Operation Bounce House Hardcover – Standalone Science Fiction Novel by Matt Dinniman

Operation Bounce House by New York Times bestselling author Matt Dinniman is a thrilling standalone science fiction adventure packed with action, humor, giant robots, gaming culture, and high-stakes survival. From the creator of the wildly popular Dungeon Crawler Carl series comes an explosive story where an interplanetary eviction becomes the world's deadliest game.

Oliver Lewis never wanted to be a hero.

Life on the frontier world of New Sonora is simple. Run the family ranch. Play music with friends. Keep the aging agricultural robots functioning. Survive another day on a distant colony planet.

But everything changes when the transfer gate connecting New Sonora to Earth finally reopens.

For decades, the colonists believed they had been forgotten.

Instead, Earth has returned with plans to take everything away.

A powerful corporation known as Apex Industries has been hired to remove the settlers and reclaim the planet. But rather than deploying a traditional military force, Apex finds a cheaper and far more profitable solution.

Turn war into entertainment.

Gamers across Earth are invited to pay for the opportunity to design, customize, and remotely pilot powerful war machines in a massive online game called Operation Bounce House.

For the players, it's fun.

For Oliver and the colonists, it's real.

Suddenly fighting for their homes, their families, and their very survival, Oliver and his friends must battle an endless stream of deadly machines controlled by players who have no idea they're fighting real people.

Armed with little more than ingenuity, determination, an old book from his grandfather, and a collection of rusty parts, Oliver sets out to defend the only world he's ever known.

Filled with explosive battles, memorable characters, sharp humor, and nonstop action, Operation Bounce House is a wildly entertaining sci-fi adventure that explores the consequences of turning war into a game.

Operation Bounce House Hardcover – An Action-Packed Sci-Fi Adventure

Perfect for readers who love military science fiction, space colonization stories, giant robots, LitRPG-adjacent adventures, gaming culture, and underdog heroes, Operation Bounce House delivers a fast-paced blend of humor, heart, and high-stakes action.

Fans of Dungeon Crawler Carl, Ready Player One, Old Man's War, and The Bobiverse series will find plenty to love in this inventive and thrilling standalone novel.

Series Information

Series: Standalone Novel

Book Number: N/A

Note: Operation Bounce House is a standalone science fiction novel and can be enjoyed independently of Matt Dinniman's other works.

Book Details

Title: Operation Bounce House

Author: Matt Dinniman

Format: Hardcover

Genre:
Science Fiction
Military Science Fiction
Space Opera
Adventure Fiction
Humorous Science Fiction

Features:
Standalone novel
New York Times Bestseller
Gaming and virtual combat elements
Colonization and planetary conflict
Action-packed battles
Humor and satire
From the author of Dungeon Crawler Carl

Themes:
Survival and resilience
Corporate greed
Technology and gaming
Freedom and independence
Community and sacrifice
Human ingenuity

Page Count:
448 Pages

Dimensions:
5.6" W x 8.5" H x 1.6" D

Publication Date:
February 10, 2026

Author Bio

Matt Dinniman is a bestselling author, artist, and musician from Gig Harbor, Washington. He is best known for the internationally acclaimed Dungeon Crawler Carl series, which has earned a devoted following for its unique blend of action, humor, science fiction, and gaming culture. Operation Bounce House showcases his signature storytelling style and imaginative world-building.