Readable post-apocalypse (sort-of) novel of humans living underground, but not up to Cowper's other work. The first half is admirably disorienting as it throws the reader directly into this curious culture of Roamers (humans), Partners (dogs most likely), Factors (robots), and Plants (crucial but only explained peripherally very late in the book). There's a surprising level of focus on sex for an SF book of the 1970s, but that's about the only novelty. Otherwise the story is the usual "no one goes there, no one must go there, oh there our hero goes." The big letdown in he second half, where instead of "you figure it out" everything is explained in detail. There's even a point where one character unnecessarily explains the title.

OK but no need to seek out. ( )

For fans of Cowper I'm sure this is a good book. It's my third attempt to like a one of his SF novels and It's just not going to happen. Some of English novelist from the Golden Age of SF do not work well for me. Cowper seems to be one of them. I like many 1950-70 UK authors but Cowper's themes are depressing. ( )