Operation Bounce House

Matt Dinniman had a lot to live up to starting from scratch after the huge success with Dungeon Crawler Carl, and yet I think he knocked it out of the park with Operation Bounce House. This is a wild ride of a planet of humans that is being destroyed by people on Earth controlling remote robots as part of a super fun game. I loved the characters, it was both hilarious and still easy to connect to, and as with everything Matt writes, it's a unique experience not quite like anything else I read.

Operation Bounce House is Matt Dinniman’s first novel since the break out success of Dungeon Crawler Carl, and at first glance it shares a lot of the same DNA. There’s still a young male protagonist caught up in a resistance movement, a sassy sidekick, a prominent AI shaping events and a corporations enjoying a game at the expense of real lives. Even though the setup sounds similar enough to be a very safe follow-up, the differences are enough to keep it interesting and fresh. This time the AI themes are more grounded and critical of the ways technology can be misused. The heart is still there but focusses on the existing relationships instead of found family.

The humour is still prominent, but it’s toned down. It’s less ridiculous and crass, lending it a more serious tone overall. Because of that, this book may appeal to readers who found Dungeon Crawler Carl too over-the-top.

There was a lot of pressure on this book to deliver, and fortunately Dinniman pulls it off. I really enjoyed the depth it offers as a stand-alone novel, and the ending left me genuinely excited for a potential follow-up.