In contrast, Carol Ann Shine, writing for Library Journal, feels "Mr. de Camp has completely missed the mark in this story," which "moves slowly through stereotyped situations which would tax the imagination of the most gullible reader, and obvious and seemingly inappropriate philosophical discussions further delay the action."
In contrast to Carol Ann Shine's assessment in Library Journal, she believes that Mr. de Camp has fallen short in this story, which moves at a sluggish pace through well-worn scenarios that would likely lull even the most susceptible reader, and apparent and seemingly irrelevant philosophical discussions further slow down the narrative.