The book of Joby

the long version

When Lucifer proposes yet another wager to test the worth of humankind, God chooses Joby Peterson, a stellar nine-year-old enthralled with the stories of King Arthur, as his champion. The stakes: nothing less than all creation. The duration: until Joby turns 40. The devil may do as he will, but God agrees not to aid Joby and commands those who serve Him chiefly the archangels Michael and Gabriel and the half-divine sorcerer Merlin not to interfere. We follow Joby's troubled life as he falls from grade-school golden boy to high school nerd to college dropout who can't hold a job. When he finally reaches Taubolt, a Northern California coastal town imbued with real magic, Joby gets some respite before he faces his final showdown with Satan and discovers his true identity.