"Mr. Dream Merchant," by Erroll J. Bailey. Element Books. 273 pages. $19.95.

We live in a fast-paced world where, with the click of a button, we can do almost everything from cooking an entire dinner in a microwave oven to visiting a faraway land via the Internet.

According to a mysterious man named Junior in Erroll J. Bailey's new novel, "Mr. Dream Merchant," finding a quick solution to life's setbacks isn't always a good idea.

"The gift is in the struggle," Junior says. By working through our problems piece by piece, we acquire the skills necessary to succeed in life.

Pub Date: 7/19/98