Dungeon Crawler Carl

[Rhinox]

Dungeon Crawler Carl Series by Matt Dinniman

A man. His ex-girlfriend's cat. A sadistic game show unlike anything in the universe: a dungeon crawl where survival depends on killing your prey in the ...

www.goodreads.com

Dungeon Crawler Carl

Visit Amazon's Dungeon Crawler Carl Page and shop for all Dungeon Crawler Carl books. Check out pictures, author information, and reviews of Dungeon Crawler Carl

www.amazon.com

Universal International Studios Buys Matt Dinniman’s ‘Dungeon Crawler Carl’ With Seth MacFarlane’s Fuzzy Door & Chris Yost Attached

Universal International Studios (UIS) and Seth MacFarlane's Fuzzy Door will develop a TV adaptation of Matt Dinniman's novel Dungeon Crawler Carl.

deadline.com

So I wanted to talk about this book series. Especially since the news came out that a movie development deal has been signed.
Dungeon Crawler Carl is a litrpg series. I'm normally not a huge fan of that particular genre, but I was between books and decided to give these a chance. They're free to read with Kindle Unlimited so I wouldn't be out anything but time.
After reading the first one, I was hooked.

These books are funny. The premise is straight out of 'Hitchhikers Guide' with a lot of late stage capitalism thrown in along with a dose of Survivor and cynicism. The series opens up with our protagonist, Carl, trying to get his ex-girlfriend's prize winning persian cat out of a tree at 2 in the morning in only his boxers and a jacket. Cue aliens seizing the world for its minerals and with no other options Carl opts in to the "Dungeon Crawl", an alien televised Survivor game where the participants have a chance to get control of their world back, but will probably die trying.
A bit of deus ex later and his ex girlfriend's cat is now sentient and just as prissy as a show winning persian can be.

The book sets up the premise as a kind of video game. The characters have a UI while in the dungeon and get achievements and loot for the enjoyment of offworld viewers who see this as the best game show ever created. The AI, trained in our world's culture, is hilarious when it awards achievements, though it did pick up a very particular fetish. This is played very well for laughs and just a touch of horror as you read on.

Long story short, has anyone else read these? Anyone else interested? I can easily see this translating into a movie and with someone like Seth McFarlane on board with Chris Yost writing, there's potential for this to be an amazing theatrical experience.

 

[ZakuConvoy]

I've heard the good buzz about the books, but I haven't gotten around to checking them out yet. A few book youtubers seem to like the series. Hopefully, I'll get around to checking it out eventually.

I'm currently making my way through Brandon Sanderson's Cosmere stuff, since the first half is probably coming to a close with the 5th Stormlight book. So, that's taking up a lot of my book-reading time, currently. But, it definitely sounds like something I'd be into.

 

[Rhinox]

It's a great "i'm between other books" series to look at. It's popcorn fiction. Very entertaining and easy to read without having to invest too much thought process in it. (well, except the one floor with all the damned train tracks)

The only reason I started it was it was all free on Kindle Unlimited. Credit where it's due, it is the third series I've read with Unlimited that I liked so much I went ahead and bought all the books.

 

[Rhinox]

Matt Dinniman says he's going to announce release dates for Book 7 sometime this week. It should be out towards the end of the month with the audiobook a couple of months later. I'm very excited.

 

[Fero McPigletron]

Hey, I listened to books 1 to 6 of Dungeon Crawler Carl and am wondering how book 7 is? To anyone still reading it.

The audio book is actually pretty amazing, with the Carl voice sounding something like Brock Samson (Venture Bros) and Kronk (Emperor's New Groove) but later they had the actual voice actor do a character in the book too (I forget his name). I got so used to the Princess voice that I'll probably do a double take when the official movie or TV show comes out.

That said, I kinda lost the thrill after the initial isekai type. Each book tries to do some sort of them but it doesn't always come across successfully.

1 - basic
2 - murder mystery in a euro setting
3 - don't know what the train system is copying
4 - tried to be elements, with a desert and sea and air
5 - free for all
6 - anime card battles

I'd like to know how it ends but is there a possible happy ending? They can't restore Earth anymore for sure.

 

[Rhinox]

So I'm still super invested in DCC. The 8th book, "Carls Big Book of Boom" is being written now and may actually be out by the end of the year.
The audio books are really where the series shines. The narrator is Jeff Hayes of Soundbooth Theater. He does all the voices, but you will believe it's a full cast. He really is that good. He talks about the initial book where he admits that Carl started out, voice wise, as a Patrick Warburton imitation. However, as the books progress, he becomes more and more his own thing. To the point where Mr. Warburton actually cameos in the 6th book as a specific character.

Book 7 is the Faction Wars book, which is a big deal that's been built up since book 1. It is, honestly, just fantastic. Personally I think book 5, "The Butcher's Masquerade" is my favorite, but 7 is close. Well worth listening to.

There is also a Soundbooth Theater audio play version of book one that they call the 'Audio Immersion Tunnel'. It is fully voice casted, though Jeff still handles Carl and Donut. It also add sound effects, music and really just hypes up the entire experience. Very recommended. Season 2 is coming and it will cover the next 2 books so I'm quite excited.

The books now are based where each one is for a specific floor. As you said, Fero, each floor has its own theme. Some work well, some. . . don't. I didn't care for the card battle thing in "The Eye of the Bedlam Bride". But, it was a single floor/book and there were some major overarching plot moments. I'd say it's my least favorite of the books, though.

Matt Dinniman the author has a patreon where he shows chapters and allows votes on prizes given in the book and other plot points. He freely admits to being a 'seat of the pants' kind of author and enjoys the challenge.
Oh, and check out both he and Jeff getting Princess Donut tattoos for hitting a milestone in views on one of their streams.

For those curious, the books are:

1: Dungeon Crawler Carl. This covers floors 1 and 2. Introduces the premise, the major characters (though many more are added) and gives you an idea about what comes next.
2: Carl's Doomsday Scenario. Floor 3. Here the characters are introduced to the overarching plot of the Borant run dungeon crawl, the legend of Scolopendra. Our characters pick their classes and races and start solidifying who they are as players.
3: The Dungeon Anarchist's Cookbook. Floor 4. Here we really get to know the 3rd member of Carl and Donut's party, Katia. This is the train floor and is very complicated, but the author's note straight up says just ignore all the train patterns unless you want a headache.
4: The Gate of the Feral Gods. Floor 5. Here we see some previous plot points bear fruit while at the same time world building for the later overarching plot. We also see the titular cookbook come into play more. More characters, more chaos and if you're a DM or want to be, you will mine this book for ideas for your own campaign world.
5: The Butcher's Masquerade. Floor 6. and 7! Another great book to . . . acquire D&D plot points from. I think this is one of the funniest books as well as one of the best overall. We see more of the universe outside of the dungeon and get to know more about my personal favorite character, Prepontente. As someone who has raised goats, he is accurate and hilarious.
6: The Eye of the Bedlam Bride. Floor 8. Introduces a ham fisted card battle that no one really likes. Don't worry, it doesn't stick around. A one floor gimmick. But the overarching plot really starts to take off here.
7: This Inevitable Ruin. Floor 9. This is the Faction Wars book. So much happens. It's incredible, awesome, and a reminder that Matt Dinniman is, at heart, a horror author. Holy jive.

I have no idea how this all ends. I don't think there is a good ending, but I'm curious as to how bad it all will be. I really want to know what happens next.