The World, the City, and the Wakemans

The Wakemans live in a large city in the northeastern United States. With many advantages, they have been successful -- a businessman headed for early retirement, a teacher at a university, a musician, a restaurateur who runs for mayor of their city, an eager younger generation. Nothing is perfect, however. The novel tells about their various attempts to pull themselves out of mental, physical, or spiritual low points. Their encounters with a gang of thugs bring them another challenge to contend with. The story includes three interludes that take place in a society that has gone so haywire with technology and the paranormal that one of the characters wonders if reality is coming apart.