[basil ransome-davies]

Merrill is fluid & opportunistic, at home with pararhyme, so his method appears free from wilful contrivance. At least he pictures his octopus as more than just 'sinister', or an off-the-shelf symbol for something threatening and 'orrible (cf. Frank Norris & schlock undersea movies), & making the bridge to Hindu gods & rituals is a nice piece of wit.