 Science fiction critic John Clute wrote that the novel " generates a sense of wonder that is positively joyous " , saying it was " a romance of science " . Chris <unk> described it as " a minor classic of science fiction – one that shows off both the best and worst elements of hard SF . ... the ideas definitely come first . " He found the writing of the human cast dull , but appreciated Forward 's ability to share his fascination with the cheela and to create communications between races that lived at vastly different speeds . 
