lˈaɪk ðə kəntˈɛmpɚɹˌɛɹi hˈɑːbɡəblˌɪn, ðɪs ɪz ɐ spˈiːsiːz ʌv sˈoʊʃəl pɹˈɑːbləm nˈɑːvəl ɔːlðˈoʊ nˌɑːt ˈeɪmd æt jˈʌŋ ɐdˈʌlt ɹˈiːdɚz, baɪ ɐn ɪstˈæblɪʃt ɹˈaɪɾɚ, wˌɪtʃ tɹˈiːts ðə plˈeɪɪŋ ʌv ɹˈoʊlplˈeɪɪŋ ɡˈeɪmz æz ɪndˈɪkətˌɪv ʌv dˈiːp nʊɹɹˈɑːɾɪk nˈiːdz.
Like the contemporary Hobgoblin, this is a species of social problem novel (although not aimed at young adult readers), by an established writer, which treats the playing of role-playing games as indicative of deep neurotic needs.