Is there a Doctor in these First Lines?

Image is of an illustration of a book lying open at a 30 degree angle with the words First lines across the two page spread, above the book is a red banner that reads Discover your Next read a banner across the bottom reads presented by and below that banner are logos for lynettemburrows.com and rocket dog publishing

Readers, do you look at the first lines of a story when you’re shopping for your next read? As writers, we’re often told that the first line of a story must hook the reader (particularly if that reader is an editor.) Implied is that the editor will not buy the book if the first line isn’t great. But the hooky-ness of a first line is in the eyes of the beholder.

This month’s First Lines post celebrates National Women Physicians Day. First Lines is a series of blog articles posted on around the first of the month. Inspired by a friend’s suggestion that I write a post on how to write the first line of your story, I started this series to inspire my own writing with these examples hoping they will also inspire other writers. Most importantly, these posts are to inspire readers to read and buy books they may not have heard of otherwise.

The cover of the surgeon in the mirror by RDD Smith is a dark blue in the center that fades to a light blue, lines and circles suggest a printed circuit board, in the deep blue central area is a close up of a human eye with a portion of the bridge of the nose, the eyebrow, and cheek hinted at.

Prologue

Surgical robots are mechanical and electronic devices that assist a human surgeon in performing procedures that have proven difficult with traditional surgical tools. The first crude versions of these were used on a human patient in 1998. By 2000, much more reliable machines were available and began to proliferate through the healthcare systems around the world. The best of these machines could improve the fidelity, dexterity, and stability of the surgeon’s hand, while also magnifying the surgical field to improve visibility of the tissue. Until 2033, these robots were entirely driven by human decisions and movements. 

The Surgeon in the Mirror,

Dr. Monica Gray, Medical Technothrillers Book 1, R.D.D. Smith

Image of the cover of Doctor Galaxy shows a woman with long dark hair in medical scrubs with a stethescope around her neck, her arms are crossed ans she's standing at a 45 degree angle away from a muscular young man in a blue uniform that appears to be military inspired. Behind them is the floor-to-ceiling portal of a spaceship showing a planet in deep space.

It’s rare to lose a boyfriend, a fortune, and your future in one day, but I’ve always been an overachiever.

Pausing outside the gate to the space elevator, I tagged at the side seam of my black skirt. After years hidden beneath medical scrubs, my knees felt naked in the Australian sunshine.

A bird laughed hysterically in a nearby eucalyptus tree.

Glancing up and around for the avian Heckler, I stumbled in my heels.”

Doctor Galaxy,

Pax Galactica Book 1 Jenny Schwartz 

Cover of Doctor to the Stars has an image on the upper half of the cover. The image is of a lone astronaut standing on the surface of a strange planet staring At a structure with a very tall open door. The lower half has a yellow background with the author and title in black type.

The little Med ship seemed absolutely motionless when the hour-off warning whirred. Then it continued to seem motionless. The background-noise tapes went on, making the small, unrelated sounds that exist unnoticed in all the places where human beings dwell, but which have to be provided in a ship in overdrive so a man doesn’t go ship-happy from the dead stillness. The hour-off warning was notice of a change in the shape of things.

Calhoun put aside his book—the manual of the Med Service—and yawned. He got up from his bunk to tidy ship. Murgatroyd, the tormal, opened his eyes and regarded him drowsily, without uncoiling his furry tail from his nose.“

Doctor to the Stars,

Murray Leinster

Cover of Lady Doctor Wyre is divided into angled thirds. In the middle third a photo of a young woman in period dress gazing into the eyes of a handsome young man in a waistcoat while behind her is an equally handsome young man his jacket slung over his near shoulder, his white shirt collar open and his sleeve rolled up past his elbows. This three-some is at an angle so that a blue planet is beneath them and a space view of a planet is behind them in the top third.

Seven years on this backwater colony planet had taught Charlotte a great deal. She didn’t need her title as Duchess of Wyre, or former position in Society as Queen’s Physician, to provide for herself. More importantly, while difficult and not recommended, one could indeed live without a cup of tea every day.

But perhaps she’d made a mistake by flirting with the polite and handsome sheriff to pass the time.

“I cannot marry you.” She struggled to take a deep breath through the heartache banding her chest, made even more difficult by her corset. She’d given up silks and tea, but a lady could have some luxuries even while on the run.“

Lady Doctor Wyre,

A Jane Austen Space Opera, Joely Sue Burkhart

At the top of The cover of Robin Cook's Mutation is the phrase "#1 New York Times Bestselling Author". It has his name justified left in large white capital letters on the top two thirds of a mostly dark gray background with the word in the vacant gray area beside the word Robin is a quote "Master of the medical thriller!" The New York Times. Mutation is in equally large letters at the bottom of the cover. Under that word is a quote "Holds you page after page!" --Larry King, USA Today. Between the author's name and the title justified right is a photograph of a hallway that ends in red double doors ajar with a bright light shining through the windows at head height and between the doors. The light obscures vague shapes in the room behind the doors. Above the doors is a sign that in large red letters reads "Laboratory restricted area."

Prologue

October 11, 1978

“Oh, God!” Mary Millman said, gripping the sheets with both hands. The agony was starting again in there lower abdomen, spreading rapidly into her groin and into her lower back like a shaft of molten steel.

“Give me something for the pain! Please! I can’t stand it!” Then she screamed.

“Mary, you’re doing fine,” Dr. Stedman said calmly. “Just take deep breaths.” He was putting on a pair of rubber gloves, snapping the fingers into place.

“I can’t take it,” Mary cried hoarsely. She twisted herself into a different position, but it didn’t provide any relief.“

Mutation, 

Robin Cook

Clarification

There are no affiliate links in this post. I don’t make a cent off of the books listed on this page. Usually I pull these titles at random. They are from Amazon, my personal library, my area public library, or other online booksellers. 

Do You Want to Read More?

Do these first lines hook you? If you didn’t find your next read in this post, check out previous First Lines posts.

Do you want to read more? They are here for your enjoyment. And to entice you to buy more books. Let me know which ones sparked your interest.

Remember Reviews Don’t Have to be Difficult

No matter what book you’re reading, leave a a few words on the site where you bought it, a readers site, or the author’s site. Just say the kind of thing you would tell a friend about it. Reviews are always appreciated by writer and readers alike.

Featured image created by Lynette M Burrows

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