The book is a wonderful supplement to the TV episode, adding in many details and extra scenes. It perfectly captures the tone and mood of 1950s New York, as the episode did. Benny Russell is an unforgettable character.

The only reason I don't give it 5 stars is because of a jarring line or two in there comparing the situtation of women vs. blacks in the '50s. It was totally unnecessary, IMHO, not to mention rather insensitive. A woman writer features in the story - like Benny, she's told to "call in sick" on the day the magazine staff is photographed for their next issue - how dare a woman be a sci-fi- writer? But the author says she has it better because "she can live where she wants, her kids can go to the best schools..." Hmm.

Other than that however, it's a wonderful read.

There are some stories that work on many levels; this is one of them. Just the idea is great: a murder mystery set in a futuristic theme park. Add to this that many people come to the park to physically role play an intense adventure, and you've got tons of elements to deal with--making for a rich story environment.

Add once more to this: a wide variety of detailed characters, including social outcasts, an intelligent thief, a slick security officer, and some "doing it for the dollars" adventure designers and you've got a tale that is simply incredible.

I heartily recommend this book and it's sequels (particularly The California Voodoo Game) to any reader--regardless of what genre they enjoy. I just wish that Niven and Barnes would write another...

The setting is Dream Park, a futuristic fantasy theme park full of holographic attractions and the latest in VR technology. A team of players enters the South Seas Treasure Game, one of the Park's frequent live-action high-endurance fantasy role-playing spectaculars, facing off against the diabolical designs of Gamemaster Richard Lopez. All's fun and games until a Park security guard is murdered, a valuable research property stolen, and all evidence points to someone inside the game. Security chief Alex Griffin goes undercover into the game to unmask the culprit. Unfortunately for him, Lopez believes in fair play, and if the Griffin wants to stay in the game long enough to catch the criminal he'll have to overcome the same obstacles as the rest of the team.

Dream Park is in and of itself a fantastic setting, with enough combination of whimsy and high-tech that I wished I could go (and I'm probably not the only one.) What makes the plot work so well is the combination of the mystery-thriller element with the high fantasy adventure of the Game. The players in this game are just as serious about winning as Griffin is about solving his case- there are no prizes at stake, no salaries paid, it's a matter of them doing their best. Their dedication is actually quite touching, and the descriptions of the adventure are so vivid that they're impossible to separate from the "reality" of the Park. It's not a fearful "has technology gone too far" attitude that prevails here (unlike the similar film WESTWORLD), but an appreciation of fantasy and imagination. It helps that the game's plot is in itself intriguing and original, centering around the magic of the Melanesian "cargo cults", and the recovery of a powerful WWII artifact at stake. There are monsters, zombies, and even a riddle contest with a Melanesian god. There's a lot to digest, but it all moves at a brisk and absorbing pace.

On top of it all, though, what makes this book so much fun is its characters. Niven and Barnes have filled the story with people who are real, vibrant, sympathetic, complicated, and compelling. There's veteran gaming couple Ollie Norliss and Gwen Ryder, the diminuitive, quirky but tough and lovable Mary Martha Corbett (Mary-Em for short, pardon the pun), bewildered novice Tony McWhirter, "game groupie" Janet who appears in the game as a maiden in distress, dedicated second-stringer Holly Frost, and the near-obsessed team leader Chester Henderson. And that's just skimming the surface- almost every character is fascinating.

Is it a perfect book? I suppose not, but it's practically perfect for what it is. It's a sophisticated page turner, and Niven and Barnes could teach Crichton or Clancy a thing or two.

Seeing how I LOVE RPGs and role playing a character, feeling as you are another person, in another world, I always thought 'Man, it would be so cool if you could do it in real life.' I think it's obvious why I loved this book!

In 'Dream Park', Dream Park is a theme park...but not your ordinary theme park. Sporting technology we can only dream of, such as holograms, Dream Park revolves around it's main attraction: the Games. Players represent a character, may it be a Thief, a Warrior, a Magic User- and use real or holographic weapons against hologram monsters and living dead, mixed with actors such as the female sacrifice and the guide. However, 'It's all fun and games until...' a Dream Park employee is murdered, and all clues point to a game member. 'Griffin', head of Dream Park security must enter the game and try to figure out whodunnit while trying to not get beheaded by zombies, birds, and other Game creatures. I HIGHLY reccomend this book to anyone who has played RPGs or likes role-playing, but I think others would like it as well. This book kept me guessing to the end as far as the mystery went, and the characters were fun, enjoyable, realistic, and sometimes not-so-nice. (Draeger, anyone?)