You are viewing your 1 free article this month.
Sign in to make the most of your access to expert book trade coverage.
Penguin Michael Joseph's Jorgie Bain signs ‘explosive’ standalone by Matt Dinniman
Penguin Michael Joseph has acquired Operation Bounce House from the author of Dungeon Crawler Carl (Ace), Matt Dinniman.
Commissioning editor Jorgie Bain acquired UK and Commonwealth rights from Tawanna Sullivan at Berkley and will be publishing alongside them in February 2026.
The novel follows Oliver Lewis, a colonist on New Sonora, who only has dreams to run his family farm and play in his band. But when the transfer gate finally opens for the first time and restores instant travel between Earth and his planet, there is a complication.
Earth has hired Apex Corporation to evict everyone on New Sonora using war machines remotely controlled by bored, rich gamers. Oliver and his friends soon find themselves fighting against them, determined to defend their home. What happens when you become your planet’s final boss? Oliver is about to find out…
Bain said: “It has always been clear that Matt is a one-of-a-kind author with an incredible imagination and the ability to build worlds that are totally immersive, Operation Bounce House is testament to that. Perfect for readers who want Ready Player One meets Ender’s Game but with a splash of The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. We cannot wait to publish Matt’s work in the UK for the first time.”
Dinniman said: "I’m very proud of how this book turned out. I get to write books with lots of explosions in it for a living, and that’s the coolest thing ever. I really look forward to its release."
Seth Fishman of The Gernert Company, Dinniman’s agent, said: "From indie-author to bestseller with his Dungeon Crawler Carl series, Dinniman manages to combine humour, talking cats and an emotional depth that stuns the most stoic reader. With Operation Bounce House, he brings the cruelty of online game bullying and wise-cracking kids to a super satisfying end in a distant world that mimics our own. He represents the epitome of science fiction and fantasy’s ability to critique reality."
