James White: The Things Are Also People

 An author often overlooked except by authors fond of obscures references (such as Grant Morrison) is James White, whose space medicine series Sector General, a Star Trek: Doctor Space Nine or Lensmen with a pathology lab, was an analgesic to the militarism of science fiction. Such a view is not surprising from a Northern Irishman who grew up in the Troubles (which lasted even longer in the Star Trek universe, according to Data). White's team of Star Surgeons is a mix of different species, all of whom are dedicated to the treatment of patients, no matter their provenance. The specialized knowledge required to treat the patients could never be contained in any sapient brain, so the pre-surgery preparation involves "Educator tapes" created by the best medical minds of the patient's species - or whichever species is closest to J'onn Doe. The tapes, however, contain a partial psychology of the species, so the human who partakes may develop brief and exciting appetites. Actual appetites are limited to vegetarianism, due to potential trauma from observation of lunchmates. The species in the universe are organized by an alphabetical code, which is rendered in the Roman alphabet (for humans anyway). The team includes one spirited red-headed human woman, but there are alien women as well - especially Charge Nurse Naydrad, who is a giant caterpillar. The scandalous behavior of the methane-breathers is a running joke here, long before it appears on Babylon 5, and when I first saw Sikorsky of the Starjammers, I thought he might be a visual reference to the insectoid Dr. Prillicla.

When I read the ET ER comic one-shot, I had hoped it would be more like this rather than the Masquerade with ailing extraterrestrials, but the closest I have ever seen to a use of Sector General in modern media is its cameo in Grant Morrison's run of Green Lantern, in which Hal visits and later contributes to the destruction of the homage, complete with giant caterpillar nurse and empathic insect pathologist, while Hal continues on his way to death and eventual godhood. It would have been nice to see Sector General treated with more respect, but media portrayals of space hospital have generally not fared well in ratings. I am not sure whether this is due to the restriction of romantic plots or the necessity of television writers to eliminate the fiendishly clever puzzles in search of an audience less willing to face an intellectual challenge.