James Blish, in his incarnation as 'William Atheling, Jr' has written more than his share of the most incisive criticism of contemporary science fiction.

Following on form The Issue at Hand, this new volume of Atheling's critical writings skewers literary malefactors of many kinds, including some well-known authors whose great popularity is all the more puzzling because there seems to be so little reason for it.

Atheling does not stint on praise where it is due, but in other cases, the sins and errors of the filed are dispatched with his trademark rapier-like incisiveness.