An insane, hilarious, and surprising adventure.
A fun and insane surprise.
It had been a long time since a book had surprised me so much. Dungeon Crawler Carl begins as an absurd story: Earth is destroyed by aliens who transform the planet into a large intergalactic reality show — a deadly game broadcast throughout the galaxy. Carl, the protagonist, is an ordinary man.
His journey begins on a cold night when he leaves home just to try to rescue his ex-girlfriend’s cat, Princess Donut. The two end up among the few survivors of the first “phase” of the apocalypse and are thrown into a gigantic dungeon, where survival is transformed into spectacle.
He and the kitten, Princess Donut, will have to overcome countless situations in search of survival and fame, as they soon learn that the most popular competitors have a better chance of survival.
“Matt Dinniman’s imagination borders on the insane — and that’s exactly the charm of the book.”
What is LitRPG?
The book fits into the LitRPG or progression fantasy genre, a mixture of fantasy narrative and video game mechanics. There are status menus, skills, monsters, levels, chests with rewards, and bosses — all treated with creativity and humor.
But humor isn’t everything. It’s also an adventure book with interesting characters, a constant sense of danger, and one that deals very well with piquing the reader’s curiosity. It may seem like a simple story, something like a mix of Big Brother with Minecraft Dungeons, but it has more layers, revealing a political and economic plot behind the deadly game itself.
The humor oscillates between slapstick and social criticism. It’s hard not to remember authors like Terry Pratchett or Douglas Adams, although the tone here is more blatant. Dinniman mixes pop culture references, sarcasm, and even a certain political acerbity.
Charismatic protagonists
The relationship between the two protagonists is one of the highlights. Donut, the talking cat, is much more than comic relief: she has personality, agency, and real protagonism.
Carl, in turn, evolves little by little — and not just in his attributes. He learns the rules of the game, but also questions the system and tries to maintain his humanity in a world where everyone has become characters in a deadly game.
More than a game
Despite the fast pace, the book brings reflections on the spectacularization of violence, political manipulation, and dehumanization in the name of entertainment.
Another strong point of the book comes from the author’s ability to use game elements such as menus, item inventory, character attributes, magic items, rewards, skills, spells, big”bosses,” etc., with great creativity and humor.
Matt Dinniman’s writing is direct and effective. He focuses on action, absurdity, and the visual construction of the world.
Is it worth reading?
Yes! Dungeon Crawler Carl is a frantic, fun, and surprising read. It has action, humor, social criticism, and a pair of protagonists who win you over from the first pages.
With seven volumes published, it’s a great choice for those who want to dive into a long and addictive series.
Who is this book for?
- Fantasy readers who enjoy insane adventures.
- Fans of Dungeons & Dragons, Diablo, Final Fantasy.
- Anyone who wants a light but intelligent read.
- Readers who love eccentric protagonists (and noble talking cats).
- Aficionados of character progression and expansive worlds.
Reading highlights
- The chaotic humor and the social criticism embedded in the reality show format.
- The dynamic between Carl and Donut.
- The creative twists and absurdly inventive monsters.
- The frantic pace and gradual world-building.
- The constant feeling that anything can happen.
Dungeon Crawler Carl is available on Kindle Unlimited.