fɹˈɛdɚɹˌɪk pˈoʊl, nˈoʊɾɪŋ ˈækjʊɹətli ðæt wˈaɪnbaʊm hˌæd "jˈuːs dˈiː ðə bˈeɪsɪk plˈɑːt ænd kənsˈɛpʃən" ʌvðɪ ʌnsˈoʊld "dˈɔːn ʌv flˈeɪm" tə kənstɹˈʌkt "ðə blˈæk flˈeɪm", stˈɪl kəŋklˈuːdᵻd ðˈæt "ˈiːtʃ, ɹˈiːd ˌɪndᵻpˈɛndəntli, ɪz ɐ fˈɜːstɹˈeɪt sˈaɪəns fˈɪkʃən nˈɑːvəl.
Frederik Pohl, noting accurately that Weinbaum had "use[d] the basic plot and conception" of the unsold "Dawn of Flame" to construct "The Black Flame", still concluded that "each, read independently, is a first-rate science fiction novel.