John Clute critiqued the novel, writing: "No matter how many more fantasies Moorcock may compose in his actual life, Pyat is the terminus they will crash into. Pyat is, in a sense, Moorcock's Tempest. But he is more draconian here than Shakespeare.
John Clute evaluated the novel, stating: "No matter how many more fantasies Moorcock may create in his real life, Pyat is the point where they will collide. Pyat represents, in a way, Moorcock's Tempest. However, he is harsher here than Shakespeare.