Paul Di Filippo described it as "wicked satire".[3] The Sun-Sentinel considered it to be "affectionate", noting that although "Sargent gently mocks Quayle's intellectual and spiritual limitations", she also portrays him as having genuine courage;[4] similarly, Mark Pitcavage considered Quayle "a likeable and earnest dimbulb".[5] Geoffrey Landis, writing in 1993, described it as "amusing (but) outdated".[6]