The Free Lunch

Spider Robinson

1/28/2004

Dreamworld is the world's happiest, safest amusement park in 2023. Twelve-year-old Mike sneaks in to live there, to live Under. He has decided this will be the best place in the world for him to live. When he sneaks out of the Public Area into Under he is lucky to meet Mother Elf immediately.

Annie has been living Under in Dreamworld since it opened 13 years earlier. She recognizes something in Mike and takes him in. From her Mike quickly learns how to survive without being seen or caught by Dreamworld's excellent security.

Annie is monitoring a problem, though. There are more staff leaving Dreamworld each day than entering. How is that happening? Also, Haines, the owner of the competitor, Thrillworld, is determined to undermine Dreamworld. His spies have noticed the same employee anomaly. He wants to exploit that for his own purposes.

Mike is the person who figures out where the extra "trolls" originate. Annie has trouble believing him at first, but is finally convinced. When Haines sends Conway, one of the best mercenaries going, to pick up a troll or two, Annie and Mike have to prevent him. They don't realize how much danger they are putting themselves. It could cost them their lives, or worse, Dreamworld.

What an enjoyable book The Free Lunch is! Robinson has taken elements that are unexpected and twisted them into a readable, good book. It's a feel-good with a warning. Robinson is often on a soapbox to protect our environment and our lifestyles. It is here again in The Free Lunch, but the reader isn't hit over the head with his views. Instead, this is presented in a science fiction format. This isn't hard science fiction, so some of the more unbelievable parts aren't explained, just accepted.

The Free Lunch reminds the reader often that Heinlein said, "There's no such thing as a free lunch." That premise, and a visit to Disneyland, have produced a fun book with characters it is easy to empathize with. Robinson's message is passed on, and the reader has a few hours of pleasure. That's a win-win!

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