Carl's Doomsday Scenario

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • Join Carl and his ex-girlfriend’s cat, Princess Donut, as they fight fantastical creatures and deadly mobs to make it to the next level and build the kind of fan following the dungeon masters can’t ignore in the second book in the smash-hit Dungeon Crawler Carl series—now with bonus material exclusive to this print edition.

“Greetings, Crawlers! The training levels have concluded. Now the games may truly begin.”

The aliens have come, and they’ve transformed Earth into a multilevel, video game–like dungeon. It’s the newest season of the galaxy’s most watched game show, Dungeon Crawler World. Now on the third floor, Carl and Donut have to fight harder than ever. They’ve already proven that a Coast Guard vet and once-and-forever feline royalty are an almost unstoppable team. Their ratings are off the charts. Viewers can’t get enough. But the dungeon gets more dangerous each day, and now there’s a whole new problem to deal with: Quests.

They call it the Over City. A sprawling, once-thriving metropolis devastated by a mysterious calamity. But these streets are far from abandoned. An undead circus trawls the ruins. Murdered women rain from the sky. An ancient spell is finally ready to reveal its dark purpose. Can Carl and Donut solve the mystery in time?

And can Carl finally find some pants?

Matt Dinniman is a writer and artist from Gig Harbor, Washington. He is the author of the NYTs best-selling Dungeon Crawler Carl series along with several other books about the end of the world. He doesn't really hate Cocker Spaniels, and he plays bass in a metal band.

Praise for Dungeon Crawler Carl

“Fresh. Creative. Hilarious. I'm obsessed…Princess Donut is my queen.” – Actor, producer and New York Times bestselling author Felicia Day

"Dungeon Crawler Carl is legit awesome."– #1 New York Times bestselling author Brandon Sanderson

"A dangerously addicting tale of chaos and mayhem. I’m thoroughly hooked!”– #1 New York Times bestselling author Callie Hart

“Welcome to your newest obsession…the highly addictive, hilarious series continues to draw in new fans.” – USA Today

"This series has no goddamn business burying so much depth and emotion and complexity under its bawdy, gory surface, but it does so anyway. What a wild-ass and unexpected delight." – New York Times bestselling author Scott Lynch

“[A] comically cosmic adventure series…often laugh-out-loud funny…Grind your way to dungeon mastery alongside Carl and Princess Donut.” – The Wall Street Journal

"This is the book for anyone who ever wondered what it would be like to be a role player in a game with the best game master ever...Once you start, you won't put it down." - Patricia Briggs, #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Mercy Thompson series

“Dungeon Crawler Carl is the best start to a series I’ve read this year. I wish I’d tried it sooner.” – Will Wight, author of the Cradle series

"When it came time to pick a race, Dinniman and Dungeon Crawler Carl decided he would continue to appear as a human, and that’s what this series has blossomed into, something profoundly and endearingly human.” – Slate

"If there's a better LitRPG than Dungeon Crawler Carl, I haven't read it." - Shirtaloon, author of He Who Fights Monsters

“Dungeon Crawler Carl is just one big smile all the way through. Put on your best pair of boxer shorts and sit back for a truly fun and enjoyable read.”—New York Times bestselling author Kevin J. Anderson

“To describe the Dungeon Crawler Carl series, and the first book in particular, one must blend the darkest, grittiest science fiction with the humour of Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. It mixes fun, whimsical absurdity, and serious, dark themes with dire consequences…it is so spectacularly good that I cannot recommend it highly enough.” - Grimdark Magazine

“Dinniman’s Douglas-Adams-but-playing-D&D romp was so much fun that I immediately went out and got the next two books…genuinely joyful.” – LitHub.com

Carl's Doomsday Scenario by Matt Dinniman is the second novel in the Dungeon Crawler Carl series, continuing the bizarre, action-packed adventure of Carl and his loyal cat, Princess Donut, as they struggle to survive the deadly alien-created dungeon that has replaced Earth. The novel blends dark humor, fantasy, science fiction, and role-playing game mechanics while exploring friendship, survival, and the determination to resist an unfair system designed purely for entertainment.

After surviving the brutal first level of the dungeon, Carl and Princess Donut descend to the next floor, where the challenges become even more dangerous and unpredictable. They are no longer simply trying to stay alive against monsters. Instead, they must navigate a world filled with rival crawler teams, strange factions, hidden traps, and elaborate quests that are controlled by an artificial intelligence with an unpredictable sense of humor. Every decision they make can affect not only their own survival but also the lives of countless other contestants trapped inside the dungeon.

Carl continues to develop as both a fighter and a leader. Although he never wanted to become a hero, the constant danger forces him to think strategically and take responsibility for those around him. He learns that surviving in the dungeon requires much more than strength. Intelligence, planning, and the ability to earn the trust of others become just as important as combat skills. His growing reputation attracts allies as well as enemies, making every success more dangerous than the last.

Princess Donut remains one of the story's most memorable characters. Far from being an ordinary house cat, she has become a powerful and intelligent adventurer with a bold personality and a love of attention. She often provides comic relief through her dramatic behavior and witty conversations, but she also proves herself to be courageous and fiercely loyal. Her relationship with Carl continues to deepen, evolving into a genuine partnership built on trust and mutual respect. Together, they balance each other's strengths and weaknesses, allowing them to overcome obstacles that neither could face alone.

One of the central storylines revolves around an enormous, complicated scenario that threatens the entire dungeon floor. Carl and Donut discover that the challenges they face are connected to a much larger plan involving powerful factions, ancient conflicts, and mysterious rules established long before they entered the game. As they investigate, they realize that many events inside the dungeon are manipulated for the entertainment of audiences watching from across the galaxy. The contestants are treated as disposable characters in a massive reality show where suffering, betrayal, and violence generate higher ratings.

The deeper Carl explores the dungeon's secrets, the more he begins to understand that the game itself is fundamentally unfair. The administrators constantly change the rules, create impossible situations, and reward chaos over justice. Rather than accepting this system, Carl develops an increasing desire to challenge it whenever possible. He looks for loopholes, exploits weaknesses in the dungeon's mechanics, and refuses to become the obedient contestant the organizers expect him to be. His rebellious attitude gradually transforms him into a symbol of resistance among other crawlers.

Throughout the novel, Carl encounters many new allies and enemies. Some survivors genuinely want to cooperate, believing that teamwork offers the best chance of survival. Others are driven by fear, greed, or ambition and are willing to betray anyone for personal gain. These shifting relationships create constant tension because trust is difficult in an environment where everyone is competing for limited resources. Carl must carefully judge who deserves his loyalty while remaining prepared for unexpected betrayals.

The action sequences are fast-paced and imaginative, featuring magical creatures, dangerous bosses, elaborate puzzles, and bizarre quests that often combine humor with genuine danger. The dungeon itself constantly changes, presenting environments that feel both exciting and unpredictable. Every challenge forces Carl to adapt his growing collection of abilities, weapons, and magical items. The role-playing game elements remain an important part of the story, but they are integrated naturally into the narrative rather than overwhelming it, making character growth feel meaningful instead of purely mechanical.

Despite the humor, the novel also explores darker emotional themes. Carl continues to struggle with the loss of the world he once knew and the realization that billions of people have died or been forced into the dungeon. The psychological pressure of constant violence begins to affect everyone around him. Even moments of victory are often overshadowed by grief, reminding readers that survival comes at a terrible cost. These emotional moments give the story depth and prevent it from becoming simply an action adventure.

As the doomsday scenario unfolds, Carl and Princess Donut face increasingly difficult decisions that test both their morals and their determination. They repeatedly choose to help others even when doing so puts them at greater risk. Their willingness to protect innocent people earns them admiration from fellow crawlers but also draws the attention of powerful enemies who view independent thinking as a threat. Carl realizes that surviving is no longer enough; if he wants any hope of changing the future, he must fight against the very system controlling the dungeon.

By the end of the novel, Carl and Donut successfully overcome the immediate crisis, but their victory comes with significant sacrifices and new complications. They gain greater experience, stronger abilities, and a clearer understanding of the forces manipulating the dungeon, yet they also discover that the challenges ahead will be even more dangerous. The story concludes by setting up the next stage of their journey, leaving readers eager to see how Carl's growing rebellion against the alien-controlled game will unfold.

Overall, Carl's Doomsday Scenario expands the world established in the first book while delivering an entertaining mix of action, comedy, mystery, and emotional depth. Matt Dinniman builds a creative and unpredictable adventure filled with memorable characters, clever twists, and imaginative world-building. At its heart, the novel is a story about resilience, friendship, and refusing to surrender one's humanity, even when trapped inside a cruel system that treats lives as nothing more than a form of entertainment.