Review by Elizabeth Larson
Branch Manager Star Valley Branch Library

Matt Dinniman’s Dungeon Crawler Carl is one of the strangest, funniest and most unexpectedly heartfelt fantasy novels. At first glance, the premise sounds completely absurd; Earth is destroyed by alien forces and transformed into a deadly intergalactic reality show. Survivors are forced to compete in a brutal televised competition as the only option to survive. Carl, an ordinary man wearing only his heart covered boxers, is accompanied by GC, BWR, NW, Princess Donut The Queen Anne Chonk, his ex-girlfriend’s spoiled award winning Persian cat who suddenly gains sentience. What follows is a story that balances comedy, violence, satire, and genuine emotional depth in a way that feels surprisingly fresh.

One of the novel’s greatest strengths is its humor. Dinniman leans fully into the ridiculousness of the setting, creating bizarre monsters, and over the top announcers who treat mass death like its prime-time entertainment. The dialogue is sharp and fast paced, with Carl’s dry sarcasm blending perfectly with Donuts dramatics. Princess Donut steals the scene with her inane vanity and theatrics providing endless entertainment. Beneath all the humor and sarcasm there is also a touching vulnerability and strong loyalty that makes Carl and Donuts relationship incredibly touching.

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Despite the wonderful comedic tone, Dungeon Crawler Carl carries a deep undercurrent. The dungeon is cruel, and the violence has real consequences. Characters die suddenly and brutally, as a chilling reminder that this world is not just a game. Dinniman uses the absurd reality tv show structure to create a bone deep cutting critique to modern entertainment cultures and societies obsession with a spectacle. All with a far off alien audience watching, mirroring the real world craze of consuming media filled violence and humiliation for entertainment. Beneath all of the explosions and jokes is a story about survival, trauma, and maintaining humanity in a system that is designed to strip it away.

Carl is a compelling protagonist, grounded in the insanity around him. He is not a chosen hero, he survives through  stubbornness, intelligence and a willingness to fight back against the systems trying to control him. His emotional exhaustion, grit and determination make him relatable, even when the story ranges into complete chaos.

Dungeon Crawler Carl successfully blends all of this into an unforgettable experience that is equal parts chilling, hilarious, violent, and heartfelt. Check it out at the Star Valley, Thayne or Alpine Branch Library or on the Libby app today!