All colonist Oliver Lewis ever wanted to do was run the family ranch with his sister, maybe play a gig or two with his band, and keep his family’s aging fleet of intelligent agriculture bots ticking as long as possible. He figures it will be a good thing when the transfer gate finally opens all the way and restores instant travel and full communication between Earth and his planet, New Sonora. But there’s a complication.
Even though the settlers were promised they’d be left in peace, Earth’s government now has other plans. The colossal Apex Industries is hired to commence an “eviction action.” But maximizing profits will always be Apex’s number one priority. Why spend money printing and deploying AI soldiers when they can turn it into a game? Why not charge bored Earthers for the opportunity to design their own war machines and remotely pilot them from the comfort of their homes?
The game is called Operation Bounce House.
Oliver and his friends soon find themselves fighting for their lives against machines piloted by gamers who’ve paid a premium for the privilege. With the help of an old book from his grandfather and a bucket of rusty parts, Oliver is determined to defend the only home he’s ever known.
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Combining litRPG mechanics with dark comedy and apocalyptic survival, the Dungeon Crawler Carl series has become a prominent fixture in contemporary science fantasy and litRPG fiction. Matt Dinniman, an author and visual artist residing in Gig Harbor, Washington, gained widespread popularity with his narrative following human survivor Carl and his ex-girlfriend's prize-winning Persian cat, Princess Donut, as they navigate an alien-controlled subterranean game show.
Raised in a military family that frequently moved between states during his childhood, Dinniman developed an early interest in creating fiction. In high school, he began working on his debut novel, spending ten years developing what would become Every Grain of Sand in 2003, marking his initial foray into dystopian fantasy and forming part of The Shivered Sky series. Prior to transitioning into full-time fiction writing, he worked as an artist. Outside of his literary career, Dinniman plays bass in two musical bands and humorously clarifies that he does not actually dislike Cocker Spaniels.
Dinniman's storytelling frequently focuses on themes of apocalyptic destruction, high-stakes game dynamics, and dark humor under surreal circumstances. His work in litRPG integrates video game statistics and dungeon-crawling progression with character-driven drama and satirical social commentary. Beyond his signature series, his bibliography includes science fiction and horror titles such as Operation Bounce House, Kaiju: Battlefield Surgeon, Dominion of Blades, and The Grinding, reflecting a persistent focus on survival stories set against catastrophic world-ending scenarios.
