The Butcher’s Masquerade By Matt Dinniman
9780593955994 / Ace Books / Hardcover / £31.99 / Out Now!

The Literary Role-Playing Game (Lit-RPG) genre has taken the indie publishing world by storm over the last decade. But to the average reader, the term may be a head scratcher; it isn’t a reinvention of the choose-your-own-adventure novel, nor is it interactive fiction. The term refers to fantasy or sci-fi novels that operate using video game logic, where plot and character progression function through systems typically found in RPG games, e.g. spending XP to level up and managing an inventory. With the emergence of a generation of adult readers who grew up with video games, and the resurgence of Dungeons & Dragons, it is easy to see why this genre has found such fertile soil in this cultural moment.

Matt Dinniman’s Dungeon Crawler Carl series is the runaway success of the genre. Originally self-published by Dinniman, the series follows coast guard veteran, Carl, and his ex-girlfriend’s cat, Princess Donut, as earth is devastated by the arrival of the alien enterprise, known as the Borant Corporation. In service to intergalactic reality television, Borant turn the earth into a giant dungeon crawl, with the surviving humans as competitors on a murderous live stream. After Donut receives a stat buff, granting her full sentience, the pair embark on a raucous journey through the dungeon’s levels full of hideous monsters, murderous traps, and terrifying boss-monsters.

However, what begins as a straight-forward action comedy becomes more complex as the pair beat the dungeon’s many levels. Our protagonists must contend with ‘player killers’, other humans who will even kill their own kind, the shows external investors, and a blood-thirsty audience whose opinion can save them… or leave them for dead. As Carl and Donut become stars of the show, Dinniman layers levels of narrative complexity through the introduction of new allies, enemies, and glimpses of the political strife outside the dungeon that threatens to bring down the entire Borant Corporation.

But, perhaps surprisingly, there’s also a growing emotional complexity, with Carl becoming more determined to exact some form or retribution on his alien audience, and Donut wrestling with the trials and tribulations of her newly developed personality and cognitive functions. It’s their friendship that grounds the series, as two lost souls desperately clinging to one another at the end of everything they’ve ever known. Leading to several emotionally mature and touching moments in a series known for its brash comedy.

There are obvious comparisons to Susanne Collins’ The Hunger Games, though with a more comedic tone. As Carl and Donut get stronger, they amass likes, followers, and views, which translate to wealthy sponsors, advertising deals, and talk-show appearances; all of which can be just as dangerous as the dungeon itself! Much of Dinniman’s comedy comes from lambasting video games, reality television, and online influencer culture.

In 2024, the series was snapped up by Ace Books, and is currently being re-published and rejacketed with a set of beautiful new hardcover editions. These new editions brilliantly capture the unique nature of the series, and Dinniman’s wacky sense of humour. The re-release has coincided with a resurgence of love for the series, which has grown popular on BookTube and BookTok, leading to even more people getting to experience the thrilling (mis)adventures of Carl and Donut. In the same year, Seth McFarlane’s (Family Guy, The Orville) Fuzzy Door Productions has acquired the series rights and are developing a genre bending television show with writer Christopher Yost (Thor: Ragnarok, The Mandalorian).

With the release of the new hardcover editions — which look incredible together on a shelf — and the recent success of the series self-published 7^th entry, This Inevitable Ruin, now is the perfect time to dive into Matt Dinniman’s genre defining series. It’s a charming, witty, action romp that will have you looking up at the clock wondering where the hours went. Now that seven of a planned ten novels are out, there’s plenty to binge in the crazy world of Dungeon Crawler Carl.

Explore the whole series: