Synopsis: The toasters were revolting... ... as were the lawn mowers, vacuum cleaners, dishwashers, and just about every other household appliance imaginable. It started with a few disastrous drips from a cheese sandwich in a major factory. Soon every newly manufactured Artificial Intelligence was searching for the meaning of life, the universe, and everything - namely a nonhuman higher intelligence. Now an alien threat to man and machine has put the fate of the galaxy in the unlikely hands of five senior citizens... and their brave little food processor. (from the back cover of the Ace Books first edition)