Bok Review 140
"Dungeon Crawler Carl" by Matt Dinniman (the first book in the series)
"LitRPG" is a specific genre, which is depicturing a typical roleplay game walkthrough, but in a form of a book. I know, that it is exceptionally popular (especially in Japan, and there are many anime adaptations), but I've never tried to read one of those. I've picked up this book, because I heard, that it is good and funny.
This book is mostly following a classic DnD scenario, with all its bells and whistles. The protagonist, Carl, a former marine technician, became a player in this game. It has started nearly as a "Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy": evil (or, rather, "nothing personal, just business") aliens came to extinguish the Earth. They gave a last chance to earthlings by opening a network of portals to enter their game as players. It was on a very short notice, so just a couple of millions could make it to survive. People who entered those portals appeared in a literal dungeon. With orcs, goblins, and devil knows who else. And with an extensive menu (with "Inventory" tab, and all other computer game stuff), which you can call before your eyes just thinking about.
Sounds kind of silly, but there is some internal logic. If the technology is advanced enough, it is indistinguishable of magic, so why it can't look like magic (with spells, portals, potions etc.)?
Even though there are some subtle parallels with the "Hitchhiker's Guide...", this book is less inventive and less funny (despite many jokes, it is mostly tragic). But it is still good. Actually, very good!
Over 90% of it is DnD. Explanation of the complex game mechanics, monsters, NPCs, locations, etc. The rest is about what's happening out of the game: why it has happened, who those aliens are, what is happening in the galaxy. And even when this book is stepping quite far from the Science Fiction highway not explaining the science behind what we see, it is logical enough for not being stupid.
The characters are vivid and solid. They have lots of motivation and enough of backstory to like (or dislike) them. The plot is inventive and very well paced not to let the reader to get bored.
So if you like an easy (but not simple or stupid) reading, its just the book for you. Especially if you love DnD, but afraid to get bored by cliché knights, wizards and dragons with all this "ancient evil", you'll love this book. I myself certainly will be reading its sequel (in fact, I've already completed it, and it will be reviewed in Review 149).