Operation Bounce House, Matt Dinniman
Operation Bounce House, Matt Dinniman
7 Rating(s)
List: $25.00 | Sale: $17.50
Club: $12.50

Operation Bounce House

Bestseller

Author: Matt Dinniman

Narrator: Travis Baldree, Jeff Hays

Unabridged: 10 hr 48 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Publisher: Penguin Audio

Published: 02/10/2026


Synopsis

AN INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • A man must fight for his planet against impossible odds when gamers from Earth attempt to remotely annihilate it in this epic, fast-paced novel from the New York Times bestselling author of the smash-hit Dungeon Crawler Carl.

All colonist Oliver Lewis ever wanted to do was run the family ranch with his sister, maybe play a gig or two with his band, and keep his family’s aging fleet of intelligent agriculture bots ticking as long as possible. He figures it will be a good thing when the transfer gate finally opens all the way and restores instant travel and full communication between Earth and his planet, New Sonora. But there’s a complication.

Even though the settlers were promised they’d be left in peace, Earth’s government now has other plans. The colossal Apex Industries is hired to commence an “eviction action.” But maximizing profits will always be Apex’s number one priority. Why spend money printing and deploying AI soldiers when they can turn it into a game? Why not charge bored Earthers for the opportunity to design their own war machines and remotely pilot them from the comfort of their homes?

The game is called Operation Bounce House.

Oliver and his friends soon find themselves fighting for their lives against machines piloted by gamers who’ve paid a premium for the privilege. With the help of an old book from his grandfather and a bucket of rusty parts, Oliver is determined to defend the only home he’s ever known.

About The Author

Matt Dinniman is a writer, artist, and musician (well, he's a bass player) from Gig Harbor, Washington. He is the author of several books, including the bestselling Dungeon Crawler Carl series.


Reviews

Goodreads review by Hades on 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 th......more

Goodreads review by Books_the_Magical_Fruit on February 11, 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 rece......more

Goodreads review by Sandy ❦✶⁺⋆ on 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 di......more

Goodreads review by Berry's Books on February 10, 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 Craw......more

Goodreads review by Angie on August 27, 2025

Like many people, I came to know Matt Dinniman as a huge fan of the Dungeon Crawler Carl series. While I can’t always completely understand what is happening in those books, I find reading them to be tremendously enjoyable. I’m not a big gamer nor am I a fantasy reader, but I love Princess Donut and......more


Quotes

“Irreverent yet heartfelt, nostalgic yet wholly original, with Operation Bounce House, Dinniman delivers another anarchic adventure rich with riotous characters and a plot that crackles towards chaos with all the alacrity of a dynamite fuse." – Pierce Brown, #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Red Rising Saga

"What if the toxic corporate interests of Earth tasked its most toxic gamers with doing their colonialist bidding? What if their insignificant incel reign of terror reached beyond the borders of their parents' basements and bedrooms, and they were all given remote command of real weapons of war on another world? Matt Dinniman has cooked us all up a deliciously terrifying gamer geek stew, mixing up Avatar and Ender's Game, with a dash of The Last Starfighter and Independence Day thrown in." – Ernest Cline, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Ready Player One

"Dinniman skillfully cloaks several current-day issues, such as swatting, genocide, othering, and concerns about AI, in this captivating futuristic read."– Booklist (starred review)

“Fast-paced, clever, and with plenty of heart—the rare book that's both thoughtful and tremendously entertaining.” – James Islington, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Will of the Many

"SF readers will have a ball.” Kirkus Reviews

“Matt Dinniman is an incredible writer. Now enjoy his 100% accurate prophecy of the coming war between interstellar farmers and Call of Duty mech pilots.” – Will Wight, New York Times bestselling author of the Cradle series

"Addictive... The stakes are sky-high, and the Ender's Game-esque plot moves at a rapid clip. ... Fans will not be disappointed." Library Journal

"Dungeon Crawler Carl author Matt Dinniman’s Operation Bounce House is a hair-raising intergalactic invasion that never forgets the humans at its core.” – BookPage

“Strap in and grab your pitchfork because Matt Dinniman is back again with a fast-paced stand-alone novel that’s sure to leave you itching for more.” – SFF Insider

Praise for Dungeon Crawler Carl:

"Dungeon Crawler Carl is legit awesome."– #1 New York Times bestselling author Brandon Sanderson

“Fresh. Creative. Hilarious. I'm obsessed…Princess Donut is my queen.” – Actor, producer and New York Times bestselling author Felicia Day

"This series has no goddamn business burying so much depth and emotion and complexity under its bawdy, gory surface, but it does so anyway. What a wild-ass and unexpected delight." – New York Times bestselling author Scott Lynch