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Operation Bounce House Sample Chapter
🕑 Added 2025-08-19 23:52:17 +0000 UTCHey folks. We interrupt your regularly* scheduled DCC chapter posts to bring you an announcement. As previously mentioned, my standalone novel Operation Bounce House comes out February 10, 2026. It is now available to preorder wherever fine books are sold.
If you are a reviewer with a NetGalley account, you may request to read the whole thing NOW.
Attached to this post is an epub and a pdf which includes a wee portion of the book so you can get a quick idea of what to expect.
So, what is Operation Bounce House? I'm glad you asked. It is a standalone, one-and-done book. I wrote it concurrent with This Inevitable Ruin, and it has been completed for a while now. I'm looking forward to hearing what you guys think. (Also, for the record, I am not writing anything other than DCC book 8 right now)
Please do not distribute the PDF or sample. If it ends up all over the place, they won't let me give you guys samples in future.
BLURB:
What do you do when you become your planet's final boss?
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.
Out February 10, 2026 in hardcover, ebook, and audio. More details on audio coming soon.
Thank you all for your support. I'll see you all at DragonCon if you're going. I'll post my full schedule for that soon.
Comments
Felicia Nunez
Matt I think you were hacked :(
Felicia Nunez
Oh no Matt. Were you hacked?
DBot1976
Read the book for review and love it. Great work, Matt!
Olivia Sadler
I was going to post that it's been a month, maybe someone should check on Matt, but I think you've covered it.
J Sibble
Hey Dan, do I have to start ANOTHER pandemic to get you to sit your ass down and crank this shit out?! I've done much worse for much, much less. Use you base playing time for actual good use. You have the equivalent of sex/heroine addicts jonesin' for more DCC! And there you're are, standing in one spot on a stage pretending to be Flee?! Be like Carl and let's fuckin' goooo! Okay, please excuse this ex-girl friendish outburst, but my wife has refused to let me take anymore pics of her butthole to send to you. She used my nose hair trimmer to shave down the golden doodle's cookiecutter. Even though I thought it was a curiously close look, after a few drinks, you didn't seem to be terribly impressed. So as requested, I'll keep you updated on the adopted cat and pony. WHOOP WHOOP!!
Paul Wayne
I own all the audiobooks, iv been a Patreon member for about a year. I just bought the hardcovers for the pineapple cabaret story line. Give me more to Glurp Matt
crawler666
new guy here and hate to ask... new to patreon in general as well. i wanna download an epub of book 6, is that something i can find on here on patreon?
ArDee
Hello, I have a Netgalley account. I requested Operation Bounce House and they did find it-however they said ‘my request is pending.’ Do you know for how long?
Snarky
I was super late to the party but I was able to get a signed copy pre-ordered from B&N which is super cool. Excited to read it!
Ricardo Ianelli
You need to wait 3 months. It's not Matt who sends us these rewards, it's Patreon, and bring s subscriber for 3 months is a requirement.
Kyle Kearin
Hey i never got my merch from patreon anyone know what to do if you never got it?
Andrew Bartlett
Too busy perfecting the designs on your trap eh?
Louise Mimnagh
I need more! Please...:-)
Adam Aflalo
Yeah I figured it was too good to be true. I signed up for an account, and only then realised how unlikely it would be for me not be checked first
Sara
YIPPEE, just requested!!
Sara
As someone who occasionally reviews on NetGalley, I can tell you your chances of getting anything from Berkley are very slim 🥲 They are notoriously hard to get books from
JohnnyB
So, while I have to say thank you for the preview, I am now officially annoyed that I have to wait till next year to read the rest!. Sheesh, now I kinda wish i hadn't read what you sent! Well Done!
Silent Consent
Ha, the shoe is on the other foot. I love the cover art!
Jacob Amaro
Preorder with signed copy
Queen B3atrix
Immediately preordered!! Can't wait!!! :D
Nickolaus Wilhite
2x hardcovers preordered!
Stephanie Gustafson
See you at DragonCon! Looking forward to meeting you, can’t wait to check out this book!
Grigorius of Tomsk, Devourer of Pop-Tarts, Victor of Many Battles
It was great meeting you at Worldcon! :) The sample chapter looks interesting, though I had 2 moments of confusion: I couldn't visualize Roger (is he a big bee? I'd sort of assumed he was a flying basketball-sized drone, like in Fallout New Vegas). The other bit was the video transcript. It said it was from night 5 of 5 of the Operation Bouncehouse. I took that to mean it was recorded after 4 days of fighting, or that the folks in the video were taking a break from fighting to watch an earlier video of themselves. 🙃) Those 2 things had me stop and wonder the fine details. Anyway, I dusted off my NetGalley account and put in the request. Fingers crossed!
Tim Jones
Well, time to figure out what Netgalley is and desperately attempt to make an eligible account, this seems like some good shit.
Dev Testing
I gotta ask up front: how many eyebrows does Sam have?
Bouncy Paw
"sam and the twins" dinniverse planeswalkers confirmed.
Jennifer_Pennifer
Thank you Matt 🤗
Steve
Answered my own question...the paperback is large print.
Steve
On Amazon the softcover of bounce house has like 200more pages than the hardcover. Whats the difference between the two versions?
SgtDanny
Anyone know the turnaround time on a NetGalley request?
Dangersaurus
Only half a year to find out. *twiddles fingers* *clicks tongue* Sigh. Tired of waiting already!
Loony Lemon Jeff
Is Roger literally just a giant bee?
Stephen Greenwood
Hoping the guys at sound booth theater are doing the audio. Don't have a lot of time to sit down and read anymore, but I can definitely listen to an audiobook while at work or taking care of chores around the house.
Ronin Oni
I don’t think it’s litRPG, but definitely some similarities to DCC, but regular SciFi
Heather Inness
I cannot wait for this book! I hope Roger is okay 😭
Sara Picone
Picked it up on NetGalley, can’t wait to dig in!!! (And ordered an actual copy OF COURSE)
Stephen Greenwood
I was just gonna ask that.
Branden Golden
When are signed books going out?
A13X-M53R
From just the synopsis itself, it seems very interesting, imagine shitting on a elementary school kid who got this “game” on Christmas just to tell them to (and I’m stealing this quote from the cloaker from payday 2) “Go to the forums and cry like the little bitch you are”
Felicia Nunez
Whoop! Requested + preordered!
Thaanos
I guess I'm going to the book store tomorow to place an order :)
Kenny
This is a cool premise. It's a nice blend of plausible dystopian sci-fi and it has me really looking forward to it!
Ronin Oni
Tell me Jeff Hays is narrating lol
Michael Anderson
Can't wait for the full release!
Bun
Love the concept, I would love to hear the audio when it comes out. Love the fresh take on litrpg.
S.L. Rowland
Wooot! Requested my copy yesterday.
Derek Phy
Love this!!!❤️❤️❤️
Joe Jones
The noise I made upon getting this notification. Been waiting on this!!
