Galaxy reviewer Groff Conklin faulted the original edition, declaring that ``Too many s-f novels lack outstanding originality, but this one lacks it to an outstanding degree.'' F&SF reviewer Anthony Boucher found it to be ``intensely readable and unpredictably ingenious'' despite noticeable inconsistencies and its sometimes lack of scientific accuracy. Astounding Science-Fiction reviewer P. Schuyler Miller reported that, once Finney sets out his premise, the novel becomes ``a straight chase yarn, with several nice gimmicks and a not entirely convincing denouement.''
Schuyler Miller
Finney