Allison's Book Report

"Operation Bounce House" by Matt Dinniman 

Summer has officially started in Fallon, and you know what that means – we are all looking for fun, summery reads that we can devour by the pool, at the lake, on a vacation, or even just from the comfort of our couch with the A/C cranked up. As far as these summery reads go, I usually gravitate towards fun, sexy rom-coms and twisty family dramas. Don't worry if those aren't your style, though, because I have something new that you might just love.

"Operation Bounce House" by Matt Dinniman is an absolute adrenaline rush of a sci-fi novel that perfectly showcases his signature chaotic, high-stakes storytelling in a standalone format. The story introduces us to Oliver, a relatively low-key guy living a quiet life on the backwater colony planet of New Sonora. Oliver is perfectly content just running his family farm, dealing with some mild relationship drama, and keeping under the radar. All of that peaceful country living completely goes out the window when a bizarre, video-game-style giant robot crash-lands on his property and tries to murder him. As it turns out, Earth's corporate-run government has decided to reclaim the resource-rich planet, initiating a brutal "eviction action." To maximize their profits, the colossal Apex Corporation decides against deploying standard AI troops and instead turns the entire invasion into a literal pay-to-play video game marketed to bored, toxic Earthers.

Suddenly, Oliver, his sister, and a quirky crew of local friends find themselves fighting for their lives against massive war machines remotely piloted by wealthy gamers looking for a thrill. The titular "Operation Bounce House" is the corporate name for this cruel, dystopian game, but the colonists have zero intention of going down without a fight. Armed with an old book from Oliver’s grandfather, a bucket of rusty parts, and a farm AI that is fiercely programmed to protect the land, the outgunned and outnumbered locals mount an incredibly scrappy resistance. What follows is a wildly entertaining, fast-paced battle of pitchforks versus spaceships. Dinniman masterfully balances laugh-out-loud comedy and sharp satire of corporate greed and gaming culture with genuinely heartfelt moments. The characters are incredibly memorable, the action crackles with explosive energy, and the pacing is so relentless that it keeps you hooked from the first page to the last. It’s an anarchic, deeply original sci-fi war novel about regular people taking a stand against the ultimate corporate plutocracy, proving that even against impossible odds, a little bit of hometown grit can give the universe's biggest bullies the fight of their lives.

Not all summer reads are created equal, but this one is a winner for sure. I hope you give it a try and don't forget to check out my Instagram @allison.the.reader for more summer reading ideas!