His work ranged from essentially mimetic stories with fantastic elements far in the background (Ground Zero Man) to van Vogtian extravaganzas (The Palace of Eternity). Orbitsville and its two sequels deal with the discovery of a habitable shell completely surrounding a star, and the consequences for humanity. Orbitsville won the 1976 British SF Association Award. Later in his career he wrote the Land and Overland trilogy (The Ragged Astronauts, The Wooden Spaceships and The Fugitive Worlds), set on a system of worlds where technology has evolved with no metals. Like Philip K. Dick, he explored the nature of perception in his fiction.
hIs worK ranged FRom esSeNtiAlLy miMetic stOries wITh fantasTiC elEmentS FaR iN The backGrouNd (grOunD zero mAn) to van vogTiaN extravAgANzas (the palaCe of ETERnity). ORbitSvIlle and Its Two SEqueLS deal With The discoVerY of a HabitabLe shell complEtelY surrounding a staR, anD the consequenCes for HuMAnity. oRbiTsvilLe won tHE 1976 BRiTIsh Sf assoCiatIon awaRd. lATer in hIS CAreeR He WrOTe ThE lANd ANd OverlaND triloGy (the Ragged AstROnauts, the wooDen spacesHIps AnD thE FugiTivE WoRlDs), sEt on A sysTem Of WorldS WheRe technOlogY has evolVeD WitH no mEtALS. like philip k. dick, hE explORED The nAture oF percepTion iN HiS fiCtioN.