Dungeon Crawler Carl, by Matt Dinniman

I wouldn’t say Dungeon Crawler Carl is for everyone . . . But Matt Dinniman’s novel series has been receiving a lot of buzz lately, and it’s easy to see why. With elements of fantasy, science fiction, and game theory humorously at play, it’s a fun read that feels like a mash-up between Stephen King’s The Running Man, Douglas Adams’s Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, and Ernest Cline’s Ready Player One.

Carl and his ex-girlfriend’s cat, Princess Donut, try to escape the end of the world, as they’re drawn into a video-game-like dungeon infested with goblins, drug-dealing llamas, and a slew of other adversaries. This all plays out on screens across the galaxy as a reality game show, where Carl and Donut fight for views, follows, and their lives. The language, violence, and humor will definitely turn some readers away. But those who can handle the gritty narrative will love the wild ride.