A Purpose Under Heaven

Book excerpt: "Nana Martin and her divorced, thirty-something daughter, Jane, and teenage granddaughters, Sarah and Rachel, live in New Hope, a friendly, innocent small town caught up in the whirlwinds of change and dislocation." "Nana is feisty, smart, and determined. Troubled by her failure to pass on vital life lessons to Jane, she finds an unexpected ally in George. George is a laptop, a retirement gift to Nana. Like many of her generation, Nana is wary of the computers, camera phones, and iPods surrounding her - and George in particular. George speaks, has a distinct personality, and seems to anticipate Nana's thoughts and concerns." "Distrust gives way to reliance and hope when Nana encounters an insidious predator who stalks the town's most vulnerable residents, attempting to destroy the fabric of the community." "In A Purpose Under Heaven, Derek Smith has woven an allegory that explores how technology, like Prometheus's gift of fire, may be used for good or ill. And finally, he depicts God's boundless love for mankind, the fierce and vital bonds among families, and the spiritual foundation shared by an interdependent community."--BOOK JACKET.