Double Contact (38 page)
Authors: James White
“A degree of informality is acceptable,” said the sector marshal, its eyes turning towards Prilicla, “especially from someone who has achieved so much here. I feel no insult at your mode of address, little friend, and your empathic faculty is already telling you that, among other things.⦔
There was an unusual feeling of warmth and expectancy emanating from the sector marshal that was characteristic of a pleasure soon to be shared. It showed its teeth in the grimace Earth-humans called a smile.
“⦠Besides,” it went on, “just before leaving for this meeting I received a signal from Administrator Braithwaite at the hospital to say that you have been appointed, or, more precisely, you have been elected unanimously to the rank of Diagnostician. My warmest congratulations, friend Prilicla.”
To Captain Fletcher it added dryly, “As I recall them, my words were âwhen convenient,' not âas soon as possible.' One does not give orders to a Sector General Diagnostician.”
James White
lived in Northern Ireland. He was a popular writer of science fiction for over forty years. His books include the Sector General series, starting with
Hospital Station,
Star Surgeon,
and
Major Operation,
which are collected in the omnibus
Beginning Operations.
He died in 1999. You can sign up for email updates
here
.
BOOKS BY
JAMES WHITE
The Secret Visitor
(1957)
Second Ending
(1962)
Deadly Litter
(1964)
Escape Orbit
(1965)
The Watch Below
(1966)
All Judgement Fled
(1968)
The Aliens Among Us
(1969)
Tomorrow Is Too Far
(1971)
Dark Inferno
(1972)
The Dream Millennium
(1974)
Monsters and Medics
(1977)
Underkill
(1979)
Future Past
(1982)
Federation World
(1988)
The Silent Stars Go By
(1991)
The White Papers
(1996)
T
HE
S
ECTOR
G
ENERAL
S
ERIES
Hospital Station
(1962)
Star Surgeon
(1963)
Major Operation
(1971)
Ambulance Ship
(1979)
Sector General
(1983)
Star Healer
(1985)
Code BlueâEmergency
(1987)
The Genocidal Healer
(1992)
The Galactic Gourmet
(Tor, 1996)
Final Diagnosis
(Tor, 1997)
Praise for James White and the Sector General Novels
“The tales in the Sector General series are consistently entertaining, combining the best features of first-contact SF with the âhuman' interest of hospital stories.”
â
Locus
“White's finest performance, replete with wit, originality, medical expertise, and sheer decency. The Sector General saga is now in its tenth novel and thirty-sixth year, but it shows few signs of aging.”
â
Publishers Weekly
on
Mind Changer
(starred review)
“White has been presenting fresh creative aliens for forty years, with gentle humor and kindness.”
â
The Denver Post
“A fascinating character study whose on-target delineation of the âus' versus âthem' mentality is particularly relevant to our diverse world today. Highly recommended.”
â
Library Journal
on
Final Diagnosis
“Masterfully crafted ⦠Pure catnip for science fiction fans.”
â
Romantic Times
on
Final Diagnosis
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Contents
Praise for James White and the Sector General Novels
This is a work of fiction. All the characters and events portrayed in this book are either products of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously.
DOUBLE CONTACT
Copyright © 1999 by James White
All rights reserved.
Edited by Teresa Nielsen Hayden
A Tor Book
Published by Tom Doherty Associates, LLC
175 Fifth Avenue
New York, NY 10010
Tor
®
is a registered trademark of Tom Doherty Associates, LLC.
ISBN: 0-812-56860-5
Our e-books may be purchased in bulk for promotional, educational, or business use. Please contact the Macmillan Corporate and Premium Sales Department at (800) 221-7945, extension 5442, or by e-mail at
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First edition: November 1999
First mass market edition: August 2000
eISBN 9780765389862
First eBook edition: October 2015