Dungeon Crawler Carl is getting a beautiful new deluxe edition in time for the holidays

If you read fantasy novels, the chances are good that you've heard of Dungeon Crawler Carl, Matt Dinniman's breakout series that is taking the genre by storm. Originally self-published, the first eight volumes of Dungeon Crawler Carl have been re-released by Ace over the past two years, turning it into the first true mainstream LitRPG mega-hit. The books have sold more than 14 million copies across all formats, with every single hardcover entry of the Ace print run hitting the New York Times bestseller list. There's even a television adaptation in development from Peacock, so it's safe to say that Carl and his beloved cat companion Princess Donut are well on their way to becoming household names.

All this is to say, if you like fantasy and haven't read Dungeon Crawler Carl yet, there's never been a better time to take the leap. This fall, Ace is publishing a brand new hardcover deluxe edition of the first book, complete with new artwork, beautifully decorated edges, an exclusive Q&A with Matt Dinniman conducted by none other than Princess Donut herself, and more. With all the extra goodies, this may end up becoming the definitive print edition of Dinniman's breakout novel.

Dungeon Crawler Carl: Deluxe Edition hits shelves on November 17, 2026. Check out the book's flashy new cover and full list of features below.

What is Dungeon Crawler Carl about?

If you're not familiar with Dungeon Crawler Carl, it follows the titular Carl, a Coast Guard veteran who survives an alien invasion of Earth, only to end up in a televised gameshow for the entertainment of the masses where he has to fight for survival. He doesn't go it alone, though; with him is his ex-girlfriend's show cat, Princess Donut, who is haughty, vain, and an obvious fan favorite.

LitRPG is a subgenre of fantasy which includes some of the conventions of games, such as characters leveling up and gaining new abilities and weapons as they progress through the story. That makes a good, meaty, multi-book story like Dungeon Crawler Carl a great way to scratch both your fantasy and gamer itch, and in wildly entertaining fashion to boot.

Here's the official description for the novel to give a clearer picture of what's in store:

The apocalypse will be televised!

You know what’s worse than breaking up with your girlfriend? Being stuck with her prize-winning show cat. And you know what’s worse than that? An alien invasion, the destruction of all man-made structures on Earth, and the systematic exploitation of all the survivors for a sadistic intergalactic game show. That’s what.

Join Coast Guard vet Carl and his ex-girlfriend’s cat, Princess Donut, as they try to survive the end of the world—or just get to the next level—in a video game–like, trap-filled fantasy dungeon. A dungeon that’s actually the set of a reality television show with countless viewers across the galaxy. Exploding goblins. Magical potions. Deadly, drug-dealing llamas. This ain’t your ordinary game show.

Welcome, Crawler. Welcome to the Dungeon. Survival is optional. Keeping the viewers entertained is not.

What's included in the Dungeon Crawler Carl: Deluxe Edition?

As for what sets the deluxe edition of Dungeon Crawler Carl apart from the previous editions you can already buy, let's go through the full list of what it includes.

• New artwork by acclaimed artist Victo Ngai
• Stenciled edges
• Decorated endpapers
• A fully illustrated case with a solvable maze
• Interior jacket illustrations
• A four-color printed ribbon marker featuring Carl and Donut on the run
• An exclusive Q&A with Matt Dinniman conducted by Princess Donut herself

Dungeon Crawler Carl: Deluxe Edition releases on November 17, and is currently available for pre-order. Whether you want a copy for yourself or to surprise a loved one for the holidays, there's little doubt that spending the end of 2026 with Carl and Donut is a fun way to ring out the end of the year.

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