Dungeon Crawler Carl
Dungeon Crawler Carl #1
by Matt Dinniman
Adventure
Fantasy
Science Fiction
* * * * Stars (Great!)
Earth has been repossessed by aliens for its minerals, and anyone who was inside some kind of structure when the aliens showed up is immediately crushed out of existence. Any remaining humans have been invited to participate in a dungeon crawling game for their survival and the rest of the universe’s entertainment, as their progress will be documented in a reality show. Carl is the protagonist. And he’s got his ex-girlfriend’s very fancy Persian cat as his sidekick (Grand Champion BWR, NR Princess Donut the Queen Anne Chonk). Actually, Donut might be the protagonist and Carl might be HER sidekick. That remains to be seen. They have to get through 18 levels of dungeon to win (whatever winning means), but no one has ever made it that far and this game has been played for years on other worlds that have been seeded with life by alien corporations. The more popular you are among viewers the better chance there is that you’ll have patrons, who will pay for the privilege of helping you out (sending you gifts) that may or may not help you survive the challenges/horrors you’ll encounter.
The first book covers Carl and Donut’s adventures through the tutorial and the first couple of levels. There are five more (right now?) books in the series, so presumably they continue to beat the odds. Gamers/D&D players will especially enjoy the care and detail that went into crafting the particulars of the dungeons. I was hooked from the beginning by the premise (how is THAT going to play out?) and the fact that Matt Dinniman has dedicated the first book to Fiona the hippo (whose survival beat the odds and made her internet-famous – go, Fiona!). Fans of “Ready Player One” or “Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy,” may also enjoy this. It’s fraught with humor and suspense! These were originally self-published and are being republished by ACE (Penguin Random House), but in quick succession, so if you’re like me and you can’t wait to read the next one – HEY, it’s already out! GO GET IT FROM YOUR LIBRARY! Published for adults, but older/high school teens may also enjoy this.
Reviewed by YA Librarian
