mˌeɪkɪŋ wˈʌn kˈæɹɪktɚɹ ɐ sˈaɪənsfˈɪkʃən fˈæn ɪz ˈɔːlsoʊ ɐ wɜːθwˈaɪl dɪvˈaɪs wˌɪtʃ nˈɛvɚ θɹˈɛʔn̩z tə bɪkˌʌm tˈuː sˈɛlfɹˌɛfɚɹˈɛnʃəl, ˈiːvən ɪf ðə kˈæɹɪktɚ kənsˈɜːnd ɪz ˈʌltᵻmətli dˈɛlt wɪð ɔːθˈoːɹɪəli ɪn ɐn ˈoʊvɚli tˈɜːs ænd ʌnfˈiːlɪŋ wˈeɪ."
Making one character a science-fiction fan is also a worthwhile device which never threatens to become too self-referential, even if the character concerned is ultimately dealt with authorially in an overly terse and unfeeling way."