In the Ocean of Night is a superior example of a common science fiction theme, first contact with alien lifeforms. Such novels can usually be divided into three groups. In the first, originated by H. G. Wells's War of the Worlds (1898), hostile beings, viewed essentially as monsters, invade Earth.

In the second, humans land on another planet and meet an alien race, often viewed in this case essentially as surrogates for our own Third World. See, for example, Ray Bradbury's The Martian Chronicles (1950). In the third type of first-contact story, however, the meeting between man and alien leads to transcendence — alien as angel — with Arthur C. Clarke's 2002: A Space Odyssey (1968) being a typical example.

Benford's novel fits most closely into this third group, Walmsley having been profoundly changed by his experience. Scientist that Benford is, however, the mysticism of the situation appears to make...