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James White, b.1928-d.1999 |
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****Hyperlinked titles will take you to our copy on sale or prebuilt searches of copies on sale**** Useful Links: Titles to Look Out For: James White was born in Belfast, Northern Ireland, on April 7, 1928 and spent part of his early life in Canada. He was educated at St. John's Primary School (1935-41) and St. Joseph's Technical Secondary School (1942-43), both in Belfast. He married Margaret ("Peggy") Sarah Martin in 1955. They had three children: daughter Patricia, and sons Martin and Peter. Until 1955, White worked for several Belfast tailoring firms and was an assistant manager in the Co-Op department store. Then he became a technical clerk (1965-66), publicity assistant (1966-68), and publicity officer (1968-84) with plane-makers Short Brothers, Ltd. He made good use of this varied background material in such works as 'Counter Security' (1963) and Tomorrow is Too Far (1971). White was introduced to to science fiction by 'Astounding Science Fiction', in 1941. Astounding (Analog since 1960), dominated the Golden Age of magazine sf (c. 1938-50). During 1941 alone, editor John W. Campbell, Jr. (1910-71) presented such classic novels as Methuselah's Children by Robert A. Heinlein and Second Stage Lensman by E. E. "Doc" Smith. (See A Requiem for Astounding. by Alva Rogers: Advent, Chicago, 1964.) Six years later, White met the noted Irish fan Walter A. ("Walt") Willis (1919-99) when they were both hunting for the same American sf magazines. They would help produce two of the most distinctive -- and collectable -- fanzines: Slant (1948-53) and Hyphen (1952-65: special one-off issue, 1987). Both titles featured fiction and non-fiction by such 'real' authors as John Brunner, A. Bertram Chandler, and fellow Ulsterman Bob Shaw (1931-96). Shaw, author of the classic novel Other Days, Other Eyes (1972), deserves a Paperback-Parade article to himself. At that time James White had no ambition to become a professional writer. He was busy producing woodcut illustrations for Slant, but facing too much competition from friend Gerard Quinn, who was a frequent cover/interior artist for British prozines. Quinn also did many fine Pan paperback covers, e.g. Arthur C. Clarke's Prelude to Space (No. 301, 1954). When eventually White took up authorhood seriously, he researched the available markets with a thoroughness that was typically him. The magazine 'Astounding' had fallen into a thematic rut: "Every other story seemed to be a post-HotWar disaster epic, with the human race reduced to pre-technological barbarism and menaced by malignant mutants" (Blackthorn). Thankfully, however, there was New Worlds magazine, which--after a false three-issue start during 1946-47 -- began regular publication in 1949. Its original editor, E. John ("Ted") Carnell (1912-72) remained at the helm until 1964, when he handed control over to Michael Moorcock. New Worlds: An Anthology (Flamingo, London, 1983), edited by Moorcock, contains much excellent fiction and non-fiction, plus an issue-by-issue index. After taking several different approaches, White finally wrote the kind of story that he liked to read. 'Assisted Passage' (an interplanetary spoof on current Anglo-Australian emigration policies) duly saw print in New-Worlds for January 1953. But: "Being accepted by Carnell was sometimes a more traumatic experience than rejection. He waxed eloquent concerning my then somewhat unorthodox syntax and other grammatical deficiencies. Apparently, I had spelt 'manoeuvre' three different ways -- all of them wrong!" (Blackthorn). More short stories by James White were published in New Worlds over the next few years: 'Crossfire' (June 1953); 'The Conspirators' (June 1954); 'Starvation Orbit' (July 1954); 'The Star Walk' (March 1955); 'Boarding Party' (July 1955). 'Dynasty of One' appeared in Carnell's Science-Fantasy (September 1955). He also made the small but high-quality Scottish magazine, Nebula, with 'Curtain Call' (August 1954) and 'Pushover Planet' (November 1955). 'Crossfire' became the first James White story to be anthologised, in The Best From New Worlds Science Fiction (T.V. Boardman paperback original, London, 1955), edited by John Carnell. There are many more titles that James White subsequently wrote. An initial selection has been prepared below; with the storylines for each book included where possible
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James White at Amazon: |
Story: This is the first of the chronicles of Sector General, a vast, galactic hospital-where everyone-and everything in the universe can be treated. The heroes are doctors and nurses-who have eight legs...or none; who breathe methane-or water. Each patient is a fantastic and challenging problem-such as getting close to an invalid whose 'food' is radiation; caring for a baby, who weighs half a ton... |
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Story: Star Surgeon is the second of the Chronicles of Sector General, the gigantic hospital, wheeling in space, where the sick of all kinds-from all worlds-come to receive treatment. But now for the first time, the hospital is threatened by creatures too different to understand its purpose-and so powerful that they can cause utter havoc. Sector General faces a fight for survival... |
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Story: Book contains 7 stories. Very good condition, nice clean copy. Story: On Earth or on Sector General... the aliens are here. Countercharm Star Surgeon Conway had to share his brain with an alien medic-but the alien was taking over. Occupation: Warrior. The Orligs were cute, cuddly teddy bears-but all they really wanted to do was batter humans to death. The Conspirators: Colonel Dermod had to fight a war-but his troops were cowards, handpicked by the enemy. Includes four more stories: To Kill or Cure; Red Alert; Tableau; The Scavengers |
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Edition Notes: First published in 1971 in the United States by Ballantine Books, in paperback Published in 1974 in the United States by Ballantine Books, in paperback, ISBN 0345242297 Published in 1981 in the United States by Del Rey, in paperback, ISBN 0345293819. Illustrated by Wayne Barlowe Published in 1986 in the United States by Ballantine Books, in paperback, ISBN 0345336739 Published in 1987 in Great Britain by Orbit Futura in paperback, 188 pages, ISBN 0708881858 The Novelettes comprising this volume first appeared in 'New Writings in S-F Nos. 7 , 12 , 14 , 16 , 18 Story: The book continues the stories about Sector General, the gigantic hospital floating in space. Story: Sector General had met many a challenge that was literally out of this world. But that was only normal. This hospital was the single greatest structure ever put together in space-hundreds of floors with every conceivable form of environment, pressure and gravity. Designed to accommodate virtually any creature brought in for observation or medical care, Sector General was staffed with at least a hundred different species of doctors and nurses. But there was trouble aboard. Some life form had entered the great hospital. The invader was invisible and undetectable-even by the empathic Cinrusskins-and it was creating hallucinations that were causing serious accidents... |
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Story: A Titanic Disaster. Mercer felt slightly ridiculous. Not only was he "new boy", but as ship's Medical Officer he was regarded by the crew with something less than respect. He might be a fully qualified medico, but his qualifications were required by space travel regulations. He was definitely not a professional spaceman-and therefore, to the other officers, simply an added burden to be coped with in the daily routine of a perfectly safe ship. Until disaster struck. Then suddenly Mercer's inexperience was equalled by that of everybody else aboard. The crew knew what to do with the ship-and they were very busy with it indeed. The passengers, in their pathetic, plastic pods, unprepared and completely helpless were entirely Doctor Mercer's problem... |
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Story: Fleeing the polluted, over-populated and incredibly violent society of Earth, a computer-controlled starship is embarked on a thousand year voyage in search for a new home for the nucleus of humanity it contains. Like seedlings in a gigantic metal pod, the humans inside the ship lie in suspended animation, confined in their Cold Sleep caskets and awakened only briefly and at lengthy intervals for physical and mental exercise. The only people with freedom of movement inside the ship are its crew of two, John Devlin and Patricia Morley, who are awakened to handle any decisions which are beyond the capabilities of the computer. But as the great vessel crawls interminably between the stars, they begin to realise that the many physical dangers which threaten the ship from without are of secondary importance to the growing threat to the sanity of the Cold Sleepers. For in that frigid sleep of suspended animation the dreams which come are strange indeed, and attack the very fabric of reality |
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Story: Continues the tales of Sector General Hospital, the gigantic hospital floating in space. The staff of Sector General were extravagantly varied... . There was Diagnostician Thornnastor, an over-sized elephantine, six-legged Tralthan, whose brilliant brain made him chief pathologist of the hospital. There was Doctor Prilicla, the empath, a fragile insect-like creature who could sense a patient's mental condition when everything else had failed. And Naydrad, the silver-furred caterpillar-like Kelgian-the Kelgians were unsurpassed as nurses. And then there was Senior Physician Conway, male earth-human, who was given the charge of the new mission into space-treating emergency patients out in the stars, patients of every size, life-form, and physiology, all awaiting SG's AMBULANCE SHIP |
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Story: Contains 4 stories of medical disaster from the fantastic intergalactic hospital: Sector General. |
1987, Orbit 1987, Ballantine 1983, Del Rey |
Edition Notes: First published in 1985 in the United States by Del Rey in paperback 0345320891 1987. First published in Great Britain by Orbit (Futura), 220 pages, ISBN 0708881874 Story: The book continues the stories of Sector General-the gigantic hospital wheeling in space with a staff of thousands comprising over 60 intelligent species. Of all the hospital's very capable staff, Senior Physician Conway, the human doctor in charge of the Ambulance Ship Rhabwar, is thought to be the most promising. So when he is replaced-without notice- by the birdlike alien Prilicla, Dr Conway is surprised, to say the least. But that is nothing compared to his shock when he is offered a promotion to a challenging new position. It is his for the taking. If he has the nerve... |
1985, Ballantine, pbk 1987, Futura, pbk |
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To the doctors and nurses of Sector General Hospital, Cha Thrat was just another trainee, but for Cha Thrat, life at Sector General was a most unnerving experience. Because her world had only recently been discovered by the Galactic Federation, she had never experienced the multiplicity of life-forms that populated Sector General-and no one knew what to expect of her. Cha Thrat was a skilled healer, diligent, careful and-according to her world's strict medical ethics-very responsible. Chief Psychologist O'Mara tried to help her adjust to her new life, but time after time, her best intentions caused only catastrophe. And even after she had been barred from nearly every ward in Sector General, O'Mara was still surprised by just how much havoc one nurse-trainee could cause...
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Published in Science Fiction Science Fact, Volume 100: 8 (August 1980),Conde Nast Publications, NY. Cover by Cover by Schoenherr. This magazine includes "The Cloak and the Staff" (novelette) by Gordon R. Dickson. "Federation World" (novelette) by James White; "Anasazi" (pt. 2 of 2) by Dean Ing; "Scrooge in Space" by Sam Nicholson; "Fit to Print" by David Lewis. Science Fact: "Death Risk" by Milton A. Rothman. Reader's Departments: "The Editor's Page"; "Biolog" (Gordon R. Dickson); "The Analog Calender of Events"; "In Times to Come"; "The Alternate View" by G. Harry Stine; "The Reference Library" by Spider Robinson; "Brass Tacks." Illustrated by John Schoenherr, Leo Summers, Broeck Steadman, John Sanchez, and Jeffrey Terreson First published 1988 in the United States by Del Rey, in paperback, 283pp, ISBN 0345352637 First published in 1990 in Great Britain by Orbit Futura, 284 pages, ISBN 0708883354 Story: The Federation of Galactic Sentients had a mission. As new planets and species were discovered and assessed, the deserving of their populations were invited to move en masse to the fabulous Federation World, a modified Dyson Sphere located in the galactic core. |
1988, Del Rey, pbk 1990, Futura, pbk |
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