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Operation Bounce House
Length = 10 hours & 49 minutes
A man must fight for his planet against impossible odds when gamers from Earth attempt to remotely annihilate it in this epic, fast-paced novel from the New York Times bestselling author of the smash-hit Dungeon Crawler Carl.
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.
A man must fight for his planet against impossible odds when gamers from Earth attempt to remotely annihilate it in this epic, fast-paced novel from the New York Times bestselling author of the smash-hit Dungeon Crawler Carl.
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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First published February 10, 2026
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About the author
Matt Dinniman
32 books15.4k followersMatt Dinniman is the best-selling writer and artist from Gig Harbor, Washington. He is the published author of dozens of short stories and a gaggle of books. In addition, his art publications—from greeting cards to stationery kits to calendars—can be found in boutique and stationery shops around the world. Also, he strongly feels like a pretentious twat when he writes about himself in third person.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 506 reviews
February 10, 2026
I'm a huge Dungeon Crawler Carl fan so I wanted to try an other story from Matt Dinniman, and I'm so glad I did!
The concept is both chilling and entertaining, the characters are interesting and have great chemistry, and the world building is really immersive.
I loved the balance between deep feelings and action, humour and violence.
There are also very interesting ideas addressed all through the plot, especially regarding the treatment of who or what is deemed different from us.
I had a great time and I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a fun, action packed, genuinely good story.
Thank you so much Berkley Publishing Group for this ARC!
The concept is both chilling and entertaining, the characters are interesting and have great chemistry, and the world building is really immersive.
I loved the balance between deep feelings and action, humour and violence.
There are also very interesting ideas addressed all through the plot, especially regarding the treatment of who or what is deemed different from us.
I had a great time and I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a fun, action packed, genuinely good story.
Thank you so much Berkley Publishing Group for this ARC!
Read
December 17, 2025__Well, that might just be my last book of the year, ! A full review is queued up and ready to launch the moment I submit the last exam in 2025 hehee 💀😭
𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘶𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘳, 𝘔𝘪𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘦𝘭 𝘑𝘰𝘴𝘦𝘱𝘩 (𝘗𝘦𝘯𝘨𝘶𝘪𝘯 𝘙𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘰𝘮 𝘏𝘰𝘶𝘴𝘦), 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘈𝘙𝘊 𝘷𝘪𝘢 𝘕𝘦𝘵𝘎𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘺.
----
Oh my gosh, I'm absolutely dying to know what Matt's cooking up! I'm starving just thinking about it, and the worst part is the book won't be out until next year. The wait is killing me😭.
𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘶𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘳, 𝘔𝘪𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘦𝘭 𝘑𝘰𝘴𝘦𝘱𝘩 (𝘗𝘦𝘯𝘨𝘶𝘪𝘯 𝘙𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘰𝘮 𝘏𝘰𝘶𝘴𝘦), 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘈𝘙𝘊 𝘷𝘪𝘢 𝘕𝘦𝘵𝘎𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘺.
----
Oh my gosh, I'm absolutely dying to know what Matt's cooking up! I'm starving just thinking about it, and the worst part is the book won't be out until next year. The wait is killing me😭.
Currently reading
February 10, 2026pre-read:
I need to read whatever this insane and genius man writes.
I need to read whatever this insane and genius man writes.
October 17, 2025
Thank you Netgalley and Berkely Publishing Group/ ACE for an ARC of this book!
*Sighs and adds 30 books to my TBR*
Yeah, this was everything I was hoping it would be! to infinity and beyond more. I have had my eye on the Dungeon Crawler Carl series for a while now, and it's on my TBR. But I am in the middle of so many series right now it's actually disgusting. And I have also sworn against sci-fi up until very recently. But I knew I had to be careful when I took my first step. I had a hunch Mr. Dinniman would be a fantastic stepping stone into the world of Sci-fi. I was very much correct. If you've been contemplating getting into the Sci-fi genre, you start with this book. It's a standalone, so you don't have to worry about committing to a series. Pieces of real life/real life problems and Science Fiction are glued together with humor and it's absolutely brilliant! It's not hard to follow, you don't feel as if you're getting lost, or anything is over your head. I think the use of real life situations helps with that. The story itself is an emotional ride. This was definitely a good time
According to the rules of this book, Im very weak minded..f@&k 😅
*Sighs and adds 30 books to my TBR*
Yeah, this was everything I was hoping it would be! to infinity and beyond more. I have had my eye on the Dungeon Crawler Carl series for a while now, and it's on my TBR. But I am in the middle of so many series right now it's actually disgusting. And I have also sworn against sci-fi up until very recently. But I knew I had to be careful when I took my first step. I had a hunch Mr. Dinniman would be a fantastic stepping stone into the world of Sci-fi. I was very much correct. If you've been contemplating getting into the Sci-fi genre, you start with this book. It's a standalone, so you don't have to worry about committing to a series. Pieces of real life/real life problems and Science Fiction are glued together with humor and it's absolutely brilliant! It's not hard to follow, you don't feel as if you're getting lost, or anything is over your head. I think the use of real life situations helps with that. The story itself is an emotional ride. This was definitely a good time
According to the rules of this book, Im very weak minded..f@&k 😅
November 3, 2025
Operation Bounce House
by Matt Dinniman
This really is a book that came out of left field. The characters, plot, theme, and world-building are so unique that it caught me totally by surprise. I love a good, fresh look at sci-fi and this sure is! The characters on another planet are interesting and amazing. The backstory of the people and all the history is strange and mysterious. There is the simple awe of the story as it unfolds, the society they have and how it all works, and the dry humor that pops up frequently along the way.
Just as I was getting comfortable with this crazy but adorable life, people on earth find a way to mess things up. They start a game but the game really kills the people on the planet. It is televised on Earth and the planet's people are called terrorists. These farmers now have to fight mechanical soldiers with bombs, guns, and are controlled by rich spoiled kids.
I loved this book! I want to thank the publisher and NetGalley for letting me read this unique and wonderful book!
by Matt Dinniman
This really is a book that came out of left field. The characters, plot, theme, and world-building are so unique that it caught me totally by surprise. I love a good, fresh look at sci-fi and this sure is! The characters on another planet are interesting and amazing. The backstory of the people and all the history is strange and mysterious. There is the simple awe of the story as it unfolds, the society they have and how it all works, and the dry humor that pops up frequently along the way.
Just as I was getting comfortable with this crazy but adorable life, people on earth find a way to mess things up. They start a game but the game really kills the people on the planet. It is televised on Earth and the planet's people are called terrorists. These farmers now have to fight mechanical soldiers with bombs, guns, and are controlled by rich spoiled kids.
I loved this book! I want to thank the publisher and NetGalley for letting me read this unique and wonderful book!
February 10, 2026
It was just a game to them. Just a game. Another stream to follow. Another type of cruelty to keep them entertained.
Residents of a colonized planet are stunned to find themselves the targets in a video game played by gamers sitting in their parents' basements on Earth.
This was well-paced, though I did get bogged down a bit by the politics and science of the whole thing. Also, as I'm not a gamer, and my boys always played quest games that involved walking around asking questions, so I had trouble visualizing the mechs and the battle scenes.
There's a good message here:
That was the problem with war. It was impossible to color within the lines.
But I suspect this one will be enjoyed more by someone more familiar with first person shooters.
Thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for sharing.
Residents of a colonized planet are stunned to find themselves the targets in a video game played by gamers sitting in their parents' basements on Earth.
This was well-paced, though I did get bogged down a bit by the politics and science of the whole thing. Also, as I'm not a gamer, and my boys always played quest games that involved walking around asking questions, so I had trouble visualizing the mechs and the battle scenes.
There's a good message here:
That was the problem with war. It was impossible to color within the lines.
But I suspect this one will be enjoyed more by someone more familiar with first person shooters.
Thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for sharing.
February 7, 2026
˗ˏˋ 2 stars ⟡ ݁₊ .
i requested this book since i loved DCC very much. it felt very different from DCC and it was very sci-fi and not as funny as DCC was. there was also kinda a lot of info dumping in the beginning of the book where i got very confused with all of the characters... somewhere in the middle of the book, the plot kinda got very repetitive and it felt like it was going nowhere? iykwim
⤷ thank you to netgalley, the publisher and the author for providing me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
i requested this book since i loved DCC very much. it felt very different from DCC and it was very sci-fi and not as funny as DCC was. there was also kinda a lot of info dumping in the beginning of the book where i got very confused with all of the characters... somewhere in the middle of the book, the plot kinda got very repetitive and it felt like it was going nowhere? iykwim
⤷ thank you to netgalley, the publisher and the author for providing me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
September 29, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing/Ace for the eARC! ♥️
My first exposure to this author came through Dungeon Crawler Carl (which I somehow ended up reading in tandem with this book).
This book is very different from DCC and has a very different vibe. While DCC is a kind of sci fi fantasy mashup with a somewhat campy and humorous feel to it, this book is straight sci fi and lacks the humorous vibe.
This book follows a group of people originally from Earth who colonized another planet and live fairly simple lives working the land (the main character is a rancher, others are farmers, etc). Meanwhile, Earth decides to invade this new planet and the main character Oliver and his friends and family members defend their home.
This was a somewhat odd reading experience for me. Oliver, despite being the main character, didn’t feel like the main character at all. A lot of the action happened “off screen” so to speak and he wasn’t involved with it at all; he would just hear about it later from someone else or see it later on a vid screen. Roger, one of the robots working on Oliver’s ranch, felt like more of the main character (even though this is first person from Oliver’s perspective) because Roger was involved in more of the action (and a lot of the time, he was the one reporting back to Oliver what was going on).
Roger was also the only humorous character and I enjoyed his scenes. Since he was essentially the babysitter/teacher of Oliver and his sister as kids, he doesn’t tolerate cursing which led to some funny moments. I kind of pictured him to look like IG-11 from The Mandalorian.
The rest of the “humor” in the book (if you could call it that) consisted of dirty jokes and the like, none of which I personally found funny.
Aside from Roger, none of the characters really stood out to me. Part of that is because a bunch of them were introduced at the same time and also because Roger would refer to them with names like “Oliver’s third friend” or whatnot so it was difficult to keep track of them all.
I did like the interview segments which helped explain the bigger picture. The story itself was a bit hard to follow at times and was a bit repetitive (Earth attacks, they defend, person XYZ was killed in the battle, etc). The ending got very sci fi and I personally wasn’t a fan of it.
Overall I would definitely recommend Dungeon Crawler Carl over this. This book is more on the sci fi end and is nowhere near as humorous or entertaining as DCC is. Sadly, this was a bit of a miss for me.
My first exposure to this author came through Dungeon Crawler Carl (which I somehow ended up reading in tandem with this book).
This book is very different from DCC and has a very different vibe. While DCC is a kind of sci fi fantasy mashup with a somewhat campy and humorous feel to it, this book is straight sci fi and lacks the humorous vibe.
This book follows a group of people originally from Earth who colonized another planet and live fairly simple lives working the land (the main character is a rancher, others are farmers, etc). Meanwhile, Earth decides to invade this new planet and the main character Oliver and his friends and family members defend their home.
This was a somewhat odd reading experience for me. Oliver, despite being the main character, didn’t feel like the main character at all. A lot of the action happened “off screen” so to speak and he wasn’t involved with it at all; he would just hear about it later from someone else or see it later on a vid screen. Roger, one of the robots working on Oliver’s ranch, felt like more of the main character (even though this is first person from Oliver’s perspective) because Roger was involved in more of the action (and a lot of the time, he was the one reporting back to Oliver what was going on).
Roger was also the only humorous character and I enjoyed his scenes. Since he was essentially the babysitter/teacher of Oliver and his sister as kids, he doesn’t tolerate cursing which led to some funny moments. I kind of pictured him to look like IG-11 from The Mandalorian.
The rest of the “humor” in the book (if you could call it that) consisted of dirty jokes and the like, none of which I personally found funny.
Aside from Roger, none of the characters really stood out to me. Part of that is because a bunch of them were introduced at the same time and also because Roger would refer to them with names like “Oliver’s third friend” or whatnot so it was difficult to keep track of them all.
I did like the interview segments which helped explain the bigger picture. The story itself was a bit hard to follow at times and was a bit repetitive (Earth attacks, they defend, person XYZ was killed in the battle, etc). The ending got very sci fi and I personally wasn’t a fan of it.
Overall I would definitely recommend Dungeon Crawler Carl over this. This book is more on the sci fi end and is nowhere near as humorous or entertaining as DCC is. Sadly, this was a bit of a miss for me.
January 25, 2026
This was a really fun read and even though I’m not really a sci-fi girly, it had lots of elements to appeal to a wide audience.🥰⭐️
The story predominantly follows Oliver, a farmer living a small off-Earth colony called New Sonara, alongside his friends and family.🧑🌾🐷🐓🌾
However, the characters soon discover a previously advertised ‘Operation Bounce House’ is real and its purpose is to exterminate New Sonara using remotely-operated mechanical robots. 🤖🦾🦿💥🚀
The story has a strong cat of characters with a good amount of depth but also it knows when to add humour to the story, and not take itself too seriously. I always have a soft spot for little robot characters (perhaps stemming from my love of Rocky in Project Hail Mary) and so Roger 👾was a great primary character and was strategically used to move the plot along, add information, humour and even contention. Similarly I think the elaborate lay-out of the AI systems was very clever.
The plot was very compelling and I was definitely invested in the progress of the invasion in what seemed like an insurmountable battle. Another component worth highlighting is the scene-cuts of Rosita’s recording 🎬📽️🎞️- aiming to create empathy in the audiences - which felt almost like a breaking-the-fourth-wall moment. Even though a lot of the language and plot centres around mechanics and technology, those scenes were a nice prompt to make you humanise the characters and their prior lives. 🥹😌They felt sincere and endearing.
Overall a great read. If you’re a Dinnaman fan and used to his writing style, you’ll have heaps of fun with this🫡💃🏽 - and if you haven’t read his work before, this is a great entry point to his writing as well as the sci-fi genre.🥰⭐️
The story predominantly follows Oliver, a farmer living a small off-Earth colony called New Sonara, alongside his friends and family.🧑🌾🐷🐓🌾
However, the characters soon discover a previously advertised ‘Operation Bounce House’ is real and its purpose is to exterminate New Sonara using remotely-operated mechanical robots. 🤖🦾🦿💥🚀
The story has a strong cat of characters with a good amount of depth but also it knows when to add humour to the story, and not take itself too seriously. I always have a soft spot for little robot characters (perhaps stemming from my love of Rocky in Project Hail Mary) and so Roger 👾was a great primary character and was strategically used to move the plot along, add information, humour and even contention. Similarly I think the elaborate lay-out of the AI systems was very clever.
The plot was very compelling and I was definitely invested in the progress of the invasion in what seemed like an insurmountable battle. Another component worth highlighting is the scene-cuts of Rosita’s recording 🎬📽️🎞️- aiming to create empathy in the audiences - which felt almost like a breaking-the-fourth-wall moment. Even though a lot of the language and plot centres around mechanics and technology, those scenes were a nice prompt to make you humanise the characters and their prior lives. 🥹😌They felt sincere and endearing.
Overall a great read. If you’re a Dinnaman fan and used to his writing style, you’ll have heaps of fun with this🫡💃🏽 - and if you haven’t read his work before, this is a great entry point to his writing as well as the sci-fi genre.🥰⭐️
February 11, 2026
Operation Bounce House was easily one of my most anticipated reads of the year, and somehow, it still managed to exceed my already high expectations! The plot is unique and addictive, I was completely sucked in and couldn't put it down.
It captures that dystopian vibe that we all love in Dungeon Crawler Carl, but stands entirely on its own with a amazing storyline full of chaotic moments and a cast of unforgettable characters. The whole time I read it I kept imagining it as a TV show / movie or a video game. I couldn't put it down, and I haven't been able to stop thinking about it since I finished. Pure perfection! Easy 5 stars and will be one of the best books of the year!!
It captures that dystopian vibe that we all love in Dungeon Crawler Carl, but stands entirely on its own with a amazing storyline full of chaotic moments and a cast of unforgettable characters. The whole time I read it I kept imagining it as a TV show / movie or a video game. I couldn't put it down, and I haven't been able to stop thinking about it since I finished. Pure perfection! Easy 5 stars and will be one of the best books of the year!!
August 27, 2025
Like many people, I came to know Matt Dinniman as a huge fan of the Dungeon Crawler Carl series. While I can’t always completely understand what is happening in those books, I find reading them to be tremendously enjoyable. I’m not a big gamer nor am I a fantasy reader, but I love Princess Donut and Carl’s adventures.
This book, Operation Bounce House, has wonderfully developed characters that remind me a lot of Carl. While the supporting cast isn’t as absurd or whimsical, the story is engaging and it is so much easier for me to visualize and understand. Yay for Dinniman getting an editor!!
Oliver is a farmer with a steady girl and a garage band. He is the third or fourth generation on a planet called New Sonora. Earth hasn’t made contact with them for 100 years, when the planet was colonized by a handful of scientists and criminals. They are fully independent from earth. But the tables are turned with earth’s government decides to evict the settlers and take back control of the planet via AI android types that are controlled by earth gamers.
So they now become part of a video game that Earth people are charged to play to completely get rid of the citizens of Sonora, called Operation Bounce House.
This one is more speculative fiction and sci fi than fantasy, and has some thinly veiled warnings about late stage capitalism and AI. I found it to be very adventurous and fun. There is some humor, but mostly this is just action packed.
Thanks to NetGalley and Ace Publishing/ Berkeley for the ARC. Book to be published 2/9/26.
This book, Operation Bounce House, has wonderfully developed characters that remind me a lot of Carl. While the supporting cast isn’t as absurd or whimsical, the story is engaging and it is so much easier for me to visualize and understand. Yay for Dinniman getting an editor!!
Oliver is a farmer with a steady girl and a garage band. He is the third or fourth generation on a planet called New Sonora. Earth hasn’t made contact with them for 100 years, when the planet was colonized by a handful of scientists and criminals. They are fully independent from earth. But the tables are turned with earth’s government decides to evict the settlers and take back control of the planet via AI android types that are controlled by earth gamers.
So they now become part of a video game that Earth people are charged to play to completely get rid of the citizens of Sonora, called Operation Bounce House.
This one is more speculative fiction and sci fi than fantasy, and has some thinly veiled warnings about late stage capitalism and AI. I found it to be very adventurous and fun. There is some humor, but mostly this is just action packed.
Thanks to NetGalley and Ace Publishing/ Berkeley for the ARC. Book to be published 2/9/26.
February 10, 2026
Thanks to Netgalley and Berkley for the pre-release copy of Operation Bounce House by Matt Dinniman. Below you'll find my honest review.
This one was a roller coaster! I recently discovered and binged the entire library of available installments in the Dungeon Crawler Carl series and LOVED them, so when I saw this standalone by Dinniman on Netgalley, I knew I had to request it.
Sadly, for the first half (maybe 60%) of the book, I was struggling hardcore. It was slow and a little repetitive. But the last 40-50% totally made up for that in awesomeness, so I'm glad I didn't give up!
He's crafted a novel that touches on how we treat people we perceive differently than ourselves, the issues with AI, and what it means to be a human on every end of the spectrum of behaviors.
I don't want to give too much away (Roger was my favorite, so I'll say that), but I'll say this:
First half or so - 2 stars. Needed some pacing work.
Second half or so - 5 stars. Top notch, real emotional and storyline payoff.
So on average, that's about 3.5 stars (2+5 = 7, divided by 2 = 3.5), and I'll round up because the last half was that good, so 4 stars overall.
Recommended for fans of sci-fi and dystopia, but be warned, don't go in expecting Dungeon Crawler Carl. Give it a fair shake as its own thing, like I did by the end but should have at the beginning.
(PS - thank you, Dinniman, for the little easter egg of Princess Donut.)
This one was a roller coaster! I recently discovered and binged the entire library of available installments in the Dungeon Crawler Carl series and LOVED them, so when I saw this standalone by Dinniman on Netgalley, I knew I had to request it.
Sadly, for the first half (maybe 60%) of the book, I was struggling hardcore. It was slow and a little repetitive. But the last 40-50% totally made up for that in awesomeness, so I'm glad I didn't give up!
He's crafted a novel that touches on how we treat people we perceive differently than ourselves, the issues with AI, and what it means to be a human on every end of the spectrum of behaviors.
I don't want to give too much away (Roger was my favorite, so I'll say that), but I'll say this:
First half or so - 2 stars. Needed some pacing work.
Second half or so - 5 stars. Top notch, real emotional and storyline payoff.
So on average, that's about 3.5 stars (2+5 = 7, divided by 2 = 3.5), and I'll round up because the last half was that good, so 4 stars overall.
Recommended for fans of sci-fi and dystopia, but be warned, don't go in expecting Dungeon Crawler Carl. Give it a fair shake as its own thing, like I did by the end but should have at the beginning.
(PS - thank you, Dinniman, for the little easter egg of Princess Donut.)
January 19, 2026
First off, this is true MD writing with the humor and vibes that feel like you are truly a part of the story.
Second, I just refuse to believe that this is a standalone. I had such a good time with this one but I think the way this story unraveled and ended could be by itself OR continue as a series. Personally I want more.
The first 1/3 of the book is somewhat slow but that is to be expected to get the lay of the land. Then it is a steady climb until we hit the peaks of the plot.
I didn’t think I’d be obsessed with the ending of this but I am! I have SO MANY QUESTIONS. But I think that is why I refuse for this to just end.
This book is full of humor, heartfelt moments, gore, violence and plenty of profanity that is monitored by a Robotic Bee named Roger….this will be your book if any of these spark your interest! Especially when it is placed in a dystopian future of human colonization mixed in with the propaganda and political turmoil.
Or you may like this book if you just pick it up and just read it.
Thank you to Netgalley and Berkeley Publishing for the eARC.
Second, I just refuse to believe that this is a standalone. I had such a good time with this one but I think the way this story unraveled and ended could be by itself OR continue as a series. Personally I want more.
The first 1/3 of the book is somewhat slow but that is to be expected to get the lay of the land. Then it is a steady climb until we hit the peaks of the plot.
I didn’t think I’d be obsessed with the ending of this but I am! I have SO MANY QUESTIONS. But I think that is why I refuse for this to just end.
This book is full of humor, heartfelt moments, gore, violence and plenty of profanity that is monitored by a Robotic Bee named Roger….this will be your book if any of these spark your interest! Especially when it is placed in a dystopian future of human colonization mixed in with the propaganda and political turmoil.
Or you may like this book if you just pick it up and just read it.
Thank you to Netgalley and Berkeley Publishing for the eARC.
September 29, 2025
This isn't Dungeon Crawler Carl, but there's no denying it's a Matt Dinniman book. It has much of what makes Matt's books so enjoyable- a wild premise, irreverent humor, action, an endearing cast, and twists and turns that keep you guessing til the end.
February 9, 2026
Full review to come.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
"Welcome, Citizen Soldier. Welcome to Operation Bounce House."
What an adventure - a story with Matt Dinniman's signature wit and humor mixed into the horror on-line streamers, internet anonymity, and war.
Generations ago, a group of people left Earth to establish a colony on a new planet. They've been there years now, working the land, trying to establish cities versus farms and make it ready for others to come and live here. There were some hiccups, sure. A mysterious illness, a few breakdowns in the drones and worker bots, but otherwise it's gone okay. However, suddenly, mechs are at their doorstep and a brother and sister, their friends and fellow farmers along with their robots, must fight to keep this planet and the only life they've ever known.
This was a great adventure of a read, but also sobering about the realities of fighting to live. I loved learning the history of the planet but, unlike Dungeon Crawler Carl, this doesn't show the horror of aliens but the terrible side of humans. It gives us both sides of the coin of people and we get to see how each can be used for good or bad. I loved the silly moments, the animals are absolutely wonderful parts of the story, and the friendships and found family warmed my heart. Wondering what would happen next and the maneuvering of war were fascinating and compelling and made it hard to stop reading. I loved it!
A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.
What an adventure - a story with Matt Dinniman's signature wit and humor mixed into the horror on-line streamers, internet anonymity, and war.
Generations ago, a group of people left Earth to establish a colony on a new planet. They've been there years now, working the land, trying to establish cities versus farms and make it ready for others to come and live here. There were some hiccups, sure. A mysterious illness, a few breakdowns in the drones and worker bots, but otherwise it's gone okay. However, suddenly, mechs are at their doorstep and a brother and sister, their friends and fellow farmers along with their robots, must fight to keep this planet and the only life they've ever known.
This was a great adventure of a read, but also sobering about the realities of fighting to live. I loved learning the history of the planet but, unlike Dungeon Crawler Carl, this doesn't show the horror of aliens but the terrible side of humans. It gives us both sides of the coin of people and we get to see how each can be used for good or bad. I loved the silly moments, the animals are absolutely wonderful parts of the story, and the friendships and found family warmed my heart. Wondering what would happen next and the maneuvering of war were fascinating and compelling and made it hard to stop reading. I loved it!
A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.
November 2, 2025
Such a good book. Not as good as Carl so don’t expect it to be. But definitely give it a read.
February 10, 2026
3.75⭐️
Thank you @acebookspub and @prhaudio for the gifted copies + audiobook ♡
𝚜𝚌𝚒𝚏𝚒 • 𝚍𝚢𝚜𝚝𝚘𝚙𝚒𝚊𝚗 • 𝚜𝚙𝚊𝚌𝚎 𝚏𝚊𝚛𝚖𝚎𝚛𝚜 • 𝙰𝙸
I am not a litrpg girl but this one worked for me, especially paired with Travis Baldree and Jeff Hays on audio. Space farmers have settled New Sonora and are just making music, harvesting onions, living their lives, when Earth declares them a terrorist state who must be eliminated. Sounds eerily familiar…packed with crass humor but also not without a lot of heart. 🎸
▶︎ •၊၊||၊|။||။|• 🎧 the audiobook enhanced the story bringing voice accents (space farmers, robots - 🤖 Roger).
link to my review on bookstagram
Thank you @acebookspub and @prhaudio for the gifted copies + audiobook ♡
𝚜𝚌𝚒𝚏𝚒 • 𝚍𝚢𝚜𝚝𝚘𝚙𝚒𝚊𝚗 • 𝚜𝚙𝚊𝚌𝚎 𝚏𝚊𝚛𝚖𝚎𝚛𝚜 • 𝙰𝙸
I am not a litrpg girl but this one worked for me, especially paired with Travis Baldree and Jeff Hays on audio. Space farmers have settled New Sonora and are just making music, harvesting onions, living their lives, when Earth declares them a terrorist state who must be eliminated. Sounds eerily familiar…packed with crass humor but also not without a lot of heart. 🎸
▶︎ •၊၊||၊|။||။|• 🎧 the audiobook enhanced the story bringing voice accents (space farmers, robots - 🤖 Roger).
link to my review on bookstagram
February 12, 2026
I had read some of the author’s book “Dungeon Crawler Carl” a couple of years ago, and I found it pretty entertaining, if a little crude. Dinniman is hilarious, and you never quite know what is going to come out of a character’s mouth. So I’ve been keen to read more of his books, and I’m glad I received an eARC of this one.
It’s funny—really funny. But it’s also sad, horrific, informative and reflective. There are moments of joy, relief, melancholy, and terror, along with pure WTF that makes you howl with laughter (see Roger’s character). Dinniman knows how to write great characters that get under your skin. You truly come to care about what happens to them.
I very much appreciated the parallels between New Sonora/Earth and the present day United States. I can think of a similar situation nowadays where certain hirelings who have no business having guns are being unleashed upon innocents and causing terror, destruction and death. Said hirelings also consider their targets to be “subhuman”. That is a whole other issue, one that I have many feelings about, but this is not the platform for it.
Aaaaaanyway….
“Operation Bounce House” is well worth your time, and I am determined to read more of Dinniman’s work, because heaven knows we all could use some belly laughs in this timeline!
Thank you to NetGalley and Ace for gifting me an eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
It’s funny—really funny. But it’s also sad, horrific, informative and reflective. There are moments of joy, relief, melancholy, and terror, along with pure WTF that makes you howl with laughter (see Roger’s character). Dinniman knows how to write great characters that get under your skin. You truly come to care about what happens to them.
I very much appreciated the parallels between New Sonora/Earth and the present day United States. I can think of a similar situation nowadays where certain hirelings who have no business having guns are being unleashed upon innocents and causing terror, destruction and death. Said hirelings also consider their targets to be “subhuman”. That is a whole other issue, one that I have many feelings about, but this is not the platform for it.
Aaaaaanyway….
“Operation Bounce House” is well worth your time, and I am determined to read more of Dinniman’s work, because heaven knows we all could use some belly laughs in this timeline!
Thank you to NetGalley and Ace for gifting me an eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
February 10, 2026
I went into Operation Bounce House hoping for strong Dungeon Crawler Carl energy… and that may have been my first mistake.
This SciFi/GameLit satire follows a peaceful colony on New Sonora that’s attacked by Earth-based gamers who pay to remotely pilot war machines, effectively turning planetary defense into corporate entertainment. It’s action-heavy and clearly aims to critique gaming culture and corporate greed.
There were elements I genuinely appreciated. I’m always drawn to sentient AI in science fiction, and Roger Roger was easily one of the more interesting parts of the story for me. The horror element introduced later in the book also added a layer of tension that finally pulled me in — around the 60% mark is where the story really started to ramp up.
That said, the pacing was uneven for my taste. It took a long time to feel fully engaging, and some of the place names on New Sonora (Fat Landing, Burnt Ends, Belly Rubbed Pug) pulled me out of the story more than they immersed me. Comparisons to Dungeon Crawler Carl feel inevitable given the author, but this leaned much more into real-world stakes with Earth vs. New Sonora, and I personally missed the “game” structure where consequences felt less brutally permanent.
Overall, this wasn’t a bad read — just one that didn’t fully land for me.
This SciFi/GameLit satire follows a peaceful colony on New Sonora that’s attacked by Earth-based gamers who pay to remotely pilot war machines, effectively turning planetary defense into corporate entertainment. It’s action-heavy and clearly aims to critique gaming culture and corporate greed.
There were elements I genuinely appreciated. I’m always drawn to sentient AI in science fiction, and Roger Roger was easily one of the more interesting parts of the story for me. The horror element introduced later in the book also added a layer of tension that finally pulled me in — around the 60% mark is where the story really started to ramp up.
That said, the pacing was uneven for my taste. It took a long time to feel fully engaging, and some of the place names on New Sonora (Fat Landing, Burnt Ends, Belly Rubbed Pug) pulled me out of the story more than they immersed me. Comparisons to Dungeon Crawler Carl feel inevitable given the author, but this leaned much more into real-world stakes with Earth vs. New Sonora, and I personally missed the “game” structure where consequences felt less brutally permanent.
Overall, this wasn’t a bad read — just one that didn’t fully land for me.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for providing me with an eARC.
This book has a chilling but unique premise where people from Earth create a game to attack and destroy the colonists remotely. I quite liked the characters and their dynamics. Midway through the book, I found the fight scenes somewhat repetitive and think that the book could've been a bit shorter. I'm not sure how to feel about the ending but I suppose it was fitting. The core of the story made me feel the same way I felt while reading 1984, like this could be real someday. I've never read a dystopian/speculative fiction book with this plotline before. I would recommend this to anyone looking for a unique dystopian novel -- part video games, part war.
This book has a chilling but unique premise where people from Earth create a game to attack and destroy the colonists remotely. I quite liked the characters and their dynamics. Midway through the book, I found the fight scenes somewhat repetitive and think that the book could've been a bit shorter. I'm not sure how to feel about the ending but I suppose it was fitting. The core of the story made me feel the same way I felt while reading 1984, like this could be real someday. I've never read a dystopian/speculative fiction book with this plotline before. I would recommend this to anyone looking for a unique dystopian novel -- part video games, part war.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
review of ARC sent by the publisher
I thought some of the fighting sequences were over too quick and not very exciting or dangerous for the characters.
the final 100 pages (and especially the last 50) were great, though.
I also wanted a scene at the end with the side characters dealing with the consequences of the final event with the MC.
I enjoyed the commentary on AI. it's crazy how some of this "sci-fi" stuff no longer feels quite like fiction.
overall fun to read.
I thought some of the fighting sequences were over too quick and not very exciting or dangerous for the characters.
the final 100 pages (and especially the last 50) were great, though.
I also wanted a scene at the end with the side characters dealing with the consequences of the final event with the MC.
I enjoyed the commentary on AI. it's crazy how some of this "sci-fi" stuff no longer feels quite like fiction.
overall fun to read.
January 18, 2026
Operation Bounce House is unlike anything you’ve read before but has all your favorites, dystopian, fast-paced, and fueled by found family. A war is coming, but the lines aren’t clear, and you may not even know who you want to win. Matt Dinniman pulls you in and keeps you questioning everything until the very last page. I’m still questioning things. Some people might even consider this a horror.
Thank you to penguin publishing and Matt Dinniman for the ARC!
Thank you to penguin publishing and Matt Dinniman for the ARC!
Want to read
September 18, 2025Edit 9/17/25: Screaming crying throwing up because I got the ARC!!!
Um... pardon me, what is this? This is my formal request to Ace to let me get my grubby paws on this, please and thanks
Um... pardon me, what is this? This is my formal request to Ace to let me get my grubby paws on this, please and thanks
February 10, 2026
4⭐️
What a fun read this was!! Operation Bounce House follows Oliver, a farmer who lives on a small colony off Earth with his friends and family. Everything is as it seems until one day they learn that “Operation Bounce House”, an initiative to exterminate their colony New Sonara with human operated robots, is real and has started.
Just like with his well loved Dungeon Crawler Carl series, there is a wonderful cast of characters (special shoutout to Roger) that add so much humor, vulnerability, and family moments to the book. The balance between all of these elements was really well done along with the immersive world building. The plot was engaging and pulls the reader immediately into the book and on the mission of how they are going to get out of this invasion. The scene-cut recordings added some really nice empathetic and heartwarming moments to the book as well. Matt Dinniman manages to incorporate real life situations and timely topics into this action packed sci-fi novel and it was a great read!
I highly recommend picking this one up if you are a lover of Dungeon Crawler Carl series or are wanting to get into the world of Sci-fi!! This is a great standalone in this space with intelligent writing, wit, humor, and family!
Thank you to Berkley Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my review!
What a fun read this was!! Operation Bounce House follows Oliver, a farmer who lives on a small colony off Earth with his friends and family. Everything is as it seems until one day they learn that “Operation Bounce House”, an initiative to exterminate their colony New Sonara with human operated robots, is real and has started.
Just like with his well loved Dungeon Crawler Carl series, there is a wonderful cast of characters (special shoutout to Roger) that add so much humor, vulnerability, and family moments to the book. The balance between all of these elements was really well done along with the immersive world building. The plot was engaging and pulls the reader immediately into the book and on the mission of how they are going to get out of this invasion. The scene-cut recordings added some really nice empathetic and heartwarming moments to the book as well. Matt Dinniman manages to incorporate real life situations and timely topics into this action packed sci-fi novel and it was a great read!
I highly recommend picking this one up if you are a lover of Dungeon Crawler Carl series or are wanting to get into the world of Sci-fi!! This is a great standalone in this space with intelligent writing, wit, humor, and family!
Thank you to Berkley Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my review!
January 16, 2026
Thank you PRH Audio for the ALC. Operation Bounce House will have your adrenaline pumping the whole time. By the last few chapters, my mouth was hanging open. This book tackles gamer culture and AI head-on. The use of a small farming planet being thrown into absolute chaos offers clever plotting. Shout out to authors who put easter eggs in their other books. I love the call-outs to Dungeon Crawler Carl.
January 26, 2026
4.25⭐️
A unique concept and a thrilling read! This was what I expected from Matt Dinniman, and I had a great time!
Operation Bounce House occurs on the planet of New Sonora: a planet settled by humans from Earth two generations before the story begins. We follow our main character Oliver, a farmer on New Sonora, along with his sister Lulu, their AI tutor Roger, and their friends. As Oliver and Roger are investigating a missing farm helper robot, they are attacked by a war mech being piloted remotely by a spoiled Earth child. We then learn that an Earth corporation has created a video game called Operation Bounce House that allows residents on Earth to pilot real mechs, remotely from Earth, in order to eliminate "terrorists" on a settled planet far away, in this case Oliver's home, New Sonora. Oliver and his friends soon find themselves fighting to survive five days against an onslaught of gamer controlled mechs from Earth. Why is Earth after New Sonora? How will Oliver and his friends survive?
In typical Matt Dinniman fashion, this book is action packed and funny as hell, while also having tender character moments and tackling deeper themes. I loved the concept, the characters, and the action. The plot took a turn I wasn't expecting at the end, making things far more interesting than I'd thought they were. The characters and setting are unique, and the comedic moments were hilarious. Dinniman manages to create a fully fleshed out world while progressing the plot and bringing it to a satisfying conclusion, all in 437 pages.
Now for some things I didn't quite like about this book. The pacing to me felt inconsistent at times. Overall, the entire book is decently fast paced, but there were parts that felt TOO fast paced, or other places where the shift change in the plot felt a little too abrupt. There were also a number of things that felt far too convenient for our characters, simply to help the plot move along given this is a standalone. These things normally appeared without too much explanation, or a convoluted explanation. And lastly, there were one or two details thrown in for comedic relief that didn't quite work for me, or didn't really feel like they fit the story.
Overall, I loved this book, and it was another great story from Matt Dinniman. If you enjoyed Dungeon Crawler Carl, you'll enjoy the tone, characters, and plot in Operation Bounce House as well. Rhythm Mafia for life!
A unique concept and a thrilling read! This was what I expected from Matt Dinniman, and I had a great time!
Operation Bounce House occurs on the planet of New Sonora: a planet settled by humans from Earth two generations before the story begins. We follow our main character Oliver, a farmer on New Sonora, along with his sister Lulu, their AI tutor Roger, and their friends. As Oliver and Roger are investigating a missing farm helper robot, they are attacked by a war mech being piloted remotely by a spoiled Earth child. We then learn that an Earth corporation has created a video game called Operation Bounce House that allows residents on Earth to pilot real mechs, remotely from Earth, in order to eliminate "terrorists" on a settled planet far away, in this case Oliver's home, New Sonora. Oliver and his friends soon find themselves fighting to survive five days against an onslaught of gamer controlled mechs from Earth. Why is Earth after New Sonora? How will Oliver and his friends survive?
In typical Matt Dinniman fashion, this book is action packed and funny as hell, while also having tender character moments and tackling deeper themes. I loved the concept, the characters, and the action. The plot took a turn I wasn't expecting at the end, making things far more interesting than I'd thought they were. The characters and setting are unique, and the comedic moments were hilarious. Dinniman manages to create a fully fleshed out world while progressing the plot and bringing it to a satisfying conclusion, all in 437 pages.
Now for some things I didn't quite like about this book. The pacing to me felt inconsistent at times. Overall, the entire book is decently fast paced, but there were parts that felt TOO fast paced, or other places where the shift change in the plot felt a little too abrupt. There were also a number of things that felt far too convenient for our characters, simply to help the plot move along given this is a standalone. These things normally appeared without too much explanation, or a convoluted explanation. And lastly, there were one or two details thrown in for comedic relief that didn't quite work for me, or didn't really feel like they fit the story.
Overall, I loved this book, and it was another great story from Matt Dinniman. If you enjoyed Dungeon Crawler Carl, you'll enjoy the tone, characters, and plot in Operation Bounce House as well. Rhythm Mafia for life!
February 4, 2026
★★★★★ Operation Bounce House
ARC Review
This was an absolute blast from start to finish. I received an ARC of Operation Bounce House from NetGalley, and it completely delivered on everything I was hoping for and then some….It’s chaotic, clever, and laugh-out-loud funny in that very specific Matt Dinniman way where things are ridiculous on the surface but smartly constructed underneath.
The concept alone is wild, but what really makes this shine is the execution. The pacing never drags, the humor lands consistently, and the situations escalate in ways that feel both unhinged and perfectly logical within the world. I found myself constantly impressed by how the story balances absurdity with genuine stakes…you’re laughing one moment and fully invested the next. I think there is a slight reference to Princess Donut…😏
The characters are a huge highlight. They’re sharp, distinct, and react to the insanity around them in ways that feel earned rather than forced for laughs. There’s also that signature Dinniman energy: fast, snarky dialogue, unexpected turns, and a refusal to play it safe. I love that Roger refers to everyone not by names but by descriptions…😂
If you enjoy smart chaos, dark humor, and stories that fully commit to their premise, this is an easy five stars. Operation Bounce House is wildly entertaining, ridiculously fun, and proof (yet again) that Matt Dinniman knows exactly how to keep readers hooked….Thank you for the opportunity to read and review this book!
ARC Review
This was an absolute blast from start to finish. I received an ARC of Operation Bounce House from NetGalley, and it completely delivered on everything I was hoping for and then some….It’s chaotic, clever, and laugh-out-loud funny in that very specific Matt Dinniman way where things are ridiculous on the surface but smartly constructed underneath.
The concept alone is wild, but what really makes this shine is the execution. The pacing never drags, the humor lands consistently, and the situations escalate in ways that feel both unhinged and perfectly logical within the world. I found myself constantly impressed by how the story balances absurdity with genuine stakes…you’re laughing one moment and fully invested the next. I think there is a slight reference to Princess Donut…😏
The characters are a huge highlight. They’re sharp, distinct, and react to the insanity around them in ways that feel earned rather than forced for laughs. There’s also that signature Dinniman energy: fast, snarky dialogue, unexpected turns, and a refusal to play it safe. I love that Roger refers to everyone not by names but by descriptions…😂
If you enjoy smart chaos, dark humor, and stories that fully commit to their premise, this is an easy five stars. Operation Bounce House is wildly entertaining, ridiculously fun, and proof (yet again) that Matt Dinniman knows exactly how to keep readers hooked….Thank you for the opportunity to read and review this book!
February 11, 2026
4.5 rounded up because I know this will stick with me.
In true Matt Dinniman form, he entertains you while packing a huge punch with heavy subjects. He is a true artist. This sci-fi epic adventure takes place on a planet called New Sonora where the inhabitants are invaded by gamers from Earth playing a deadly game. They were told that the planet is full of terrorists, but what happens when the people of New Sonora fight back?
🧡🧡🧡🧡🧡🧡🧡🧡🧡🧡🧡🧡🧡🧡🧡🧡🧡
This was ACTION packed, so be ready to be brought into the battle like you’re there trying to help defend. It was also very politically charged; you could sit and reflect on our current climate for days with this one. The only reason it didn't hit a 5 for me is that I got bogged down in some of the fighting and action scenes, but in all fairness that may have been a me thing. Science and technology advancement is also in the forefront of this novel, and I don’t know about you, but AI and tech advancing scares the living daylights out of me…sorry Roger.
If you’re a fan of the Dungeon Crawler series, I say pick this bad boy up, but don’t go into it with the same mindset. This is outrageous but not in the same way. I loved the book and know I will be thinking about it for weeks or months to come.
Thank you Ace and Berkley for the eARC
In true Matt Dinniman form, he entertains you while packing a huge punch with heavy subjects. He is a true artist. This sci-fi epic adventure takes place on a planet called New Sonora where the inhabitants are invaded by gamers from Earth playing a deadly game. They were told that the planet is full of terrorists, but what happens when the people of New Sonora fight back?
🧡🧡🧡🧡🧡🧡🧡🧡🧡🧡🧡🧡🧡🧡🧡🧡🧡
This was ACTION packed, so be ready to be brought into the battle like you’re there trying to help defend. It was also very politically charged; you could sit and reflect on our current climate for days with this one. The only reason it didn't hit a 5 for me is that I got bogged down in some of the fighting and action scenes, but in all fairness that may have been a me thing. Science and technology advancement is also in the forefront of this novel, and I don’t know about you, but AI and tech advancing scares the living daylights out of me…sorry Roger.
If you’re a fan of the Dungeon Crawler series, I say pick this bad boy up, but don’t go into it with the same mindset. This is outrageous but not in the same way. I loved the book and know I will be thinking about it for weeks or months to come.
Thank you Ace and Berkley for the eARC
February 4, 2026
A new standalone from Matt Dinniman??? SMASH!
After begging ACE for an eARC for weeks, they finally took pity on me and then when my Libro.fm ALCs for February dropped and I saw my most anticipated read of 2026 as the first pick…I clicked it so fast I think I cracked my phone screen!
Leave it to MD (Matty D? Would he hate that? I’ll have to ask) to take horrific subjects like genocide, colonialism, homicidal capitalism, and potentially murderous AI systems and make them laugh-out-loud hilarious and punch-in-the-gut miserable. Poor Oliver just wanted to be farmer who plays in a crappy garage bad with his buddies, but instead he has to save the planet from a terrifying government-contracted video game company bent on exterminating their colony.
Operation Bounce House gives all the heart and chaos of the DCC universe, with all the quirk and charm of the delightfully weird characters Matt Dinniman is known for.
Thank you to Libro.FM for the gifted ALC and to ACE for my gifted eARC and the opportunity to give my honest review!
After begging ACE for an eARC for weeks, they finally took pity on me and then when my Libro.fm ALCs for February dropped and I saw my most anticipated read of 2026 as the first pick…I clicked it so fast I think I cracked my phone screen!
Leave it to MD (Matty D? Would he hate that? I’ll have to ask) to take horrific subjects like genocide, colonialism, homicidal capitalism, and potentially murderous AI systems and make them laugh-out-loud hilarious and punch-in-the-gut miserable. Poor Oliver just wanted to be farmer who plays in a crappy garage bad with his buddies, but instead he has to save the planet from a terrifying government-contracted video game company bent on exterminating their colony.
Operation Bounce House gives all the heart and chaos of the DCC universe, with all the quirk and charm of the delightfully weird characters Matt Dinniman is known for.
Thank you to Libro.FM for the gifted ALC and to ACE for my gifted eARC and the opportunity to give my honest review!
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