ɪn bˈoʊθ bˈʊks, ðə pɹˈoʊɾɐɡənˌɪst ɪz ɔːɹ æt lˈiːst ɐpˈɪɹz təbi sˈʌfɚɹɪŋ fɹʌm skˌɪtsəfɹˈɛniə ɔːɹ sˌʌm ɐnˈæləɡəs kəndˈɪʃən; ɪn bˈoʊθ bˈʊks, ðɪ ɐtˈeɪnmənt ʌv mətʃˈʊɹ ɐdˈʌlthʊd ɪz ɐkˈʌmpənid baɪ ðɪ ɐbˈændənmənt ʌv ɹˈoʊlplˈeɪɪŋ ɡˈeɪmz.
In both books, the protagonist is (or at least appears to be) suffering from schizophrenia (or some analogous condition); in both books, the attainment of mature adulthood is accompanied by the abandonment of role-playing games.