Review of Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinniman

This book needs no introduction, obviously. Innumerable people recommended it to me, to the point where I feared I would find it overhyped. And in truth, I avoided it for a time because I was worried. Dungeon Crawler Carl is exactly what I expected it to be: it is a beach read, a fun (albeit traumatized) science fantasy that I inhaled on my deck one afternoon. Matt Dinniman is an excellent storyteller and connoisseur of characterization, even if some of his plotting is repetitive.

For those of you who haven’t heard: this is the first in a now-long-running series about Carl, an everyman who is the wrong (or right?) place at the wrong time. Aliens have transformed Earth into a literal dungeon à la Dungeons and Dragons. Carl and millions of other people have become dungeon crawlers, and if someone makes it to the eighteenth level of the dungeon, they have a shot at saving humanity and Earth. Carl is accompanied by his ex-girlfriend’s cat, Princess Donut, who through various shenanigans early in the book gains the ability to talk and acts as a capricious foil to Carl’s good-hearted stalwartness. Oh, and Carl would really like a pair of pants.

My main takeaway from this book is the reminder that I am glad I am not a hero or the hero. Like, don’t make me go up against monsters. That sounds terrible. I know we all love to fantasize, but in reality I am glad I live a quiet and simple life. (I also live a very privileged life!) Dungeon Crawler Carl is in some ways a wish-fulfillment fantasy, yet Dinniman avoids turning Carl into a Mary Sue by making sure he isn’t overpowered. He often has to get out of a situation using brain as much as brawn, and I think Dinniman does a good job of gradually levelling up Carl like one does with a real DnD character.

Other than that, the book is … fine. I get why some people are so hyped about it, and I understand why Donut is a fan favourite. I was happy enough with the way Dinniman writes women and how he objectifies Carl as much as he does the female characters, if not more. However, I also found the characters a little bit on the side of caricature. I think this is a stylistic choice more than a shortfall on Dinniman’s part; it’s just not for me. If others enjoy it, all the more power to you!

That being said, I will probably read subsequent books when I get a chance—everyone needs a palate cleanser once in a while, and this one is a great choice.