‘Dungeon Crawler Carl’ Author Officially Settles a Raging Debate About the Audiobooks
Matt Dinniman, author of the enormously popular LitRPG series Dungeon Crawler Carl, has officially resolved a longstanding debate within the fandom: what listening speed is optimal for the series’ audiobooks.
The Dungeon Crawler Carl series depicts a post-apocalyptic Earth conquered by an alien corporation that has eliminated most of humanity. Survivors are forced to compete in a televised reality competition called Dungeon Crawler World: Earth, featuring Carl, a Coast Guard veteran, and his sentient feline companion Princess Donut.
The series achieved enormous popularity largely due to acclaimed audiobook narrations by Jeff Hays. However, fans have adopted widely varying playback speeds when listening, deviating from Hays’ original performance pace. This listening-speed question sparked extensive discussion across Reddit, Facebook, TikTok, and other platforms, dividing the fanbase over whether alternative speeds enhance or diminish the intended experience.
Dinniman’s official statement settling the debate represents a rare authorial intervention in fan culture. His resolution addresses broader trends in audiobook consumption—specifically how listeners personalize narrated content and the relationship between creator intent and audience experience. The author’s willingness to weigh in underscores the direct relationship between content creators and engaged digital-age fan communities, where such seemingly minor consumption questions can become genuine points of contention.