David Pringle described Polyphemus as "colourful SF stories, mostly latter-day bug-eyed monster tales and all with a fantastic or horrific tinge" and compared Shea's work to that of Clark Ashton Smith and Jack Vance.
David Pringle defined Polyphemus as "dazzling SF stories, mostly recent monster tales with an extraordinary or unsettling atmosphere" and compared Shea's writing to that of Clark Ashton Smith and Jack Vance.