Reading order · 12 books · 1962 to 1999 · Set in space
Sector General Books in Order
Sector General is a huge hospital in deep space, built to treat every kind of alien life. Its doctors, human and otherwise, must work out how to cure creatures nobody has seen before. Humane, pacifist, puzzle-like science fiction.
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Series facts
- Books
- 12
- Published
- 1962 to 1999
- First book
- Hospital Station
- Latest
- Double Contact (1999)
- Setting
- Set in space
The reading order
Every Sector General book in publication order. Choose a title for its cast and summary.
12 books · Set in space
- 1Hospital Station1962With Dr ConwayStories about the early days of Sector Twelve General Hospital, a vast hospital in space, and a young doctor, Conway, learning his trade among patients of every shape and size.Buy on Amazon
- 2Star Surgeon1963With Dr ConwayThe hospital is attacked by an empire that believes it is a place of torture, and Conway must keep it running under siege.Buy on Amazon
- 3Major Operation1971With Dr ConwayConway faces his biggest challenge yet: a patient the size of a small country.Buy on Amazon
- 4Ambulance Ship1979With Dr ConwayConway, the empathic Prilicla and the pathologist Murchison crew the Rhabwar, an ambulance ship that answers calls for help from alien vessels.Buy on Amazon
- 5Sector General1983With Dr ConwayBuy on Amazon
- 6Star Healer1985With Dr ConwayConway is promoted to Diagnostician at Sector General, and must cope with several alien minds sharing his own as he faces his toughest cases.Buy on Amazon
- 7Code Blue – Emergency1987With Cha ThratCha Thrat, a warrior-surgeon from a world with very different rules, joins the hospital and causes chaos.Buy on Amazon
- 8The Genocidal Healer1991With LiorenLioren, a brilliant doctor whose mistake caused a catastrophe on another world, seeks punishment, and finds a new purpose at the hospital.Buy on Amazon
- 9The Galactic Gourmet1996With GurronsevasA famous alien chef arrives to improve the hospital’s terrible food, with unexpected results.Buy on Amazon
- 10Final Diagnosis1997With HewlittA human patient with an illness no one can diagnose is sent to Sector General.Buy on Amazon
- 11Mind Changer1998With O'MaraAs O’Mara, the hospital’s chief psychologist, prepares to retire, the story of his past is told.Buy on Amazon
- 12Double Contact1999The ambulance ship Rhabwar faces a delicate first contact, where building trust with an alien species is as hard as saving lives.Buy on Amazon
Do you need to read them in order?
Read in publication order, starting with Hospital Station. Each book stands alone.
Who appears in which book
The series’ main characters, book by book. Lead means the book is told around them; minor covers cameos.
| Book | Dr Conway | O'Mara | Cha Thrat | Lioren | Gurronsevas | Hewlitt | Prilicla | Murchison |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Hospital Station | LLead | MMajor | ||||||
| 2 Star Surgeon | LLead | MMajor | MMajor | ·Minor | ||||
| 3 Major Operation | LLead | MMajor | MMajor | ·Minor | ||||
| 4 Ambulance Ship | LLead | MMajor | MMajor | ·Minor | ||||
| 5 Sector General | LLead | MMajor | MMajor | ·Minor | ||||
| 6 Star Healer | LLead | MMajor | MMajor | ·Minor | ||||
| 7 Code Blue – Emergency | ·Minor | MMajor | LLead | MMajor | ·Minor | |||
| 8 The Genocidal Healer | ·Minor | MMajor | ·Minor | LLead | MMajor | ·Minor | ||
| 9 The Galactic Gourmet | ·Minor | MMajor | LLead | MMajor | ·Minor | |||
| 10 Final Diagnosis | ·Minor | MMajor | LLead | MMajor | ·Minor | |||
| 11 Mind Changer | ·Minor | LLead | MMajor | MMajor | ·Minor | |||
| 12 Double Contact | ·Minor | MMajor | MMajor | ·Minor |
Characters in the Sector General books
8 characters from James White’s chart, with the number of Sector General books each appears in.
| Character | Books | First in this series |
|---|---|---|
| Dr ConwayDoctor who rises to Diagnostician | 12 | Hospital Station 1962 |
| O'MaraChief Psychologist | 12 | Hospital Station 1962 |
| Cha ThratSommaradvan warrior-surgeon | 2 | Code Blue – Emergency 1987 |
| LiorenTarlan doctor seeking redemption | 2 | The Genocidal Healer 1991 |
| GurronsevasTralthan chef | 1 | The Galactic Gourmet 1996 |
| HewlittPatient with a mysterious illness | 1 | Final Diagnosis 1997 |
| PriliclaEmpathic Cinrusskin doctor | 11 | Star Surgeon 1963 |
| MurchisonPathologist | 11 | Star Surgeon 1963 |