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Operation Bounce House
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 is 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. As a fan of Earth television and culture, 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 Corporation is hired to commence an “eviction action.” But maximizing profits will always be Apex’s number one priority. Why spend money printing and deploying their own 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 own 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.
All colonist Oliver Lewis ever wanted to do is 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. As a fan of Earth television and culture, 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 Corporation is hired to commence an “eviction action.” But maximizing profits will always be Apex’s number one priority. Why spend money printing and deploying their own 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 own 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
56 books18.2k 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 2,535 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!
February 24, 2026
1.5⭐️
I hate to say it, but I was really let down and disappointed in this book. I think I went in with too high of expectations and that inevitably let me down in the end. Do I think that Matt Dinniman is a bad author? Not in the slightest. I just think this book had so much potential but the execution missed the mark by a mile for me.
While there were some really fun and engaging moments, I couldn't help but feel that there was a lot being said and most of it didn't hold much value. This book was not easy to consume in the slightest and you really had to pay attention to the little details and those are things about a book that I typically enjoy. I am a sci-fi fan so when I found out that this had just been released I was so excited. I am a MASSIVE Dungeon Crawler Carl fan, but this? This didn't feel like it had any substance.
I found myself fairly bored. There was a lot of talking, a lot of details, and I did enjoy the writing in this book. It was engaging enough for me to finish, but not engaging enough for me to really have a good time. I like how this author sets up his books and how they are laid out. But for something that is supposed to be an epic sci-fi, why was I just so bored and not engaged?
I think maybe it was because the action scenes were so few and far between and when they were happening, it just didn't feel so high stakes. I didn't get that, "this is insane and I'm loving it," feeling, and instead I felt like it was a chore to get through this book.
I also felt no attachment and care for the characters, as the set up for them and how they were described just didn't have me caring much. The best way I can describe how I felt about this book was just that I simply wanted more.
A part of it is my fault because I wanted this to turn out a certain way from my pervious experience with this author and I take full responsibility for that. This was my first book of this author besides DCC and I think I went in with too high of expectations and not enough of an open mind. The rating I am giving this is based solely on how I perceived it and I know that many people will/have seen this differently. This is absolutely in no way my last book of Matt Dinniman that I will read. I am still such a fan and I will definitely give another one of his books a shot in the future. Most people have authors that they love, yet there's always that one book that just misses and this was that for me.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
𝓟𝓻𝓮-𝓡𝓮𝓪𝓭: 🔥🧡
If Matt Dinniman writes it, I WILL READ IT!! 🙂↔️
I hate to say it, but I was really let down and disappointed in this book. I think I went in with too high of expectations and that inevitably let me down in the end. Do I think that Matt Dinniman is a bad author? Not in the slightest. I just think this book had so much potential but the execution missed the mark by a mile for me.
While there were some really fun and engaging moments, I couldn't help but feel that there was a lot being said and most of it didn't hold much value. This book was not easy to consume in the slightest and you really had to pay attention to the little details and those are things about a book that I typically enjoy. I am a sci-fi fan so when I found out that this had just been released I was so excited. I am a MASSIVE Dungeon Crawler Carl fan, but this? This didn't feel like it had any substance.
I found myself fairly bored. There was a lot of talking, a lot of details, and I did enjoy the writing in this book. It was engaging enough for me to finish, but not engaging enough for me to really have a good time. I like how this author sets up his books and how they are laid out. But for something that is supposed to be an epic sci-fi, why was I just so bored and not engaged?
I think maybe it was because the action scenes were so few and far between and when they were happening, it just didn't feel so high stakes. I didn't get that, "this is insane and I'm loving it," feeling, and instead I felt like it was a chore to get through this book.
I also felt no attachment and care for the characters, as the set up for them and how they were described just didn't have me caring much. The best way I can describe how I felt about this book was just that I simply wanted more.
A part of it is my fault because I wanted this to turn out a certain way from my pervious experience with this author and I take full responsibility for that. This was my first book of this author besides DCC and I think I went in with too high of expectations and not enough of an open mind. The rating I am giving this is based solely on how I perceived it and I know that many people will/have seen this differently. This is absolutely in no way my last book of Matt Dinniman that I will read. I am still such a fan and I will definitely give another one of his books a shot in the future. Most people have authors that they love, yet there's always that one book that just misses and this was that for me.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
𝓟𝓻𝓮-𝓡𝓮𝓪𝓭: 🔥🧡
If Matt Dinniman writes it, I WILL READ IT!! 🙂↔️
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😭.
March 20, 2026
4.5 stars. Matt Dinniman I am your biggest fangirl 😩
I would give anything to inhabit Matt's brain for a few hours. Writers will forever impress me because how do you come up with something from nothing? Create a whole world and characters that feel so real??
This book mirrored so many real-life events- the genocide in Gaza, the unlawful deportation of immigrants in the U.S, and the destructive use of A.I- and introduced them in this litrpg adjacent book with characters that you can't help but root for and fall in love with in such a short time.
This was very action-packed, funny at times but actually a very thoughtful and heavy read. This is not my first Matt Dinniman book and I'm familiar with how he can take a very deep and relevant question or event and craft an immersive story around it; however, this book was on another level. This book is very political. It is a slap in the face for leaders who continue to abuse their power and decide who lives or dies, who has or doesn't have rights, and who think their lives are more important than others because of where they come from or where they were born.
My only issue with the book was that the ending was a bit rushed. I think reading absurdly long books for so long has altered my brain because wdym this book was only 10.5 hours long??😅 I really wanted this to be a bit longer because I just wanted...more yk?
I would give anything to inhabit Matt's brain for a few hours. Writers will forever impress me because how do you come up with something from nothing? Create a whole world and characters that feel so real??
This book mirrored so many real-life events- the genocide in Gaza, the unlawful deportation of immigrants in the U.S, and the destructive use of A.I- and introduced them in this litrpg adjacent book with characters that you can't help but root for and fall in love with in such a short time.
This was very action-packed, funny at times but actually a very thoughtful and heavy read. This is not my first Matt Dinniman book and I'm familiar with how he can take a very deep and relevant question or event and craft an immersive story around it; however, this book was on another level. This book is very political. It is a slap in the face for leaders who continue to abuse their power and decide who lives or dies, who has or doesn't have rights, and who think their lives are more important than others because of where they come from or where they were born.
My only issue with the book was that the ending was a bit rushed. I think reading absurdly long books for so long has altered my brain because wdym this book was only 10.5 hours long??😅 I really wanted this to be a bit longer because I just wanted...more yk?
March 11, 2026
Dungeon Crawler Carl has legitimately taken the world by storm, but guess what? Matt Dinniman has lots of other tricks up his talented-sleeves, and he proves that with Operation Bounce House.
This story follows a group of colonists on New Sonora, set in deep space, who suddenly find their home planet being used by Earthlings as a sort of playing field for their VR gaming.
Earth citizens can pay to create their own personal war machines that then get sent to the distant planet via the newly opened transfer gate. They can then use those machines to attack the alien population, all Earth descendants, mind you, in a sort of war simulation game.
The game is called Operation Bounce House.
Our protagonist is Oliver Lewis, and we follow him, his sister, Lulu, and their best friends and loved ones as this assault on their lives and land begins, and we continue to follow them throughout, to the bitter end.
I found this incredibly interesting from the start. As we meet all the characters on New Sonora and learn about their daily lives and struggles, it was incredibly well-developed.
Oliver and Lulu had a family robot Roger, who turned out to be one of my favorite characters in the story. He added humor and was continuously teaching and guiding the humans surrounding him. He also had been on the colony planet since its inception, so was able to recollect the full history of the settlement easily.
I really grew to love the full cast of characters over the course of the story. As you go along with their struggles with them, which is literally a fight for their survival, you can't help but get emotionally invested in their outcome.
They were all distinctive, with unique attributes and personalities. I felt like I was there with them. That's how real Dinniman made this little group of colonists.
I appreciated so much the themes Dinniman explored in this, but because of the heavier subject matter, it does have a more serious feel than DCC.
For example, the idea of the 'other'. The people on Earth viewed the residents of New Sonora as the other; almost subhuman. Therefore, it gave them leeway to do as they pleased in the game.
It made me think of a lot of different things going on in our world, not just now, but really over all time. A sort of us versus them mentality, and how humans can sort of block entire groups off as not being like them and therefore undeserving of the same rights and care.
I like how Dinniman formatted this story as it demonstrates this whole scenario from the 'others' perspective. I feel like Dinniman gets pretty thoughtful in this one in that regard whilst also keeping to his basic fun-filled, humorous style.
There's actually so much to unpack here. My brain is reeling from this ride. It really pulls you in. You feel like you're a part of this world on the brink of disaster.
I just really appreciated all the important topics Dinniman included without making the narrative feel preachy, or thrusting his own agenda down the Readers throats. He's laying out a scenario and allowing the Reader to do some free-thinking, which I just love!
I'll admit it was heavier than I was expecting, as far as tone, but I did appreciate the direction he went with it and would recommend it to anyone and everyone.
Thank you to the publisher, Ace, for providing me with a copy to read and review. I love Dinniman's creativity and writing style. I knew that from reading DCC, but this solidifies that assessment.
This story follows a group of colonists on New Sonora, set in deep space, who suddenly find their home planet being used by Earthlings as a sort of playing field for their VR gaming.
Earth citizens can pay to create their own personal war machines that then get sent to the distant planet via the newly opened transfer gate. They can then use those machines to attack the alien population, all Earth descendants, mind you, in a sort of war simulation game.
The game is called Operation Bounce House.
Our protagonist is Oliver Lewis, and we follow him, his sister, Lulu, and their best friends and loved ones as this assault on their lives and land begins, and we continue to follow them throughout, to the bitter end.
I found this incredibly interesting from the start. As we meet all the characters on New Sonora and learn about their daily lives and struggles, it was incredibly well-developed.
Oliver and Lulu had a family robot Roger, who turned out to be one of my favorite characters in the story. He added humor and was continuously teaching and guiding the humans surrounding him. He also had been on the colony planet since its inception, so was able to recollect the full history of the settlement easily.
I really grew to love the full cast of characters over the course of the story. As you go along with their struggles with them, which is literally a fight for their survival, you can't help but get emotionally invested in their outcome.
They were all distinctive, with unique attributes and personalities. I felt like I was there with them. That's how real Dinniman made this little group of colonists.
I appreciated so much the themes Dinniman explored in this, but because of the heavier subject matter, it does have a more serious feel than DCC.
For example, the idea of the 'other'. The people on Earth viewed the residents of New Sonora as the other; almost subhuman. Therefore, it gave them leeway to do as they pleased in the game.
It made me think of a lot of different things going on in our world, not just now, but really over all time. A sort of us versus them mentality, and how humans can sort of block entire groups off as not being like them and therefore undeserving of the same rights and care.
I like how Dinniman formatted this story as it demonstrates this whole scenario from the 'others' perspective. I feel like Dinniman gets pretty thoughtful in this one in that regard whilst also keeping to his basic fun-filled, humorous style.
There's actually so much to unpack here. My brain is reeling from this ride. It really pulls you in. You feel like you're a part of this world on the brink of disaster.
I just really appreciated all the important topics Dinniman included without making the narrative feel preachy, or thrusting his own agenda down the Readers throats. He's laying out a scenario and allowing the Reader to do some free-thinking, which I just love!
I'll admit it was heavier than I was expecting, as far as tone, but I did appreciate the direction he went with it and would recommend it to anyone and everyone.
Thank you to the publisher, Ace, for providing me with a copy to read and review. I love Dinniman's creativity and writing style. I knew that from reading DCC, but this solidifies that assessment.
March 21, 2026
ARC provided by the publisher via Libro.fm
the highest of 3 stars (& loved what this was saying 500%)
♡ buddy read with Penny + Cory
blog | instagram | youtube | wishlist | spotify | amazon
1.) Dungeon Crawler Carl ★★★★★
2.) Carl's Doomsday Scenario ★★★★
3.) The Dungeon Anarchist's Cookbook ★★★
4.) The Gate of the Feral Gods ★★★★
5.) The Butcher's Masquerade ★★★★★
6.) The Eye of the Bedlam Bride ★★★
7.) This Inevitable Ruin ★★★
the highest of 3 stars (& loved what this was saying 500%)
♡ buddy read with Penny + Cory
blog | instagram | youtube | wishlist | spotify | amazon
1.) Dungeon Crawler Carl ★★★★★
2.) Carl's Doomsday Scenario ★★★★
3.) The Dungeon Anarchist's Cookbook ★★★
4.) The Gate of the Feral Gods ★★★★
5.) The Butcher's Masquerade ★★★★★
6.) The Eye of the Bedlam Bride ★★★
7.) This Inevitable Ruin ★★★
March 23, 2026
Operation Bounce House is much of what I expected, but that is no bad thing. Matt Dinniman's style, as displayed in Dungeon Crawler Carl, is very unique. We find many of the same hallmarks from the witty humour to the themes entering on severe underdogs against inhumane institutions. But this is no mere copy and paste.
The cast are all very different from this we find in Dungeon Crawler Carl, the setting on a planet far from Earth but on a ranch creates a very interesting dynamic for the world-building, and Operation Bounce House being a standalone provides it with a drive that was thoroughly enjoyable.
In this novel, Dinniman shows he can turn his hand to works outside of his now huge first series. His creativity appears to know no limits, and I have no doubt he has some more incredible ideas in store for the future.
4/5 STARS
The cast are all very different from this we find in Dungeon Crawler Carl, the setting on a planet far from Earth but on a ranch creates a very interesting dynamic for the world-building, and Operation Bounce House being a standalone provides it with a drive that was thoroughly enjoyable.
In this novel, Dinniman shows he can turn his hand to works outside of his now huge first series. His creativity appears to know no limits, and I have no doubt he has some more incredible ideas in store for the future.
4/5 STARS
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 16, 2026
It's easy to underestimate Matt Dinniman's writing. The humor, the characters, the action it's all so much fun! But what makes his writing special is the heart. No matter what is going on, be sure that at some point you will be punched in the feels. At some point you will notice the commentary going on underneath and in that way and maybe one or two others, this is similar to the now wildly popular Dungeon Crawler Carl series. Make no mistake, I am 100% #princessposse, and this is not that, but it's nearly as good.
A planet, New Sonora, seeded by generations ships from earth, is surviving and thriving with both cities and agricultural innovations. Suddenly they find themselves invaded by gamers from earth that are paying for the privilege. Generations of New Sonorans are at risk as is everything they've worked for. Will they successfully defend their planet? You'll have to read this to find out!
The characters here were easy to root for and the villains easy to hate. Still, I felt for them and what they were going through, their bewilderment at what was happening and the destruction of their homes.
There's an undercurrent of social commentary and it was easy to draw parallels between New Sonora and our world today. AI has progressed in ways both hilarious and scary and this book did give me food for thought. It seemed that no matter what rules were in place where AI was involved, it evolved somehow, and isn't that what nearly all of science fiction has taught us would occur?
In between all the heavy things happening, Operation Bounce House was laugh out loud funny at times. The humor often served as a tension breaker, and it's not as frequent as it is in the DCC series, but that seemed to serve this narrative perfectly.
Overall, this was a blast to read, and Matt Dinniman is not at all a one trick pony!
Highly recommended!
*ARC from publisher
A planet, New Sonora, seeded by generations ships from earth, is surviving and thriving with both cities and agricultural innovations. Suddenly they find themselves invaded by gamers from earth that are paying for the privilege. Generations of New Sonorans are at risk as is everything they've worked for. Will they successfully defend their planet? You'll have to read this to find out!
The characters here were easy to root for and the villains easy to hate. Still, I felt for them and what they were going through, their bewilderment at what was happening and the destruction of their homes.
There's an undercurrent of social commentary and it was easy to draw parallels between New Sonora and our world today. AI has progressed in ways both hilarious and scary and this book did give me food for thought. It seemed that no matter what rules were in place where AI was involved, it evolved somehow, and isn't that what nearly all of science fiction has taught us would occur?
In between all the heavy things happening, Operation Bounce House was laugh out loud funny at times. The humor often served as a tension breaker, and it's not as frequent as it is in the DCC series, but that seemed to serve this narrative perfectly.
Overall, this was a blast to read, and Matt Dinniman is not at all a one trick pony!
Highly recommended!
*ARC from publisher
March 9, 2026
It's like if Letterkenny took place on another planet, and they were being invaded by mechs controlled by a Call of Duty chat room. It's not as funny or quick-witted as Letterkenny, it lacks the magic of DCC, but it stands well on its own. At its heart, it is a simple story about family and survival. Emotionally charged and sometimes obscene, but also a fast and easy read.
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.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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 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.
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.
March 9, 2026
Personally I feel very lukewarm about this, but I’m sure lots of people will love it.
I’m not a reader/fan of Dinniman’s Dungeon Crawler Carl books because snark and LitRPG are not my thing. This seemed like he was doing something a bit different, so I took a chance on it.
Operation Bounce House has a great premise, and could have been used to explore a number of interesting themes (late stage capitalism, AI, the political power exercised by billionaire tech bros, colonialism, to name a few), and while it touched on these and others it did so in a very superficial way.
This is not a plot driven story and it is not a character driven story. Neither of these elements were strongly developed. It is primarily an engagement driven story, in other words, LitRPG. The entire story is really about the details of the fight on planet between the colonists and the gameified invasion by Earth based “players”. The gameification of war is another huge topic but again, no, there is no real exploration about this theme either.
I think the author was trying to use satire to illustrate some of these themes, but ironically it came off as gameification of thought rather than stimulating any actual depth of feeling. I felt no engagement with the characters and so it was hard to work up any emotions about what happened to them, good or bad.
But, as I said, I’m sure lots of people will find this a fun read. I guess I’m wondering whether that’s all it should be? I know it sounds like I should be rating less than 3 stars, but it was just so blandly inoffensive I didn’t feel justified giving it less than that. Maybe that’s the problem right there; a book tackling topics like this should probably be something more than blandly inoffensive.
I’m not a reader/fan of Dinniman’s Dungeon Crawler Carl books because snark and LitRPG are not my thing. This seemed like he was doing something a bit different, so I took a chance on it.
Operation Bounce House has a great premise, and could have been used to explore a number of interesting themes (late stage capitalism, AI, the political power exercised by billionaire tech bros, colonialism, to name a few), and while it touched on these and others it did so in a very superficial way.
This is not a plot driven story and it is not a character driven story. Neither of these elements were strongly developed. It is primarily an engagement driven story, in other words, LitRPG. The entire story is really about the details of the fight on planet between the colonists and the gameified invasion by Earth based “players”. The gameification of war is another huge topic but again, no, there is no real exploration about this theme either.
I think the author was trying to use satire to illustrate some of these themes, but ironically it came off as gameification of thought rather than stimulating any actual depth of feeling. I felt no engagement with the characters and so it was hard to work up any emotions about what happened to them, good or bad.
But, as I said, I’m sure lots of people will find this a fun read. I guess I’m wondering whether that’s all it should be? I know it sounds like I should be rating less than 3 stars, but it was just so blandly inoffensive I didn’t feel justified giving it less than that. Maybe that’s the problem right there; a book tackling topics like this should probably be something more than blandly inoffensive.
February 19, 2026
This was a great time and honestly just what I was hoping for to switch things up from a lot of extremely heavy/slow reads as something snappy with a dose of Dinniman's trademark sharp humor. The audio with Travis Baldree's narration (and a few cameos from Jeff Hays) was also superb and just perfect for the story.
Dinniman has become a master at setting up an intriguingly absurd premise that somehow still manages to stay emotionally grounded with real human stakes. He's also speaking from the heart here and delivering an important thematic message that I think we could all use a reminder of as we continue as a civilization to lose ourselves ever more in technology and the net. Analog experiences are vital to our soul, whether digging into grandma's beloved homemade cinnamon rolls, or playing your own shitty music with your friends in your garage band. He may be shouting to the void, but I'm glad he's making the effort.
I found it pretty difficult to ever put this thing down with the plot being so propulsive, and it was genuinely comforting to follow this cast of good-hearted characters who all grew up in an isolated and unforgiving place where everyone knew and looked out for each other. It was tense but rewarding to see them come together to try to figure out how they might survive each day against the odds, and the plan Dinniman cooked up for the climactic sequence made for an incredibly dynamic sprint to the finish.
It works great as a standalone, but the downside is that it was always going to be hard for it to have the same kind of emotional impact as the later DCC books which have the advantage of so much more build-up. I connected with the POV character of Ollie and his family's AI bot Roger but felt pretty distanced from most of the human side character cast, many of whom I think just didn't have the page time or enough memorable moments/dialogue to stand out for me. The human corporate antagonists also felt undercooked and maybe like the weakest cog here and I'm not sure they were necessary to have at all. I enjoyed the action scenes, but looking back I think some of them were a bit underwhelming and lacking in tension and payoff, though I'm not sure with the set up how they might've been done any differently and they're not the heart of the book anyway.
Overall this was a new release by a favorite author that left me quite satisfied and could be the perfect read to turn to for a few days if you want something entertaining that moves fast and is easy to get into but that still has plenty of heart and drama.
Dinniman has become a master at setting up an intriguingly absurd premise that somehow still manages to stay emotionally grounded with real human stakes. He's also speaking from the heart here and delivering an important thematic message that I think we could all use a reminder of as we continue as a civilization to lose ourselves ever more in technology and the net. Analog experiences are vital to our soul, whether digging into grandma's beloved homemade cinnamon rolls, or playing your own shitty music with your friends in your garage band. He may be shouting to the void, but I'm glad he's making the effort.
I found it pretty difficult to ever put this thing down with the plot being so propulsive, and it was genuinely comforting to follow this cast of good-hearted characters who all grew up in an isolated and unforgiving place where everyone knew and looked out for each other. It was tense but rewarding to see them come together to try to figure out how they might survive each day against the odds, and the plan Dinniman cooked up for the climactic sequence made for an incredibly dynamic sprint to the finish.
It works great as a standalone, but the downside is that it was always going to be hard for it to have the same kind of emotional impact as the later DCC books which have the advantage of so much more build-up. I connected with the POV character of Ollie and his family's AI bot Roger but felt pretty distanced from most of the human side character cast, many of whom I think just didn't have the page time or enough memorable moments/dialogue to stand out for me. The human corporate antagonists also felt undercooked and maybe like the weakest cog here and I'm not sure they were necessary to have at all. I enjoyed the action scenes, but looking back I think some of them were a bit underwhelming and lacking in tension and payoff, though I'm not sure with the set up how they might've been done any differently and they're not the heart of the book anyway.
Overall this was a new release by a favorite author that left me quite satisfied and could be the perfect read to turn to for a few days if you want something entertaining that moves fast and is easy to get into but that still has plenty of heart and drama.
February 26, 2026
Once I got over the fact that this is not a Dungeon Crawler Carl book, and that it is not narrated by Jeff Hayes (except of that one guy!), I fell in love. I fell in love with the hardscrabble farmers of New Sonora, and their battle for their planet. The story of their colony, the losses, the triumphs, the friendships were so real, and so well done. The humor was occasionally very dark, or very naughty, but it was great. And ROGER. Best Robot Sidekick Ever? Perhaps.
March 14, 2026
… And now for something different. For those who are fans of Matt Dinniman’s “Dungeon Crawler Carl” series, which is growing in popularity by leaps and bounds, “Operation Bounce House” is a one-off adventure set in its own earth related universe. Although it is a separate story with its own cast of characters and worldbuilding, it still carries Dinniman’s uniquely irreverent and strongly sarcastic humor that has made him such an enjoyable reading experience.
Let me repeat that.
*** Warning – this is not part of the widely famous and hilarious Dungeon Crawler Carl series. It is a standalone novel that that stands (like that?) on it own merits. ***
“Operation Bounce House” is a science fiction story about colonists from earth living on the planet, New Sonora, and creating a new home for themselves. It focuses on those first and third generation colonists (the second generation were wiped out with what is referred to as the “Sickness”) living in small farming towns, and the family and friendships that drive survival and sustain community bonds.
This is the story of Oliver Lewis, who runs a family ranch with his younger sister Lulu, a flying robot named Roger, and the rest of his family’s aging agricultural bots that help with the planting and raising of crops. Oliver is easygoing, loves and wants the best for his sister, and unfortunately just got into a fight and broken up with his girlfriend, Rosita. He is also a bassist in a band with his best friends named “The Rythym Mafia” (yes – there is mistakenly an extra “y” in rhythm because Roger’s best friend, Sam, has problems spelling). Also, unfortunately, band practice is spent more on drinking and chatting than playing over the 10 years the band has been together.
On the other hand, Lulu is a serious entrepreneur with a plan. Not only is she helping with the farm she has her own studio and successful internet streaming show (we won’t mention what kind) that is helping her save lots of money in earth bank accounts so that someday she can leave the farm and visit her home world for the first time. She was even the lead singer in Roger’s band; that is, until one of the other member’s said something about her being out of tune once.
Let’s not leave Roger out. He is an old AI programmed robot that Oliver’s grandfather made sure to incorporate 10 golden rules in his framework that drive his behavior in helping run the farm, teach and mentor Oliver and Lulu about the important things in life. For example, rule number – no swearing. For a Robot, Oliver comes across as rather arrogant and belligerent.
So, you ask, what is the conflict that arises to make this story worth reading. Well, good question. Part of the reason that the colonists agreed to settle and live on New Sonora were the promises to be left alone by Earth’s government. For many years, that has been the case. But now, it has changed its mind without explaining itself. Apex Industries has quietly been hired to commence what is called an “eviction action” on New Sonora to remove all inhabitants.
Unbeknownst to the thousands of settlers, Apex has chosen the lower cost and higher profits approach to accomplish its mission. They have decided to turn it into a game and are charging Earthers, primarily rich spoiled teens and hardcore video game players, lots of serious money to design their AI soldier war machines (Avatars) that can be dropped off on New Sonora and remotely controlled from the comfort of their own homes. While players have been told that their killing “terrorists” who seek to attack earth, the settlers are now fighting for their very survival.
The name Apex has given this game is simply “Operation Bounce House”.
Oliver, Lulu, Roger, the farm bots, Rosita, friends, neighbors, and locals are now in a battle where they lack weapons, resources, and time. they simply cannot win…
After finishing “Operation Bounce House” – what that Matt Dinniman is calling a one-off novel – it confirms several things.
First, Dinniman has a preference for writing about the underdog. Just like the Crawlers in his Dungeon series, Oliver, his sister, Lulu, and their friends are forced into a fight to defend their lives and protect what little they have. They didn’t ask for it, and they cannot walk away. Dinniman tends to side with the underdog who has little chance of winning. For now, these themes are working quite effectively for him, as well as for the reader. Dinniman has mastered the art of delivering the David vs. Goliath battle in new and fresh ways, and part of that formula is the masterful ways that he connects us to his characters on an emotional and empathetic level.
Second, Dinniman has also established his own voice and elevated a genre that few of us even knew existed, that of LitRPG (literature role-playing game), combined it with a dash of Douglas Adam’s “The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy” and a heavy dose of Monty Python’s comedy troupe. Then he adds in his American version of Trailer Park personality and pure heart to bring all of the recipe together into a delicious feast of fun. And for those who like sarcasm serious, they will not be disappointed in any way.
Third, this change-of-pace novel proves that Dinniman is not a one-shot wonder. He has talent to go with his spastic creativity that relies heavily on letting his “inside” voice out. What surprised me the most when I read this was how the slow burn and build-up over the first two-thirds led you in one direction, what I would call the advertised or expected direction. He dropped some clues along the way that support this approach, as well as other potential angles, but as a reader you tend to let some of them slip by because you are focused on what you “think” is happening. Then he changed directions and I thought ahhhh… He is going to flip this and it’s an interesting twist. But then, over the last 20 to 30 pages when you are sure you have an idea of where the new direction is headed and you are prepared to accept it – BAM! WOW! He takes everything that has led up to the climax, brings back all of the clues and event full circle, and provides one of the most complex, thought provoking, kick-butt endings that is almost impossible to see coming. And it works in such an incredibly organic way. BAM! WOW!
Fourth, I know that most of us are drawn to Dinniman for his sarcasm, wit, and humor. His social satire is like nothing I have ever seen before, and he has proven to be a master of letting his “inside” voice out. But even more important than delivering blitzkrieg of video game playing violence is his strong social commentary on where we’ve been and where we're headed as a society. I want to be very careful here about giving away anything that would ruin the key plot elements because the discovery along the way is what makes this so incredibly thought-provoking to say the least. All I will share is that this will open your eyes to the use of AI in many ways. After reading the book, we can talk about this in more details.
Until then I will simply say that the film clips inserted throughout the book were an excellent way to deliver how the human experience feels. At the beginning, they may feel like filler, but when you get to the end and read through the last one following the epilogue – scene thirty (final scene) – Dinniman synthesizes everything down to a few simple comments and one ultimately key question that deliver, at least to this reader, the very thought provoking social commentary that both connects with me on a higher level and drives me to want to change, to be better. I realize that this is a heavy statement to make in this kind of a review, especially since most of the audience is just seeking escapist fun and humor (and you still got a lot of that in this book), but Dinniman uses that style to peel back on our humanity in way that hits like a game winning home run in the bottom of the ninth inning. I can almost see behind Dinniman’s big smile, him saying to himself, “Got you thinking!”. Yes Matt, you certainly did. And thank you for doing so…
Let me repeat that.
*** Warning – this is not part of the widely famous and hilarious Dungeon Crawler Carl series. It is a standalone novel that that stands (like that?) on it own merits. ***
“Operation Bounce House” is a science fiction story about colonists from earth living on the planet, New Sonora, and creating a new home for themselves. It focuses on those first and third generation colonists (the second generation were wiped out with what is referred to as the “Sickness”) living in small farming towns, and the family and friendships that drive survival and sustain community bonds.
This is the story of Oliver Lewis, who runs a family ranch with his younger sister Lulu, a flying robot named Roger, and the rest of his family’s aging agricultural bots that help with the planting and raising of crops. Oliver is easygoing, loves and wants the best for his sister, and unfortunately just got into a fight and broken up with his girlfriend, Rosita. He is also a bassist in a band with his best friends named “The Rythym Mafia” (yes – there is mistakenly an extra “y” in rhythm because Roger’s best friend, Sam, has problems spelling). Also, unfortunately, band practice is spent more on drinking and chatting than playing over the 10 years the band has been together.
On the other hand, Lulu is a serious entrepreneur with a plan. Not only is she helping with the farm she has her own studio and successful internet streaming show (we won’t mention what kind) that is helping her save lots of money in earth bank accounts so that someday she can leave the farm and visit her home world for the first time. She was even the lead singer in Roger’s band; that is, until one of the other member’s said something about her being out of tune once.
Let’s not leave Roger out. He is an old AI programmed robot that Oliver’s grandfather made sure to incorporate 10 golden rules in his framework that drive his behavior in helping run the farm, teach and mentor Oliver and Lulu about the important things in life. For example, rule number – no swearing. For a Robot, Oliver comes across as rather arrogant and belligerent.
So, you ask, what is the conflict that arises to make this story worth reading. Well, good question. Part of the reason that the colonists agreed to settle and live on New Sonora were the promises to be left alone by Earth’s government. For many years, that has been the case. But now, it has changed its mind without explaining itself. Apex Industries has quietly been hired to commence what is called an “eviction action” on New Sonora to remove all inhabitants.
Unbeknownst to the thousands of settlers, Apex has chosen the lower cost and higher profits approach to accomplish its mission. They have decided to turn it into a game and are charging Earthers, primarily rich spoiled teens and hardcore video game players, lots of serious money to design their AI soldier war machines (Avatars) that can be dropped off on New Sonora and remotely controlled from the comfort of their own homes. While players have been told that their killing “terrorists” who seek to attack earth, the settlers are now fighting for their very survival.
The name Apex has given this game is simply “Operation Bounce House”.
Oliver, Lulu, Roger, the farm bots, Rosita, friends, neighbors, and locals are now in a battle where they lack weapons, resources, and time. they simply cannot win…
After finishing “Operation Bounce House” – what that Matt Dinniman is calling a one-off novel – it confirms several things.
First, Dinniman has a preference for writing about the underdog. Just like the Crawlers in his Dungeon series, Oliver, his sister, Lulu, and their friends are forced into a fight to defend their lives and protect what little they have. They didn’t ask for it, and they cannot walk away. Dinniman tends to side with the underdog who has little chance of winning. For now, these themes are working quite effectively for him, as well as for the reader. Dinniman has mastered the art of delivering the David vs. Goliath battle in new and fresh ways, and part of that formula is the masterful ways that he connects us to his characters on an emotional and empathetic level.
Second, Dinniman has also established his own voice and elevated a genre that few of us even knew existed, that of LitRPG (literature role-playing game), combined it with a dash of Douglas Adam’s “The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy” and a heavy dose of Monty Python’s comedy troupe. Then he adds in his American version of Trailer Park personality and pure heart to bring all of the recipe together into a delicious feast of fun. And for those who like sarcasm serious, they will not be disappointed in any way.
Third, this change-of-pace novel proves that Dinniman is not a one-shot wonder. He has talent to go with his spastic creativity that relies heavily on letting his “inside” voice out. What surprised me the most when I read this was how the slow burn and build-up over the first two-thirds led you in one direction, what I would call the advertised or expected direction. He dropped some clues along the way that support this approach, as well as other potential angles, but as a reader you tend to let some of them slip by because you are focused on what you “think” is happening. Then he changed directions and I thought ahhhh… He is going to flip this and it’s an interesting twist. But then, over the last 20 to 30 pages when you are sure you have an idea of where the new direction is headed and you are prepared to accept it – BAM! WOW! He takes everything that has led up to the climax, brings back all of the clues and event full circle, and provides one of the most complex, thought provoking, kick-butt endings that is almost impossible to see coming. And it works in such an incredibly organic way. BAM! WOW!
Fourth, I know that most of us are drawn to Dinniman for his sarcasm, wit, and humor. His social satire is like nothing I have ever seen before, and he has proven to be a master of letting his “inside” voice out. But even more important than delivering blitzkrieg of video game playing violence is his strong social commentary on where we’ve been and where we're headed as a society. I want to be very careful here about giving away anything that would ruin the key plot elements because the discovery along the way is what makes this so incredibly thought-provoking to say the least. All I will share is that this will open your eyes to the use of AI in many ways. After reading the book, we can talk about this in more details.
Until then I will simply say that the film clips inserted throughout the book were an excellent way to deliver how the human experience feels. At the beginning, they may feel like filler, but when you get to the end and read through the last one following the epilogue – scene thirty (final scene) – Dinniman synthesizes everything down to a few simple comments and one ultimately key question that deliver, at least to this reader, the very thought provoking social commentary that both connects with me on a higher level and drives me to want to change, to be better. I realize that this is a heavy statement to make in this kind of a review, especially since most of the audience is just seeking escapist fun and humor (and you still got a lot of that in this book), but Dinniman uses that style to peel back on our humanity in way that hits like a game winning home run in the bottom of the ninth inning. I can almost see behind Dinniman’s big smile, him saying to himself, “Got you thinking!”. Yes Matt, you certainly did. And thank you for doing so…
March 19, 2026
3.5 stars
I sadly just didn't connect with the characters as much in this one. I think the conversations around differences of people, AI usage, and just sociopolitical discussions in general were done really well. But the humor didn't hit as well for me and I found myself more bored with the relationships in this one. The second half was a lot faster paced for me with more of the discussions, so it bumped it up to a 3.5 for me!
I sadly just didn't connect with the characters as much in this one. I think the conversations around differences of people, AI usage, and just sociopolitical discussions in general were done really well. But the humor didn't hit as well for me and I found myself more bored with the relationships in this one. The second half was a lot faster paced for me with more of the discussions, so it bumped it up to a 3.5 for me!
February 19, 2026
If you prefer video reviews, you can watch mine here.
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.
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.
February 16, 2026
4.5 The Rhythm Mafia Rocks Stars
Average people, living average lives on New Sonora, a farming planet just got invaded by Earth’s gamers in a new kind of propaganda filled genocide.
Oliver and his sister grew up on a farm on a world far form earth. His parent’s generation died out of a genetic sickness when he was young the entire planet is people over fifty (the colonist that came from earth) and under thirty (the 2nd generation born on planet). Raised by his grandparents and a nanny AI/farm helper bot Oliver’s whole life just flipped the script as the first wave of gamers show up for Operation Bounce House, which is pretty much pay to play to kill people game.
Things I loved:
I have completely enjoyed Dungeon Crawler Carl (DCC) series. Dinniman’s crass and irreverent sense of humor really works for me and that is no different in this book. He builds great post-apocalyptic style worlds in the middle of a war with characters that step up be all they can be in ways they never expected. The story type fits into the framework of a first shooter game, told from the PoV of Oliver who pretty much had his head in the sand about the outside galaxy until the invasion.
The set up for the story takes a little time in the beginning. Listening to the audiobook it took a minute to figure out what was happening in the story as before many of the main chapters there is a little snippet of a documentary showcasing the lives of the settlers before Operation Bounce House or a military type briefing after with some statements REDACTED. However, once I got used the cadence of that and figured out the time jumps it really worked well. This is one of the times that having a digital copy of the words would have helped that issue.
I went into this blind, not reading the blurb and picking it up because it was a Matt Dinniman story. I’m glad I did as this had some great moments, fantastically fun characters and a lot of great smack talk with the enemy. My kind of ride.
Narration
Performance: ★★★★★
Character Separation: ★★★★★
Diction: ★★★★★
Pacing/Flow: ★★★★★
Sound Effects: none
While I was disappointed that this was not produced by the same group as DCC so we would get some sound effects mixed in this was narrated very well. I always enjoy Travis Baldree and Jeff Hays. They again brought their A-game to this series and delivered on the humor, seriousness and emotion to make this performance great.
Average people, living average lives on New Sonora, a farming planet just got invaded by Earth’s gamers in a new kind of propaganda filled genocide.
That was the problem with war. It was impossible to color within the lines.
Oliver and his sister grew up on a farm on a world far form earth. His parent’s generation died out of a genetic sickness when he was young the entire planet is people over fifty (the colonist that came from earth) and under thirty (the 2nd generation born on planet). Raised by his grandparents and a nanny AI/farm helper bot Oliver’s whole life just flipped the script as the first wave of gamers show up for Operation Bounce House, which is pretty much pay to play to kill people game.
Things I loved:
❶ – The AI Nanny Bot Roger – Super funny as he still treats people in their twenties like grade schoolers in a classroom. Also, surprisingly good at tactics and psychological warfare. Hopefully Roger likes my review and I can get a smiley face sticker for today ☺
❷- Oliver – Much like Carl he is thrown into a war and at some point something breaks within him and the gamers didn’t see what was coming at them.
❸ – The documentary snippets – This was a great way to set up what life was like and give some depth and backstory to the characters fighting at the farm.
❹ – Cindy (the pig) and Some Chickens website – In the middle of a genocide leave it to the humans to want to make sure and save the animals ☻
❺– The entire last 30% – It was non stop action, emotion and a great ride with a satisfying wrap up at the end.
I have completely enjoyed Dungeon Crawler Carl (DCC) series. Dinniman’s crass and irreverent sense of humor really works for me and that is no different in this book. He builds great post-apocalyptic style worlds in the middle of a war with characters that step up be all they can be in ways they never expected. The story type fits into the framework of a first shooter game, told from the PoV of Oliver who pretty much had his head in the sand about the outside galaxy until the invasion.
The set up for the story takes a little time in the beginning. Listening to the audiobook it took a minute to figure out what was happening in the story as before many of the main chapters there is a little snippet of a documentary showcasing the lives of the settlers before Operation Bounce House or a military type briefing after with some statements REDACTED. However, once I got used the cadence of that and figured out the time jumps it really worked well. This is one of the times that having a digital copy of the words would have helped that issue.
I went into this blind, not reading the blurb and picking it up because it was a Matt Dinniman story. I’m glad I did as this had some great moments, fantastically fun characters and a lot of great smack talk with the enemy. My kind of ride.
Narration
Performance: ★★★★★
Character Separation: ★★★★★
Diction: ★★★★★
Pacing/Flow: ★★★★★
Sound Effects: none
While I was disappointed that this was not produced by the same group as DCC so we would get some sound effects mixed in this was narrated very well. I always enjoy Travis Baldree and Jeff Hays. They again brought their A-game to this series and delivered on the humor, seriousness and emotion to make this performance great.
February 18, 2026
Operation Bounce House by Matt Dinniman is a 5 star read. Combining humor with a dark undercurrent of indifference to evil. A must read for any lover of fantasy or science fiction. A true pleasure to read. Full review linked here.
https://youtu.be/XH8ryqmFKgI?si=aY0EX...
https://youtu.be/XH8ryqmFKgI?si=aY0EX...
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.
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.)
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.
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.🥰⭐️
March 4, 2026
Audiobook (11 hours) narrated by Travis Baldree and Jeff Hays.
Publisher: Books on Tape
Enjoyed the narration very much. It really captured the feel of the writing with the sarcastic delivery. The character voices are excellent.
The audio is flawless.
This is by the ever popular author of the Dungeon Crawler Carl series.
It's fine. It's funny. It's sarcastic. It's written from a gamer perspective, which makes it fun.
The style is character first, but the world building is also very good.
The character first style isn't heavy on character building or backstory, although that does come as the story progresses. It's more about attitude, which makes sense being from the gamer perspective where attitude is key. The gamer world is swimming in various types of attitudes, with many meme's having been created of the more prominent and entertaining of them.
For me this is a solid 3.
Publisher: Books on Tape
Enjoyed the narration very much. It really captured the feel of the writing with the sarcastic delivery. The character voices are excellent.
The audio is flawless.
This is by the ever popular author of the Dungeon Crawler Carl series.
It's fine. It's funny. It's sarcastic. It's written from a gamer perspective, which makes it fun.
The style is character first, but the world building is also very good.
The character first style isn't heavy on character building or backstory, although that does come as the story progresses. It's more about attitude, which makes sense being from the gamer perspective where attitude is key. The gamer world is swimming in various types of attitudes, with many meme's having been created of the more prominent and entertaining of them.
For me this is a solid 3.
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!!
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