The anticipated demise of general surgery is again premature and unwarranted. Rising from the ashes that many have predicted, general surgery has been resurrected despite these false prophets. The "abominable surgeons" live on! Laparoscopic cholecystectomy, a consumer-driven procedure, has engulfed our profession and challenged our creativity while increasing the visibility and viability of general surgery. Surgeons traditionally operating in two dimensions have found improved agility and opportunities in three dimensions. Surgeons now await improved technology to safely carry out this explosion of new ideas. Success with this single procedure has opened up a dynamic, rapidly evolving era for general surgery. In addition to biliary tract surgery, our colleagues throughout the world are performing proximal gastric vagotomy, herniorrhaphy, Nissen fundoplication, appendectomy, Heller myotomy, and bowel resection. Many predict this to be a delightful beginning. For the senior (mature) members of our profession, this may sound like "Star Wars," but it has