Like a sprawling, misshapen Christmas tree the lights of Sector General Hospital blazed against the misty backdrop of the stars.
I'm still not too sure whether 'Sector General' is too short for its length or too long for its shortth. Jim himself ruefully admitted that John Carnell would have rejected the story in its present form if an upcoming issue of New Worlds hadn't sprung a 17,000-word hole. But it's worth reading just for this neat little first-contact scene: "My name is O'Mara, said the Major in a pleasant voice. "I'm the Chief Psychologist of this madhouse. You, I take it, are Dr Conway." O'Mara smiles. Conway smiles in return, knowing that it looked forced, and that O'Mara knew it also. Always start as you mean to go on . . .
In magazines
| Title | Published as | Language | Editor | Date | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
New Worlds 65, November 1957 | English | John Carnell | November 1957 | |
|
Galassia 32, 15 August 1963 | Il pupo; Emergenza; Emily | Italian | Roberta Rambelli | 15 August 1963 |
|
Galaktika folyóirat, March 1987 | Doki; Általános szektor (part 1 of 2) | Hungarian | Sziládi János | March 1987 |
|
Galaktika folyóirat, April 1987 | Általános szektor (part 2 of 2); Bajok Emilyvel; Látogató nagyban (part 1 of 2) | Hungarian | Sziládi János | April 1987 |
In anthologies
| Title | Editor | Year | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
The Big Book of Science Fiction: The Ultimate Collection | Ann VanderMeer, Jeff VanderMeer | 2016 |
In James White's books
| Title | Type | Year | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Hospital Station | Fix-up novel | 1962 |
|
Beginning Operations | Omnibus | 2001 |
NEW WORLDS No 65, November 1957
Publication History: Hospital Station
ISFDB title record (CC BY 4.0).