I remember reading a short story (in a collection of short stories) when I was teenager about a man who worked on a space station, I think. Normally he had a great reputation wherever he worked in the past, but for interest sake, he decided to be a complete arsehole on this project. During part of his work day, a baby alien was at risk of being crushed and its parents dived in to save it. The baby was saved, but the parents were crushed. As it was deemed his fault, the man was given the responsibility for looking after the baby - which had to live in high gravity conditions, which meant the man could barely move. It's a steep learning curve, but the man prevails. It was a short story in a collection of stories. The man in question goes on to become the commander of the space station, I believe. In another short story from the collection, an alien ship crashes into the station. They try to communicate with an alien that is rampaging around (as it's lost it communicator or broken it?) and eventually the alien has to be shot. The person who shoots it is full of guilt, until they find out the alien wasn't a member of the alien crew - 'merely' one of the crew's pets. Is anyone familiar with these stories and could tell me what anthology I'm dimly remembering? Many thanks!
Help! Can't remember the title of this short story collection
- Thread starter Linz
- Start date
Danny McG
Lid closed, monkey dead.
The first story is one of the James White Hospital General stories.
I think the man was helping to build the space station when the accident happened - it's a long time since I read it, maybe he was called O'Hara
I think the man was helping to build the space station when the accident happened - it's a long time since I read it, maybe he was called O'Hara
It’s definitely Sector General stories by the wonderful James White. I think Major O’Mara is who Danny has in mind.
JunkMonkey
Lord High Vizier of Nowt
I concur. I think it was Hospital Station:
Here's a gallery of covers that might ring a bell:
www.isfdb.org
Here's a gallery of covers that might ring a bell:
All Covers for Hospital Station
hitmouse
Well-Known Member
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No doubt at all. I reread the entire SG collection a couple of years ago. Lovely, humane space opera.
The first story is Medic, which was the first in the entire series. I think the second one is Outpatient. These were originally collected in Hospital Station (1962) but more recently slmost the entire series was republished as 3 collected volumes (Beginning Operations, Alien Emergencies, General Practice) which were available through Amazon last time I looked.
The stories you want are in Beginning Operations which is highly recommended.
The first story is Medic, which was the first in the entire series. I think the second one is Outpatient. These were originally collected in Hospital Station (1962) but more recently slmost the entire series was republished as 3 collected volumes (Beginning Operations, Alien Emergencies, General Practice) which were available through Amazon last time I looked.
The stories you want are in Beginning Operations which is highly recommended.
Last edited:
Danny McG
Lid closed, monkey dead.
Yeah, that was him.
My memory said O'Hara - so it goes
Thank you!
Thank you!
Thank you!I concur. I think it was Hospital Station:
Here's a gallery of covers that might ring a bell:
All Covers for Hospital Station
Thank you!
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