The Free Lunch is a 2001 science fiction novel by Spider Robinson about a young runaway, Mike, who hides in the futuristic, immersive theme park "Dreamworld" to escape a bleak reality. He teams up with Annie, a veteran stowaway, to uncover a mystery involving an increasing number of mysterious "trolls" appearing in the park, all while a rival park owner tries to destroy Dreamworld. The title is a nod to Robert A. Heinlein's famous phrase, "There ain't no such thing as a free lunch," which is a central theme as Mike and Annie discover the hidden costs of their sanctuary.
