Norton creates a rarity in Key Out of Time, fashioning an adventure story that does not pit good against evil. She clearly depicts Ross's weaknesses—his anger when he has to listen to Karara, and his desire for violence when frustrated. The errors of the government-run Project (under which the Time Agents operate) are also mentioned. The Baldies are physically unpleasant and mentally frightening, but Norton does not present them as stock villains, choosing instead to emphasize their steadfast pursuit of certain goals.

Karara is a strong woman character; her strength lies in her sensitivity and willingness to commune with alien minds. When Key Out of Time was published in 1963 there were very few strong women in science fiction, and Norton was actually criticized by some readers for focusing Year of the Unicorn on a strong woman character. Despite Norton's relatively strong characterization of Karara...