James Blish commands considerable respect as a science-fiction writer and his novels generally have a narrative directness and a thematic credibility that confounds sceptics. [And All the Stars a Stage], though written as usual with simplicity and a lack of pseudo scientific mystification, seems to contain too many themes for comfort….

[Blish makes up for some of the disappointments in this work] through the excitement of his space flight, of two abortive attempts to land (one of which would make an adventure novel alone) and his big finish which has a neat twist, though again a not unfamiliar one and one which experienced sci-fi readers will predict. For once Mr Blish has failed to balance the science with the human interest and I for one, feel cheated.

Roger Baker, "Fiction: 'And All the Stars a Stage'" (© copyright Roger Baker 1973; reprinted with permission), in Books and Bookmen, Vol. 18, No...