The Free Lunch
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The Free Lunch is a 2001 novel by Spider Robinson. The title is a reference to the concept of a free lunch.
Twelve-year-old Mike is looking for a safe place to escape from the "real world". Like Peter Pan, he seeks a fantastic sanctuary where he can stay without worry. Conway's amusement park, Dreamland, promises a totally immersive theme park experience, and seems to be just what Mike is looking for. Soon after escaping the guest tracking system, Mike meets Annie, a midget known as the Mother Elf, who has eked out a living in Dreamland for thirteen years caring for the park. Annie takes Mike in, but all is not well in Dreamland...
The story is full of references to other works:
