"In this novel, Jeffrey Stewart unfolds the world of a young adult suddenly swept into paranoid schizophrenia. The novel's hero, Karl Small, a withdrawn office worker given to fantasies and wordplay, finds interaction with his co-workers, especially the women, frazzling his social skills ever more. Then-behold!-a date. Just when matters are looking up, the worst happens, and Karl undergoes a psychotic episode.

Though temporarily managing to laugh matters off and cover to keep his job, Karl is soon overcome by delusions until his lack of contact with any semblance of reality leads him to a final hibernation, then confrontation."--BOOK JACKET.