A story-teller nearly perfect in every other respect, Mr. Wyndham has never had any feeling for climaxes; and although nobody much cares about this when menaces are in question, the Wyndham even pace is less satisfactory in a benign context, as [in Chocky]. Having fumbled, Chocky withdraws. All is as it was before—and precious little changed, even while it wasn't. The science-fiction grapevine, for at least a decade past, has rumoured Mr. Wyndham to be brooding over giant malevolent spiders. In its gentle, skilful fashion, Chocky is excellent; but one can perhaps be forgiven for looking forward to those spiders.

Michael Joseph, "Wide Open Spaces," in The Times Literary Supplement (© Times Newspapers Ltd. (London) 1968; reproduced from The Times Literary Supplement by permission), No. 3452, April 25, 1968, p. 441.∗