What larger universe is Dungeon Crawler Carl set in?

There's more to Dungeon Crawler Carl than the dungeon levels of old Earth. While Carl and Donut are fighting to survive in the dark, tunneled remains of our home planet, there's a whole universe that's part of this story, too. The Syndicate is the collection of more than three billion star systems comprised of quintillions of sentient lifeforms. Near the center of Syndicate space, there's a macro AI called the Eulogist that has extended Enhancement Zones around nearby star systems. These systems are wealthy, enjoying universal health care and prosperity, as well as housing the Syndicate's central government.

That’s three billion star systems, quintillions of aliens. Nearly all of them love watching Carl and Donut on Dungeon Crawler World: Earth and don't see the issue of the genocide that created it.

The Syndicate functions as a federation, meaning that each star system has its own government in whatever form that takes, but they also answer to the central Syndicate government, led by Prime Minister Glory. The races of the Syndicate are as myriad as the star systems and worlds therein, with species including Skyfowl, Kua-Tin, Mantis, and Bopka. Many of these species look like sentient versions of Earth creatures, while others are variations on the basic humanoid formula.

The role of the Syndicate and the universe at large grows as the series progresses. No spoilers here, but all is not as it seems in the three billion worlds of the Syndicate, and unrest is growing. Confusion breeds opportunity for everyone, including Carl and Donut. After all, how are they to survive beyond the dangerous floors of Dungeon Crawler World unless they can manage to escape the brutal cycle of the show? And what about the Borant Corporation, the company responsible for the hit series that just so happened to kill billions of humans to create their show?

The Eulogist, too, plays a role that grows as the story unfolds. Who created it? What does it really want? With capitalism reigning supreme and creating clear demarcations of haves and have-nots in the Syndicate, rebellion is certainly on the table. Tempers simmer among the various races and worlds of the galaxy. Even down in the depths of the Earth dungeons, these rumblings will have an effect.

Who are the other main characters in Dungeon Crawler Carl?

Many of the characters in Dungeon Crawler Carl are other players in the game. In the first story, Carl joins the Meadow Larks, a party led by Imani and Elle McGibbons. Imani is a former caregiver turned healer; Elle is an old woman, formerly wheelchair-bound before entering the dungeon. She's now a powerhouse Frost Maiden in the game. In addition to Carl, they're joined by Chris and Brandon Andrews, brothers who were maintenance workers before the Transformation. There's also Dr. Gracie, Henry, Jack, Randall, and Yolanda. All of the Meadow Larks, except for Carl, were at the Meadow Lark Elder Care Facility before the collapse, though they welcome Carl and Donut to their ranks.

Of course, there are other parties in the dungeons, all of them vying for survival and ratings. Carl and Donut run across players such as Maggie My, Frank Q, Li Jun, and Zhang. There are galactic news reports and talk shows, including Death Watch Extreme Dungeon Mayhem, hosted by Maestro. The better the players and parties do, the more they might receive from Syndicate benefactors such as Prince Stalwart or King Rust. Many of the parties have managers, aliens who are secretly or not-so-secretly helping the parties to advance. Then, there are terribly enigmatic characters like Agatha, who appears to be an old, homeless woman pushing a shopping cart, who the Meadow Larks adamantly try to ignore.

Six audiobooks in, the list of characters keeps growing. There are various factions both inside and outside the game of Dungeon Crawler World: Earth. Some of Carl and Donut's allies fall, but so do some of their enemies. New allies and enemies are always on the horizon, particularly as the dangers of the dungeon intensify with each level descended.

What's happened in the Dungeon Crawler Carl books so far?

What do we know about Dungeon Crawler Carl book seven?

Coming soon is This Inevitable Ruin, the seventh audiobook in the Dungeon Crawler Carl series. The inimitable Jeff Hays is returning to narrate, as he has with the previous six volumes. On the ninth level of the dungeon, there's one objective: take and hold the central castle. And there are nine armies led by rich and powerful aliens vying for control. Scratch that, 10 armies. The NPCs, normally just cannon fodder, have gained enough sentience to form their own army. The war that is coming will make the battles that came before look like skirmishes. How will Carl or Donut manage to survive?

With this latest audiobook, it's truly all on the line. Will Carl survive? Well, his name is in the series title, so probably, yeah. But since only one can leave the level, the stakes between Donut and Katia (one of their closest allies) have never been and never will be higher. This Inevitable Ruin is shaping up to be an epic one.

And what about that upcoming TV adaptation?

While much remains to be seen about the forthcoming television series based on Matt Dinniman's Dungeon Crawler Carl series, we can't wait to see how this zany gem translates to the screen. In the summer of 2024, it was announced that Universal International Studios and Fuzzy Door are working on the adaptation, with film and comic book writer Christopher Yost at the helm. You'll have to keep your ear to the ground for more details on what's next for Carl and Donut's television debut.