Although Dickinson's novels concerning the Changes are often classified as works of science fiction or science fantasy, such labels are somewhat misleading. While there is an element of fantasy in them, they are realistic narratives, portraying events and achievements that are not wildly improbable. The root causes of the Changes—which stem from immense psychological powers of Merlin the magician, whose long slumbers have been accidentally disturbed— do seem farfetched, but they only provide the means, however implausible, for Dickinson to achieve his larger ends.

A fundamental literary feature of Dickinson's adventure novels is the motif of the journey. The journey, the quest, and the search—narrative features with an illustrious history—are central to the Changes novels as well as to some of Dickinson's later writings. In The Weathermonger Geof and Sally journey in search of the causes of the Changes...