Dungeon Crawler Carl

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • The apocalypse will be televised! Welcome to the first book in the wildly popular and addictive Dungeon Crawler Carl series—now with bonus material exclusive to this print edition.

You know what’s worse than breaking up with your girlfriend? Being stuck with her prize-winning show cat. And you know what’s worse than that? An alien invasion, the destruction of all man-made structures on Earth, and the systematic exploitation of all the survivors for a sadistic intergalactic game show. That’s what.

Join Coast Guard vet Carl and his ex-girlfriend’s cat, Princess Donut, as they try to survive the end of the world—or just get to the next level—in a video game–like, trap-filled fantasy dungeon. A dungeon that’s actually the set of a reality television show with countless viewers across the galaxy. Exploding goblins. Magical potions. Deadly, drug-dealing llamas. This ain’t your ordinary game show.

Welcome, Crawler. Welcome to the Dungeon. Survival is optional. Keeping the viewers entertained is not.

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.

“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

Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinniman is the first novel in a wildly imaginative series that combines science fiction, fantasy, dark comedy, and role-playing game elements into a fast-paced survival adventure. The story follows Carl, an ordinary man whose life is turned upside down when Earth is suddenly transformed into a deadly intergalactic game. Alongside his ex-girlfriend's prize-winning cat, Princess Donut, Carl must fight through a massive underground dungeon filled with monsters, traps, and impossible challenges while millions of alien spectators watch the chaos as entertainment.

The novel begins on an ordinary winter morning when Carl steps outside wearing nothing but his boxer shorts and a pair of slippers to retrieve Princess Donut, who has wandered outside. At that exact moment, a mysterious alien event destroys nearly every human-made structure on Earth. Buildings collapse into the ground, killing countless people inside them. Carl survives only because he happens to be outdoors, while Donut also escapes because she is with him. Within moments, the world they once knew disappears, replaced by the entrance to an enormous dungeon that stretches deep beneath the surface. Survivors are given little choice but to enter if they hope to stay alive.

Soon after entering the dungeon, Carl discovers that reality now operates like a massive role-playing game. Every participant receives levels, experience points, statistics, quests, equipment, and magical abilities. An eccentric artificial intelligence controls the dungeon, constantly announcing objectives, rewards, and penalties with a twisted sense of humor. At the same time, billions of viewers across the galaxy tune in to watch the human contestants struggle, turning their fight for survival into a profitable reality television spectacle.

Carl quickly proves himself resourceful despite having no special training. Rather than relying solely on strength, he uses common sense, creativity, and quick thinking to overcome dangerous situations. He gradually learns how to exploit the dungeon's game mechanics, turning ordinary objects into useful weapons and finding clever solutions to seemingly impossible problems. His determination to survive never fades, even as each new floor introduces more terrifying monsters and increasingly complex challenges.

One of the most memorable developments occurs when Princess Donut gains intelligence through the dungeon's magical system. No longer an ordinary cat, she becomes capable of speaking, casting spells, and making strategic decisions. Although she retains the dramatic personality of a pampered show cat, she also displays remarkable courage and intelligence. Her confidence, humor, and occasional vanity create many of the novel's funniest moments, while her growing friendship with Carl forms the emotional heart of the story. Together, they become an unlikely but highly effective team, balancing Carl's practicality with Donut's charisma and magical talents.

As Carl progresses through the dungeon, he encounters other survivors who are struggling to adapt to the brutal new reality. Some choose cooperation, forming alliances to improve their chances of survival, while others become ruthless competitors willing to betray anyone for personal gain. Carl often finds himself helping weaker contestants despite the risks, revealing his strong moral compass. Even in a world designed to reward selfishness, he refuses to abandon his humanity. These encounters highlight the different ways people respond to extreme pressure and constant danger.

The dungeon itself is filled with imaginative environments, deadly puzzles, magical creatures, and powerful bosses. Every level introduces new rules and unexpected twists that prevent Carl from relying on a single strategy. The challenges range from brutal combat to clever problem-solving, forcing him to think quickly and adapt continuously. The role-playing mechanics remain central to the story, but they are woven naturally into the narrative, making Carl's growth feel earned rather than automatic.

As Carl gains experience and earns better equipment, he also begins to attract attention from both fellow contestants and the alien audience. His willingness to challenge the system, combined with his unpredictable tactics, makes him a fan favorite among viewers. At the same time, his growing popularity places him under greater scrutiny from those who control the game. Carl gradually realizes that the dungeon is carefully designed not to be fair but to maximize entertainment. The organizers manipulate events, encourage conflict, and treat the lives of human contestants as little more than disposable content for paying audiences.

Throughout the novel, moments of intense action are balanced with sharp humor and emotional depth. The absurdity of the dungeon often leads to hilarious situations, especially during Carl's interactions with the sarcastic artificial intelligence and Princess Donut's larger-than-life personality. However, beneath the comedy lies a darker story about loss, grief, and survival. Carl constantly remembers the billions of people who died when Earth collapsed, and he struggles with the knowledge that almost everything he once valued has been destroyed. These emotional moments give weight to his determination to protect the friends he makes along the way.

Carl's greatest strength is not his physical ability but his refusal to surrender. No matter how impossible the odds appear, he continues searching for creative solutions and looking after those who cannot defend themselves. His growing reputation inspires hope among other survivors, even as he becomes increasingly aware of the enormous forces manipulating the dungeon from behind the scenes. Rather than accepting his role as a contestant in someone else's game, he begins to question the system itself and looks for ways to fight back against those exploiting humanity for entertainment.

By the end of the novel, Carl and Princess Donut successfully survive the first stage of the dungeon, becoming stronger, more experienced, and better prepared for the dangers ahead. Although they achieve several important victories, they also learn that the challenges waiting on deeper levels will be far more dangerous. Their journey has only just begun, and the mysteries surrounding the dungeon, the alien civilization, and the true purpose of the deadly competition remain unresolved, setting the stage for future adventures.

Overall, Dungeon Crawler Carl is an inventive and highly entertaining novel that combines thrilling action, clever world-building, memorable characters, and biting satire. Matt Dinniman creates a unique story that examines survival, friendship, and resilience while delivering nonstop excitement and humor. At its core, the novel is about ordinary individuals finding extraordinary courage in the face of impossible circumstances, proving that compassion and determination can survive even in the cruelest of games.