Operation Bounce House by Matt Dinniman
Blurb:
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.
Review:
With the smash-hit series Dungeon Crawler Carl, Dinniman catapulted up the ranks of my favourites list. With Operation Bounce House, he further cements himself as a skilled storyteller with a signature style and unique tone.
On the surface, the premise sounds oddly similar to DCC: a world-ending, game-style invasion involving AI, with survival and its meaning at the core of it all. This alone may be enough for many readers to immediately dive in without a second thought.
I, myself, tend to grow somewhat skeptical in circumstances such as this. Nevertheless, I decided to reserve judgement until after I’d read it.
There is definitely enough variation here for things to feel fresh and exciting. Above all, Dinniman seems to have produced something akin to a screenplay, blending a violent, fast-paced series of events with the addition of home-video recordings featuring slice-of-life encounters with our cast of predominantly young adults. These characters prove to be incredibly endearing, garnering major emotional investment throughout all the high-stakes tension.
In many ways, we’re given a much more realistic and sinister view of an unnerving future where corporations have warped entertainment through sickness and corruption, wielding propaganda in the worst ways imaginable. And as history has shown us, this concept is not unique to fiction.
On a brighter note, the writing style is consistent with what we’ve come to love from Dinniman’s work. A light-hearted tone permeates much of the story, blending heavy moments with humour and thought-provoking dialogue that challenges the reader to ponder underlying messages and deeper meanings. Not to mention the twists and reveals that had me glued to the pages for lengths at a time.
Personally, I found a certain element of the writing style to be slightly tedious to get through. While this may not pose an issue for many readers, it is definitely something worth noting.
A futuristic setting such as this naturally involves advanced technology, and there are swathes of logistics and technical exposition mixed into the book. If you enjoy some element of hard sci-fi in your stories, then this should be a treat. Regardless, it’s an impressive world-building feature, to say the least.
Overall, Operation Bounce House proved to be a wildly fun read that ultimately evoked bittersweet emotions and incorporated deep themes touching on survival, human nature, and the choices we make in life. Recommended for fans of fast-paced stories, plenty of action, and a found-family of badass characters. Dinniman hooks you in and sticks the landing with ease.
