Mind Changer: A Sector General Novel (Sector General Novels) [Hardcover]

James White (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1998 | Series: Sector General Novels

In Mind Changer, White focuses on the longest-running character in his universe: the fearsome Dr. O'Mara, who during his years as Chief Psychologist has left his figurative toothmarks on most of the hospital's senior residents. In the course of practicing deep-space medicine on the Galactic Rim, the multispecies staff of Sector General Hospital has seen more than its share of challenges. But now the staff are facing a terrifying new development: Dr. O'Mara has been promoted to head of the hospital.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

The latest novel in White's long-running and justly popular Sector General series (Final Diagnosis, etc.)Aabout a far future, multispecies, interstellar hospitalAfeatures an unlikely protagonist. He is Dr. O'Mara, the formidable and ferocious Chief Psychologist of Sector General, newly appointed head of the hospital until he can choose and train his successor. As O'Mara embarks on that quest, his 30-year career at Sector General unfolds through a series of flashbacks, which also reveal a great deal about the early careers of some of the other ongoing characters in the series. Also depicted is the early progress with the Educator tapes that have allowed interspecies surgery through mental imprintingAone of White's more original, durable and admirable concepts. Through O'Mara's entire career runs his bond with Marrasarah, the Kelgian female surgeon whose Educator tape O'Mara used first, and for whom he developed therapies that helped her and other Kelgians severely disfigured by damage to their fur to lead sane and productive lives. The proliferation of flashbacks may occasionally confuse readers, but otherwise this is White's finest performance, replete with wit, originality, medical expertise and sheer decency. The Sector General saga is now in its 10th novel and 36th year, but it shows few signs of aging.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Readers of the 10 previous Sector General novels know what they're getting into here, and sf fans unfamiliar with the series should find out a.s.a.p. The Galactic Federation's huge hospital takes care of patients not only from the big five space bodies (Melf, Earth, Traltha, Kelgia, and Nidia) but also from some 60 other species. O'Mara, chief psychologist and once a construction worker in the hospital's early days, is, at this story's beginning, named chief administrator. White proceeds, with plenty of flashbacks, to then provide a vivid, at times suspenseful, account of O'Mara's long career. "Educator Tapes" form the main thread in the ensuing enjoyable, witty re sume that shows O'Mara skillfully working his way through several situations in which the tapes threaten to overwhelm an imprinted colleague and himself or in which they are misinterpreted. A word of advice: read Mind Changer where others won't be bothered by your appreciative chuckles. William Beatty

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 304 pages
• Publisher: Tor Books; 1st edition (October 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312866631
• ISBN-13: 978-0312866631
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.9 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,526,746 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars More About O'Mara, March 31, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Mind Changer: A Sector General Novel (Sector General Novels) (Hardcover)

Until *Mind Changer* came along, I hadn't realized how much I'd missed by not knowing more about the "nasty" Major O'Mara, even though I liked him. It's time for Major O'Mara to retire, and this book, like O'Mara himself, moves from the present to the past, and back. We learn more about the early days of Sector General and O'Mara's role in bringing about many items that are familiar to the series. Although the final revelation was obvious before chapter 15, that didn't spoil the book. Everything leading up to the end was interesting. I think anyone who cares about O'Mara will be pleased at his fate. [Note to the publisher: On p.217, full paragraph one, Padre Lorien is named, but the context makes it obvious that Padre Carmody is meant. If that IS an error, you may wish to correct it for the paperback.] Ann E. Nichols

5.0 out of 5 stars It's A Stotter!, May 10, 2003

By 

Heather Lennox "geordietyke" (Waitakere, Auckland New Zealand) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Mind Changer : A Sector General Novel (Mass Market Paperback)

Grrrrrrrrreat! James White does it again with another interesting story. I like the humour that runs through it.

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Arrived quickly and in great condition., October 27, 2010

By 

Michale - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Mind Changer : A Sector General Novel (Mass Market Paperback)

Can't say much other then the book arrived quickly and in good condition. If I had to buy it again I know where to come.