Mind Changer

James White’s Sector General series has been a favorite with SF readers for more than three decades. Now, in Mind Changer, White focuses on the longest-running character in his 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 — a 384-level space station catering to patients from all known worlds — has seen more than its share of challenges, from alien species that resemble plague, and plagues caused by cafeteria food, to cafeteria food that resembles some alien species. They’re a tough and experienced crew. But now the staff are facing a terrifying new development; Dr. O’Mara has been promoted to head of the hospital. Worse, he’s been given the job on a temporary basis, for just as long as it takes to train his own replacement as chief psychologist. After all these years, Dr. O’Mara is up for mandatory retirement. Nobody at Sector General can begin to imagine what they’ll do without him — assuming they last long enough to find out.