View source for Welcome to the Medical Clinic at the Interplanetary Relay Station

'''"Welcome to the Medical Clinic at the Interplanetary Relay Station │ Hours Since the Last Patient Death: 0"''' is a [[science fiction]] short story by [[Caroline M. Yoachim]]. It was first published in ''[[Lightspeed (magazine)|Lightspeed]]'', in March 2016.
==Synopsis==
"Welcome to the Medical Clinic at the Interplanetary Relay Station" is a [[second-person narrative]] in the style of a [[gamebook]], depicting a scenario in which an employee of a [[space station]] seeks medical care for an injury. At various points throughout the story, the reader is offered a choice as to what the employee should do; however, all choices lead to the employee's "horrible, painful death".
==Reception==
"Welcome to the Medical Clinic at the Interplanetary Relay Station" was a finalist for the [[Nebula Award for Best Short Story]] of 2016.<ref name=Nebula>[https://nebulas.sfwa.org/nominated-work/welcome-medical-clinic-interplanetary-relay-station%E2%94%82hours-since-last-patient-death-0/ “Welcome to the Medical Clinic at the Interplanetary Relay Station│Hours Since the Last Patient Death: 0”] at [[Science Fiction Writers of America]]; retrieved August 13, 2022</ref> ''[[Kirkus Reviews]]'' felt that the story led to "hilarity",<ref name=Kirkus>[https://www.kirkusreviews.com/news-and-features/articles/adventures-short-science-fiction/  Adventures in Short Science Fiction], reviewed by [[SF Signal|John DeNardo]], at ''[[Kirkus Reviews]]''; published September 19, 2018; retrieved August 13, 2022</ref> while ''[[Tangent Online]]'' called it "terrifically funny".<ref name=Tangent>[https://tangentonline.com/e-market-monthly/lightspeed/lightspeed-70-march-2016/ Lightspeed #70, March 2016], reviewed by Bob Blough, at ''[[Tangent Online]]''; published March 30, 2016; retrieved August 13, 2022</ref> ''[[Rocket Stack Rank]]'' found it to be "very silly", but considered this to be a negative.<ref name=RSR>[http://www.rocketstackrank.com/2016/03/welcome-to-medical-clinic-at.html Welcome to the Medical Clinic at the Interplanetary Relay Station | Hours Since the Last Patient Death: 0, by Caroline M. Yoachim], reviewed by Greg Hullender, at [[Rocket Stack Rank]]; published March 8, 2016; retrieved August 13, 2022</ref>
==References==
{{reflist}}
==External links==
*[https://www.lightspeedmagazine.com/fiction/welcome-to-the-medical-clinic-at-the-interplanetary-relay-station/ Text of the story]
*{{isfdb title|2126073}}
[[Category:Science fiction short stories]]
[[Category:Works originally published in online magazines]]