Herb Dimock helps us imagine family life today and early in our 21st century. Extending the trends going on right now, his picture turns almost apocalyptic -- a plague precipitates the collapse of the economy we have taken for granted.

But Beyond The Marry-Go-Round is more about the collapses we already see in the relations between people. And the book is actually hopeful about these, even in the face of the challenges of surviving hard times.

From this book we get plenty of inspiration to apply today to marriage and job stresses, environmental problems, and business motivation. Herb Dimock sees how the world needs to become a family and how that process does begin at home.

Set in the town of Grass Valley, CA, Beyond The Marry-Go-Round draws us into the lives of two families struggling with these problems and of the angels, it seems, who are watching over them.

EXERPT:

When they turned back to the gravesite, there were the two gravediggers with their shovels, without masks, starting the work of filling in the hole, and they began to sing. For Sally it was not a familiar song, and also, she was sure, it was not a normal thing for such workmen to indulge in.

They came to the finale of their lyric and Sally was moved to question them. "That was a beautiful bit of music. Do you always sing at the graves you dig?

The couple paused in their shovel work, and one of them spoke warmly. "We saw that you two were in need of new inspiration, so that's what you now have!"

Sally felt Mike grab her hand with rising excitement. "Hey, I know you! You are Josh and Sophie, aren't you?"

The couple bowed in acknowledgement, and Sally could see clearly that one of the workmen was indeed feminine.

Isn't it about time," Sophie began, "to pour the oil of acceptance on your irritations with each other?"

Josh added more help. "The heavy burden of the world-shaking events that you are having to live with is something you two can carry together. What you have been doing lately is tossing your Mt. Everest of pain back and forth at each other. It's time to cool it."

$15 U.S.    182 pg pb