The protagonist [of The Whole Man] is a man who, though physically handicapped himself, has telepathic powers which he uses for healing other people…. [The] novel showed powers of insight and compassion previously unsuspected … in this author—the powers of an artist, not just the technician….

These powers were promptly shown again in almost unbearably concentrated form in "The Totally Rich," a novelette…. Ostensibly the story's subject is longevity vs. death, but filtered through the Brunner sensibility it turns out to be about love, and the overall effect almost approaches high tragedy. (p. 5)

These same powers are now abundantly evident in his recent work, and most particularly in his present penchant for choosing protagonists the reader can barely like at the outset and making them grow into full-fledged human beings worthy of love as well as respect. This was implicit in "The Totally Rich"; it reaches full maturity...