James White Books In Order

Publication Order of Sector General Books

Publication Order of Standalone Novels

Publication Order of Short Stories/Novellas

Publication Order of Short Story Collections

Publication Order of Stellar Books

Publication Order of Anthologies

James White is an Irish author that passed away in 1999 at the age of 71. James wrote science fiction and gained fame for his short stories and novels.

+Biography

James white was born in 1928 in Belfast. A student of St. John’s Primary school and St. Joseph’s technical Secondary school in Northern Ireland, it was James White’s dream to become a doctor.

However, studying medicine was not in the cards, not with this foster parents’ financial situation. So James instead found work with a couple of tailoring firms around Belfast before finally marrying Margaret Sarah Martin.

Several things connected James to his future wife, and science fiction was one of them. James’ love for the genre grew in 1941 as he encountered stories of good and evil aliens from the likes of E.E. Smith.

James also found Robert A. Heinlein’s work compelling because it looked at science fiction tales from the perspective of an ordinary person. Margaret was also a fan of science fiction. The two were married in 1955, eventually having two sons and a daughter.

Outside his work running department stores, James had an opportunity to produce a magazine called /Slant’ with another Irish fan of science fiction called Walter A. Willis. The pair garnered interest from other science fiction fans by collecting story contributions from Bob Shaw, John Brunner and other notable authors of the time.

For James, writing wasn’t a plan he intentionally concocted. Rather, it all began when the team at James’ magazine grew exhausted with all the doom and gloom surrounding the science fiction stories being published in popular magazines like ‘Astounding Science Fiction’.

James, chief amongst the complainers, was challenged to write a story that went against the norm. And he did just that, though he didn’t stop there, instead writing several more science fiction stories.

However, James’ stories rarely attracted the attention he desired. He realized that if he wanted to break out internationally, he had little choice but to get some of his stories published in popular magazines like ‘Astounding Science Fiction’.

However, those plans quickly turned to ash with the publication of one of his stories called ‘The Scavengers’. James White revealed that the editors at ‘Astounding Science Fiction’ took offense to his concepts of inter-species relations.

Luckily for James White, his talent alone was enough to attract interest from readers and publishers; though, James often admitted that publishing during those days wasn’t particularly difficult.

Success for James White began when he got Ace Books to publish his first novel called ‘The Secret Visitors’. Even though James went on to write numerous other science fiction books and short stories, he chose to keep his day job because writing full-time didn’t pay very well, at least not at that time.

The author had an opportunity to teach literature at the Workers Educational Association branch in Belfast before his eyesight was heavily debilitated by diabetes to the point where he had to retire in 1984.

James’ death in 1999 came as a result of a stroke.

Most critics recognized James for his efforts as a relatively decent writer who would, sometimes, produce some first rate work. He also had a penchant for eliciting devoted fans, though he never quite hit it big in the mainstream.

The author has been commended for creating some of the most unique alien casts of characters in science fiction. While other authors were happy to simply blend aspects of humanity with otherworldly physical forms, James White’s Aliens were truly alien.

James has also been criticized for being a little too formulaic in his storytelling. James admitted in a couple of interviews that he tended to lose himself in the experiences of his characters, sometimes at the detriment of the plot.

Because he had such a strong desire to do medicine as a young man, it is hardly surprising that so many of James’ stories are medical in nature.

James’ books, though popular in some circles, have never received any major awards. However, even without a Hugo or Nebula Award, James’ work was still recognized. His NESFA Edward E. Smith Memorial Award is nothing to scoff at.

And very few science fiction authors have had the pleasure of having an award named after them. The James White Award is given to non-professional writers with the Best Short Story.

+Hospital Station

All sorts of strange creatures can be found at Sector General. However, that is hardly a surprise. The vast hospital was built to accommodate all manner of alien life forms, which is why there are so many sections with customized atmospheres.

Life in Sector General is nothing to scoff at, what with all the unique problems that often arise.

This is a pretty simple and good-natured story, one that is free of the action and violence common in most other science fiction novels. The story revolves around a massively enormous facility that caters to the medical needs of any life forms that come that way.

The hospital is staffed by every kind of alien one can imagine, which makes for a lot of fun interactions especially in light of all the conversations that happen between the aliens and the humans.

This book is more like a collection of short stories than anything else. IN fact, this is more of a collection of novellas than the singular story of a novel.

+Star Surgeon

Sector General is back. A massive hospital station, Sector General has always given shelter and medical assistance to the different denizens of space whenever the need arose. However, the facility now faces a threat in the form of dangerous creatures with great power.

This book, the second in the Sector General series, is basically an episode of ‘House’ in space. An Alien is dying from what appears to be a simple skin infection. However, attempts to cure the alien are met with dangerous defense mechanisms.

The staff of Sector General must think outside the box in order to find an effective solution to the mysterious medical ailment. This book doesn’t live up to the quality of its predecessor.

The characters are a little thin. James White’s attempts at expanding his world fail because he doesn’t deliver enough satisfactory answers. The book will definitely entertain some readers, though.