Discover the Penguin books that shaped us

Operation Bounce House

byMatt Dinniman, Travis Baldree (Read by), Jeff Hays (Read by)

Format:

HardbackEbookAudio Download

Pre-order:

Apple BooksOpens in a new tabGoogle PlayOpens in a new tabKoboOpens in a new tabLibro.fmOpens in a new tabSpotifyOpens in a new tabxigxagOpens in a new tab

Brought to you by Penguin

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU BECOME YOUR PLANET’S FINAL BOSS?

THE EPIC AND FAST-PACED NOVEL FROM BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF SMASH-HIT DUNGEON CRAWLER CARL AND JOIN THE FIGHT.



All New Sonoran colonist Oliver Lewis ever wanted to do is run the family ranch and keep his family’s aging fleet of intelligent agriculture bots ticking.

But when his planet's transfer gate finally opens and restores instant travel and full communication between Earth and his planet, New Sonora, there’s a complication.

The colossal Apex Corporation is hired to commence an “eviction action” – exterminate all life on New Sonora in preparation for a reboot. And they charge bored Earthers for the opportunity to design their own war machines, remotely pilot them, and make it a game.

The game is called Operation Bounce House . . .

And New Sonora is its playing field.

Oliver and his friends soon find themselves fighting for their lives against these machines. But with the help of an old book from his grandfather, Oliver is determined to defend the only home he’s ever known.


© Matt Dinniman 2026 (P) Penguin Audio 2026

What if someday Gamergate went galactic? What if the toxic corporate interests of Earth tasked its most toxic gamers with doing their colonialist bidding? What if their insignificant incel reign of terror reached beyond the borders of their parents' basements and bedrooms, and they were all given remote command of real weapons of war on another world? Matt Dinniman has cooked us all up a deliciously terrifying gamer geek stew, mixing up Avatar and Ender's Game, with a dash of The Last Starfighter and Independence Day thrown in. This tale is more twisted fun than you can shake a joystick at.

Ernest Cline, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Ready Player One

About Matt Dinniman

Matt Dinniman is a writer and artist from Gig Harbor, Washington. He is the author of the best-selling Dungeon Crawler Carl series along with several other books about the end of the world. He doesn’t really hate Cocker Spaniels, and he plays bass in a metal band.
Details
  • Imprint: Penguin
  • ISBN: 9781405987356
  • Price: £16.00
All editions