Dungeon Crawler CarlDungeon Crawler Carl
Score Modern
What it's about
One night, aliens destroy every building on Earth and turn the survivors into contestants on an intergalactic game show: a vast, deadly dungeon where every fight is broadcast to the galaxy. Coast Guard veteran Carl, wearing only his boxers and a leather jacket, goes in with his ex-girlfriend's prize-winning cat, Princess Donut, who can now talk and has strong opinions. To survive they'll need loot, levels and an audience that loves them.
Why it's worth reading
It's absurd, violent, very funny and surprisingly moving, and Carl's quiet rage against the people running the show gives it real heart. It has become one of the biggest word-of-mouth hits in years for a reason.
You'll love it if you liked
Project Hail Mary
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
Going PostalGood to know
It's written like a video game (stats, loot boxes, level-ups), which some readers love and others take a chapter or two to warm to. It's the first of a long series, and the audiobook is a cult favorite.
By the numbers
- Readers96 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics0 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Bestseller83 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Buzz100 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #4 of the 313 science fiction books we rank
- #5 of the 459 fantasy books we rank
- #13 of the 1,573 modern books we rank
- #21 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
Adventurous, Funny, Uplifting
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Quick answers
Is Dungeon Crawler Carl worth reading?
Yes. It's absurd, violent, very funny and surprisingly moving, and Carl's quiet rage against the people running the show gives it real heart. It ranks #21 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 91.8 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is Dungeon Crawler Carl about?
One night, aliens destroy every building on Earth and turn the survivors into contestants on an intergalactic game show: a vast, deadly dungeon where every fight is broadcast to the galaxy. Coast Guard veteran Carl, wearing only his boxers and a leather jacket, goes in with his ex-girlfriend's prize-winning cat, Princess Donut, who can now talk and has strong opinions. To survive they'll need loot, levels and an audience that loves them.
How long does it take to read Dungeon Crawler Carl?
About 12 hours (465 pages), or about 3 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after Dungeon Crawler Carl?
If you liked it, try Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams or Going Postal by Terry Pratchett.