WithanintroductionbyRonaldBlytheThesecondvolumeofWilliamGolding'sSeaTrilogy.Inawildernessofheat,stillnessandseamists,aballisheldonashipbecalmedhalfwaytoAustralia.Inthissurreal,fete-likeatmospherethepassengersdanceandflirt,whilebeneaththemthicketsofweedlikegreenhairspreadoverthehull.ThesequeltoRitesofPassage,CloseQuarters,thesecondvolumeinGolding'sacclaimedseatrilogy,isimbuedwithhisextraordinarysenseofmenace.Half-madwithfear,withdrink,withloveandopium,everyoneonthisleaky,unsoundhulkis'goingtopieces'.Andinanightmarishclimaxtheveryplanksseemtotwistthemselvesaliveastheshipbeginstocomeapartattheseams."e;Ittellsanutterlyabsorbingtale,inlanguageofimmenseforceandsubtlety"e;.(FinancialTimes)."e;Nolivingwriterhasrepresentedthefragilityofman'sexperiencesomarvellouslyasGolding"e;.(ASByatt)."e;Astunningpieceofwriting,asexcitingasanythriller"e;.(SundayTimes).