Final Diagnosis: A Sector General Novel [Mass Market Paperback]

James White (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 15, 1998

It's a massive hospital space station on the Galactic rim--384 levels, a staff of thousands--where human and alien medicine meet.

But Patient Hewlitt, new to Sector General, doesn't want to meet alien medicine--or alien doctors, or alien nurses, or aliens of any kind. Which is just too bad; he's an interesting case, and he'll have to get used to it.

In the meantime, it's always been an article of faith among Sector General's multispecies staff that infections can't pass from one alien race to another. But in this season of anomalies, it looks like they might have their first-ever interstellar virus on their hands, their tentacles, their cilla....

Combining intrigue, ingenious puzzles (and even more ingenious solutions), action, adventure and White's characteristic easy charm, Final Diagnosis is a science-fiction treat.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

The latest Sector General novel in White's deep-space medical series featuring a mammoth space hospital (e.g., The Galactic Gourmet, LJ 7/96), Final Diagnosis revolves around the possibility of a cross-species interstellar virus. Referred to Sector General, Patient Hewlitt overcomes his extreme xenophobia to help the doctors and nurses uncover the cause of the inexplicable illnesses that have plagued him throughtout his life. A fascinating character study whose on-target delineation of the "us" vs. "them" mentality is particularly relevant to out diverse world today; highly recommended.
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Booklist

Despite the ominous title, all ends well in this imaginatively conceived story spiced by witty satire. Hewlitt, an Earthling, should have died three times in accidents on planet Etla the Sick, so everybody at Sector General--the deep-space hospital White introduced as long ago as 1962--presumes the transfer patient made up his accident tales. A variety of other-species professionals and trainees who at first upset the xenophobic Hewlitt examine and treat him. Slowly, Hewlitt begins to socialize with Kelgians, Tralthans, and Duthans. (The basic trick to socializing is keeping your eyes on your plate at mealtimes so you won't become nauseated.) Hewlitt learns that Kelgians don't have a bedside manner and that he can cheat at scremmen just as well as his new companions. When pathologist Murchison realizes that Hewlitt's cat has lived twice as long as usual for its species, the pieces of the Hewlitt puzzle start falling into place. Old fans of Sector General will be delighted by this new episode. So will series newcomers. William Beatty --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Tor Science Fiction (July 15, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0812562682
• ISBN-13: 978-0812562682
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4.2 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.1 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,747,045 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I'm glad this wasn't the last book in the series after all, March 31, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Final Diagnosis: A Sector General Novel (Mass Market Paperback)

*Final Diagnosis* refers back to *Star Surgeon*, which pleased me because that the first Sector General book I ever read [in 1967 or 1968, when paperbacks were only 50 cents]. If you've read that earlier book you'll enjoy reading how things turned out, and you should enjoy the book even if you haven't. Although, as another reviewer mentioned, it's easy to figure out most of what's going on (once Hewlitt remembers his kitten's accident, the incident with Morredeth is inevitable, etc.), that doesn't matter much. Never mind the "mystery", the book is worth reading for the characters alone. I only wish, for new readers' sake, that series remained in print as long now as they did when I was a girl. The internet makes it easier to find out-of-print books than it used to be, but that's no substitute for being able to order all the earlier books from the publisher. Ann E. Nichols

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars White is still the best at this style scifi!, January 24, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Final Diagnosis: A Sector General Novel (Mass Market Paperback)

As a long time reader of White's Sector General novels i was definitly not disappointed with his newest. I really enjoyed Patient Hewlett's attempts to get over his xenophobia. No one writes aliens like White. You really want to meet these creatures by the end of his books. His plots are always wonderfully off kilter. It is good old fashioned science fiction in the best sense of the word. You can read them out of order but to get the full effect try to find the earlier books as well.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great medical detetive story with a twist!, July 20, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Final Diagnosis: A Sector General Novel (Mass Market Paperback)

A different look at both medicine and culture, and how the two interact, with both interesting charaters and believable situations involing both medicine, patient's rights and how de-humanizing medicine can be "for our own good", and madding when doctors try to make our decisions for us, Petient Hewlitt must fight those who view him as a mential case looking for attention. This is a field seldom looked into in Science Fiction, where it is assumed the future will hold no illness, and everthing can be cured.