The fell country of northern England, like most of that nation, is steeped in tradition and folklore and Westall makes good use of them. His detailed description of a shepherd at work, his strong characterization, and his careful use of dialect, make his fell country seem very real. When strange events begin to occur and the country lane outside Ralph's door takes on a menacing quality, we too feel his shock and discomfort. The book also features a dry but satisfying sense of humor. After his discovery of the alien burial urn on the felltop, Ralph is traced by the Wawaka through the radiation he has accidentally brought home on his body and clothes. Apparently they intend to kill him. Unfortunately for them, he takes a bath and his mother does the laundry, so the Wawaka end up tracking the dirty water through the sewer and...