Picked this up to re-read and release for a Canadian challenge.

TANSTAAFL is one of Robert Heinlein's axioms, but in this book, one of his best-known fans finds a way around that particular dilemma.

I'd forgotten how much I enjoyed this book the last time until I started reading it again. I said in the journal entry for another copy on my shelf that I wish there really was a pap-zapper, and I do. But what I didn't think about before was: if there was a pap-zapper, there might be a Dreamworld also! I'd sure like to visit the China That Never Was, or try to rhyme with Fezzik, or....

Other copies on my BookCrossing shelf: 4235859 • 14637405

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Here are a bunch of reviews of this book on Spider's website.

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One of the many reasons I love reading Spider Robinson's work:

She put a gentle hand on his shoulder. "I believe my role at this point is to produce soothing clichés," she said softly, "but I do hate sounding like an idiot. I can't say 'I know how you feel,' because I don't. I can't say 'It wasn't your fault, because you obviously know that and it doesn't help, enough. I can't say 'You did your best,' because you just told me that, and it obviously doesn't help enough, either. Hell, you've never done less than your best for me, and you've only known me a week."

He tried to smile. "It's okay, Annie."

"Perhaps it will be," she said, "if you'll listen to just one cliché. One you may not already know.

"Sure."

"It's okay to be glad it's over."

The idea was astonishing. "It is?"

"Relieved I would be," Hormat agreed quietly.

"So would I", Annie said. "It is permissible to feel relief on the way out of Hell."

Going to the winner of the 2012 International Canadian Literature Sweepstakes - surprise!

A book from one of my favorite authors...who happens to be an American-born Canadian; along with a handmade bookmark purchased as a fundraiser to support the Robinsons during Jeanne's final illness.

Free your books - help spread the words!

Great choice hyphen8. Spider Robinson is one of my favourite writers but I have to admit that I've not kept up with him lately. Which is why when I read about the beautiful bookmark that you enclosed that it was a fundraiser to support the Robinsons during Jeanne's final illnes I was absolutely gobsmacked. I had not heard of her death and just now when I went to Spider's website I learned that his daughter had Stage IV metatastic breast cancer. Gratefully the cancer seems to be in remission but what more can fate throw at the Robinson family.

I suspect I have read this book because the synopsis sounds so familiar but Spider is one author I can read over and over again. So even if I have read it I'm going to keep it to reread. And I'm sure I'll love it all over again. Thanks hyphen8.

I think one of the reasons I like Spider Robinson is because he reminds me so much of Robert Heinlein. And, in this book, we have an entire novel set around Heinlein's axiom "There ain't no such thing as a free lunch (TANSTAAFL for short)." Although the premise of this book is that there is a free lunch or at least could be.

Mike is a young boy who, for reasons we don't know until the near the end of the book, decides to try to live in Dreamworld. Dreamworld is a theme park where nothing bad ever happens. Mike has figured out a number of things about how to stay in Dreamworld and escape notice but he would have been caught almost immediately if he hadn't been rescued by Annie, the Mother Elf. Annie has been living in Dreamworld almost from the time it opened and she has an encyclopedic knowledge of how it works. But even Annie is stumped when she realizes that more employee trolls are leaving the park at the end of shift than the number that clocked in. Can Annie and Mike figure it out in time and save Dreamworld? Read the book to find out.

The tantalizing details that Robinson gives about Dreamworld makes it sound like one theme park I would like to visit. There's a whole section devoted to Heinlein's universes including Podkayne's Mars (one of my favourite Heinlein books). There are areas from Beatle songs like Strawberry Fields. Truly a place for baby boomer sf fans. Wish it was real.

Thanks hyphen8 for the great read and the lovely bookmark, which will stay with the book when I release it for the 2013 Canada Days release challenge.

Well, it wasn't exactly a "Free Lunch" but I did finally get to taste the fare from the El Torrito truck that is parked in front of the Manitoba Hydro building on Portage Avenue. I had their cod tacos which feature a nicely breaded piece of cod garnished with lettuce, tomatoes and cilantro in a lightly grilled soft taco. YUMMY!

I left this book on the marble plinth in front of the building inside and because I put it in a BookCrossing baggie and there was a strong wind I it sailed off the plinth onto the sidewalk. However I saw someone pick it up and walk off down Portage Avenue with it so I hope it is in safe hands.

This release is for the 2013 Canada Days release challenge which seeks to put Canadian books into the wild for greater circulation. Happy Canada Day!

Found on Portage Street around June 26, 2013. Must admit to being surprised. Just thought someone had dropped it. Now I know I was being watched :-)

Funny that it would be an out-of-towner who happened to pick it up. the book flew to Ontario that night.

Never read Spider Robinson before so it was nice to experience a new author. Thanks.

Released in lounge near gate C28.