The first part, where the doctors try to work out how to treat Lonvellin, is much more interesting than the second part where Sector General comes under military attack from an empire trying to cover up its own misdeeds. I found the first one with O'Mara as the main character a little heavy going but the rest kept me reading to see what the answers to the puzzles were, though I could have done with more exploration of the different species and how their psychology differed as well as their physical differences. The first book in the series was a collection of short stories originally published in magazines with little to no linking material. Why haven’t we discovered intelligent life out there? Because we’re too stupid to visit.) ( ) (Because yes, pretty much every novel I’ve read, and every movie I’ve seen, to date, has been embarrassing for its UNintelligent approach to alien.

Finally, an intelligent approach to alien life. This was accomplished not by a slow, patient buildup and widening of communications until the exchange of complex philosophical and sociological concepts became possible, but by giving medical assistance to a sick alien.” I mention the Cultural Contact group’s three successes simply to make the point that within the same time period this hospital became fully operational and also initiated First contacts, which resulted in seven new species joining the Federation. I will not bore you with the details of the number of survey operations mounted and the ships, personnel and materiel involved, or shock you with the cost of it all. “… During the past twenty years,” O’Mara went on, “they have initiated First Contact procedure on three occasions, all of which resulted in the species concerned joining the Federation. Although small, the group was not, regrettably, overworked …

“The Cultural contact people were the elite of the Monitor Corps, a small group of specialists in e-t communications, philosophy and psychology. Note the exclusion of specialists in any of the hard sciences.

Note in the first paragraph below (from Alien Emergencies), the inclusion of specialists in communications, philosophy, and psychology. James White’s Sector General series should be required reading for ANYONE assigned to first contact missions.

Hospital Station by James White