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Dungeon Crawler Carl

Book 1 in the series:Dungeon Crawler Carl

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In 'Dungeon Crawler Carl,' readers are thrust into an absurd and violent game-like world where survival means killing monsters and fellow humans Battle Royale style. The protagonist, Carl, stands out as a balance of blue-collar everyman, nerd, and isekai protagonist, navigating through a mix of absurd violence and depravity with close companionship with his cat and complicated feelings towards his ex and father. The writing style is described as modern and idiomatic, with masterful dialogue that elevates fictional craftsmanship while maintaining natural and unaffected character interactions.

Characters:

The characters are diverse and well-developed, with Carl as a relatable protagonist and Princess Donut as a standout supporting character providing humor and intelligence.

Writing/Prose:

The writing style is characterized by a conversational tone filled with witty humor, seamlessly incorporating RPG mechanics while balancing absurd scenarios with emotional depth.

Plot/Storyline:

The story revolves around Earth becoming a game show for aliens, where the protagonist Carl must navigate deadly dungeon levels with his cat, infusing the narrative with humor, action, and absurdity.

Setting:

The setting is a dystopian Earth transformed into an alien-controlled dungeon, characterized by varied levels filled with absurd and dark challenges.

Pacing:

The pacing is dynamic and engaging, characterized by constant action and humor, keeping the reader invested through well-timed plot developments.

Notes:

The protagonist, Carl, is accompanied by his ex-girlfriend's cat, Donut, who is also intelligent and has her own agenda.
Carl has the qualities of an everyman while navigating a fantastical and dangerous world.
The story is set in a post-apocalyptic world where aliens have turned Earth into a deadly dungeon for entertainment.
The series blends dark humor and absurdist elements with serious themes of survival and human emotions.
The audiobook version is highly praised, particularly for the narrator Jeff Hays, who brings the characters to life with distinct voices.
The series is a mix of genres, combining elements of sci-fi, fantasy, and horror with RPG mechanics.
Carl's journey includes comedic yet serious moments, often featuring ethical dilemmas and the consequences of his actions.
Characters in the series, including antagonists, are somewhat complex and not purely evil, adding depth to the narrative.
The author, Matt Dinniman, manages to keep the humor intact while still raising impactful questions about humanity and ethics.
The audiobooks feature additional comedic elements, like bloopers by the narrator, enhancing the overall experience.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

The book features depictions of violence, dark humor, and situations that some readers may find disturbing due to the absurdity and brutality of the survival scenarios.

From The Publisher:

The apocalypse will be televised! A man. His ex-girlfriend's cat. A sadistic game show unlike anything in the universe: a dungeon crawl where survival depends on killing your prey in the most entertaining way possible. In a flash, every human-erected construction on Earth-from Buckingham Palace to the tiniest of sheds-collapses in a heap, sinking into the ground. The buildings and all the people inside have all been atomized and transformed into the dungeon: an 18-level labyrinth filled with traps, monsters, and loot. A dungeon so enormous, it circles the entire globe. Only a few dare venture inside. But once you're in, you can't get out. And what's worse, each level has a time limit. You have but days to find a staircase to the next level down, or it's game over. In this game, it's not about your strength or your dexterity. It's about your followers, your views. Your clout. It's about building an audience and killing those goblins with style. You can't just survive here. You gotta survive big. You gotta fight with vigor, with excitement. You gotta make them stand up and cheer. And if you do have that "it" factor, you may just find yourself with a following. That's the only way to truly survive in this game-with the help of the loot boxes dropped upon you by the generous benefactors watching from across the galaxy. They call it Dungeon Crawler World. But for Carl, it's anything but a game.

Ratings (218)

Incredible (81)
Loved It (70)
Liked It (35)
It Was OK (17)
Did Not Like (12)
Hated It (3)

Reader Stats (312):

Read It (218)
Currently Reading (5)
Want To Read (55)
Did Not Finish (14)
Not Interested (20)

10 comment(s)

Loved It
2 weeks

“It tasted as if i'd taken a drink directly from the diseased asshole of an incontinent skunk. it took all of my strength not to vomit.”

Quite a fun book/story world!! Very colorful descriptions and funny humor to boot.

 
Incredible
3 weeks

This book hits the ground running and never stops. If you enjoy rpg/D & D style games this will be a blast for you.

 
Liked It
1 month

The storyline is interesting, the characters are well developed, and the themes are much more adult and handled better than many similar books. My only complaint has grown as the series continues: The author is trying to do way, way too much in terms of scope, and the story is beginning to suffer for it. The floor themes have gotten so convoluted it's hard to follow, and I can't make sense of what's happening until the book's conclusion/wrap up later.

 
Incredible
2 months

A lighthearted LitRPG with humor and sci-fi elements, perfect for cozy mystery lovers who enjoy dark comedy, absurdist storytelling, and fast-paced action. The relatable protagonist Carl, accompanied by his intelligent cat Princess Donut, navigates a post-apocalyptic world filled with witty humor, serious undertones, and complex characters. I loved the unique blend of LitRPG mechanics, sci-fi elements, and fantasy tropes that made this story an engaging and entertaining read.

 
Incredible
3 months

This was great. If you're into World of Warcraft or other similar MMORPGs, this audiobook is for you.

 
Liked It
7 months

Characters

 
Incredible
8 months

This is one of the best books to get started with the

litrpg genre.

My wife does not read the same books as me, but she tried and liked it. It's light, funny, and just keeps going.

 
Loved It
11 months

What a fun read.

This is also a good intro book for someone who hasn't read litrpg before. Highly recommend if you're looking for a fast paced, humorous book.

 
Incredible
1 year

The series has me enthralled! Dear Matt Dinniman,

These books level me up: thank you for the experience.

A truly beautiful tragedy that has me glued to this universe; pulled in by the mass amounts of laughter: before, during, and after all of the savagery!

 
Loved It
2 years

Get the audio for this. It's absolutely worth it.


All I can say is poor Carl! He has the worst luck to enter a dungeon with a domineering cat, no pants, and no shoes. Hilarious at times (don't listen while eating or drinking!) but with great world building and interesting characters. There's a sense of melancholy though about the whole experience that Carl is having to crawl through because he's in a very sucky situation. But he's Carl and he keeps reminding himself "You cannot break me" and he tries to protect all he meets. And what can I say about Princess Donut! She's a gem and a hoot. Carl won't be Carl without Princess Donut.

 
 
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