Basil Tomlinson was a colonist on Pern during the First Pass. He was both the Pern obstetrician and Chief Medic. One of Basil's trained apprentices at Landing was Greta.
During the Second Crossing, Basil, along with Corazon Cervantes and Beth Eagles, responded to Jim Tillek's mayday after the black squall hit the boatyard where the Southern Cross was docked. Theo Force told them about Tillek's injuries, after Dart told her.
Basil was called in to try to save Alianne Zulieta at the new Fort Weyr, but she died in childbirth.
In the Second Pass, the records that Doctors Basil Tomlinson, Ziv Marchane and Shih Lao had kept during the First Pass regarding human and dragon threadscore were used to train medics for ground crew duty.
Personality and traits[]
Basil had dark skin. He was very good at his job.
Note[]
At one point it was thought that Greta's surname was Tomlinson and that she was either Basil Tomlinson's wife or daughter. In actual fact, Greta's name is found in only two places, and in only the US and UK versions of Dragonsdawn - when Sabra Stein-Ongola saw Basil and Greta arriving at Betty Musgrave-Blake’s house as the First Fall was approaching and when Greta assisted Sorka Hanrahan with the birth of her first child. Greta was never named as Greta Tomlinson, and while she was talking to Sorka, Greta always referred to Basil as only "Basil".