Stardoc by SL Viehl
Title: Stardoc
Author: SL Viehl
Series: Stardoc #1
Genre: Medical space opera (speaking of niche genres)
Pages: 394
Copyright Date: 2000
Cover: A dark-haired woman in a white lab coat leans over a futuristic operating table with a green scaly alien on it, while another alien assists and two more watch.
First line: "I bet Hippocrates never stepped one foot into a dump like this, I thought as I peered through the tavern's narrow entrance. Oath or no oath."
Best part: Engaging, fast-paced plot.
Worst part: I like the whole "enemies becoming friends" thing, but some stuff shouldn't be forgiven. I know that's cryptic but I don't want to give too much away - still, I feel like Cherijo is too much of a pushover when it comes to her personal boundaries.
Grade: C+
Recommended for: People who watch House and read David Weber, or any other interest in both medicine and sci fi.
Related Reads: I don't know of anything that is really like this book, though Grimspace by Ann Aguillere and The Merro Tree by Katie Waitman have a similar feel.
Cherijo Grey Veil is tired of living in her father's shadow. Galactically known as a pioneer of medicine, he sucks at being a human. Cherijo has embraced his dream for her - becoming a surgeon - but she doesn't want to be micromanaged forever. When she sees her chance, she escapes to a remote frontier world. She wants only to practice in the trauma room and try to forget the awful secret she learned. But nothing is as it seems.
This is a pretty strong title, although I wish the main character could grow a backbone in her personal life. I mean, I realize that growing up with a megalomaniac is unlikely to inspire that to evolve naturally, but I found it very frustrating. That stopped it from being a great book, in my opinion. C+. I hope to see more of Dr. Veil protecting herself in future books.
Author: SL Viehl
Series: Stardoc #1
Genre: Medical space opera (speaking of niche genres)
Pages: 394
Copyright Date: 2000
Cover: A dark-haired woman in a white lab coat leans over a futuristic operating table with a green scaly alien on it, while another alien assists and two more watch.
First line: "I bet Hippocrates never stepped one foot into a dump like this, I thought as I peered through the tavern's narrow entrance. Oath or no oath."
Best part: Engaging, fast-paced plot.
Worst part: I like the whole "enemies becoming friends" thing, but some stuff shouldn't be forgiven. I know that's cryptic but I don't want to give too much away - still, I feel like Cherijo is too much of a pushover when it comes to her personal boundaries.
Grade: C+
Recommended for: People who watch House and read David Weber, or any other interest in both medicine and sci fi.
Related Reads: I don't know of anything that is really like this book, though Grimspace by Ann Aguillere and The Merro Tree by Katie Waitman have a similar feel.
Cherijo Grey Veil is tired of living in her father's shadow. Galactically known as a pioneer of medicine, he sucks at being a human. Cherijo has embraced his dream for her - becoming a surgeon - but she doesn't want to be micromanaged forever. When she sees her chance, she escapes to a remote frontier world. She wants only to practice in the trauma room and try to forget the awful secret she learned. But nothing is as it seems.
This is a pretty strong title, although I wish the main character could grow a backbone in her personal life. I mean, I realize that growing up with a megalomaniac is unlikely to inspire that to evolve naturally, but I found it very frustrating. That stopped it from being a great book, in my opinion. C+. I hope to see more of Dr. Veil protecting herself in future books.