In this tale England has been transformed, through a disruption in world weather caused by a supernova explosion, into a snowbound Arcadia; from the same apparent source later come psychic influences which lead to complex interaction between humans and aliens. The story -- like all of his best work -- is charged with a strange, expectant vibrancy. Its explorations of human perception demonstrate an openness not unlike that described in John Keats's remarks about ''negative capability'' -- remarks that Richard Cowper has quoted in print. Keats's plea was for a kind of waiting expectancy of the mind, which should be kept free of preconceptions'' (Peter Nicholls & John Clute/The Encyclopedia of SF).