinische Hilfe leistet. Es nimmt alle Geschöpfe auf, ob sie ein Dutzend Gliedmaßen haben oder gar keine, ob sie sich von Radioaktivität ernähren oder Wasser atmen — von anderen exotischen Gewohnheiten und Bedürfnissen ganz zu schweigen. Es ist ein ökologisches Tollhaus und ein organisatorischer Irrwitz, aber es ist für alle da und es funktioniert. Es ist im wahrsten Sinne des Wortes — lebensnotwendig.

Major Operation is a 1971 science fiction book by author James White and is the third volume in the Sector General series. The book collects together a series of five short stories, all of which were originally published in magazine.

“Invader” — A series of clumsy accidents at the hospital lead Conway to suspect an alien presence.

“Vertigo” (1968) — a spinning ship (from the planet later nicknamed 'Meatball') is 'rescued' and brought to the hospital.

“Blood Brother” (1969) — Meatball's natural doctors are discovered.

“Meatball” (1966) — Additional investigation reveals more about Meatball’s doctors.

“Major Operation” (1971) — A gigantic patient on Meatball fights medical treatment.

Ambulance Ship is a 1979 science fiction novel by author James White and is part of the Sector General series.

“Contagion” — An ancient sleeper ship is found whose last occupants died only months before. The rescue ship and ambulance crews come down with a mysterious illness.

“Quarantine” — The sole survivor from a spacewreck is brought back to the hospital, and stuns everyone by downing half the surgical team.

“Recovery” — A ship is found with absolutely no visible markings. A torture corridor inside beats on whatever passes, including a violent non-sentient and a telepathic sentient who communicates with the ambulance staff about the Blind Ones’ need.

Sector General is a 1983 science fiction novel by author James White and is part of the Sector General series. The book includes four stories.

“Accident” — A major accident at a multi-species spaceport inspires the two heroes who ended the human-Orligian war (MacEwan and Grawlya-Ki) to found Sector General.

“Survivor” — A giant snail spacewreck survivor transmits pain and fear while unconscious.

“Investigation” — A spacewreck scene seems to indicate amputations from each victim, causing ambulance commander Fletcher to suspect cannibalism.

“Combined Operation” — The scene of a spacewreck contains hundreds of pods, which turn out to be a colony ship carrying the last survivors of an alien race.

ORBIT HOSPITAL ist ein Klinikum im All, das allen raumfahrenden Lebensformen der Galaxis medizinische Hilfe leistet. Es nimmt alle Geschöpfe auf, ob sie ein Dutzend Gliedmaßen haben oder gar keine, ob sie sich von Radioaktivität ernähren oder Wasser atmen — von anderen exotischen Gewohnheiten und Bedürfnissen ganz zu schweigen. Es ist ein ökologisches Tollhaus und ein organisatorischer Irrwitz, aber es ist für alle da und es funktioniert. Es ist im wahrsten Sinne des Wortes — lebensnotwendig.