The Maze Runner

By James Dashner,

Book cover of The Maze Runner

Book description

The first book in the New York Times bestselling Maze
Runner series - now a series of major movies starring Dylan O'Brien!

SEE THE FILMS. READ THE BOOKS. ENTER THE MAZE ...

When the doors of the lift crank open, the only thing Thomas remembers
is his first name. But…

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Why read it?

11 authors picked The Maze Runner as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

Talk about crazy experiments! Maze Runner is an epic quest combined with a nod to those who love solving puzzles on steroids. This is truly an end-of-the-world scenario, or I surely hope it is. While I can see some mad scientists excited about such an experiment today, it is still frowned upon. Thank goodness. But Maze Runner explores “science” gone rogue.

Indifference again plays a central role in the plot as those outside the experiment use a variety of psychological warfare techniques to keep the participants engaged in the game. The reader feels sorry for them having to overcome everything…

Maze Runner was a wild ride I couldn't put down. The plot's originality had me hooked with all its twists and turns, turning it into this page-turner I couldn't resist. Dashner's maze world? Pure genius.

Every mystery unfolding kept me racing through the pages, completely caught up in the characters' urgency and the need to unravel the maze's secrets. It felt like a personal challenge, a puzzle I just had to solve.

Dashner's talent for keeping the suspense alive made the whole experience immersive, and I couldn't help but appreciate the intricate plot. Maze Runner is a personal victory, and…

From Katerina's list on dystopian books that leave a mark.

My favorite type of books are ones that blend dystopian, science fiction, and scientific facts together, and a lot of mystery.

In Maze Runner, a teenage boy wakes up in a box surrounded by a bunch of other boys that he doesn't know. Then they have to work together to find a way out of the maze before things become even more dangerous. Yup, a lot of suspense and mystery, and the author had my heart pounding.

The Maze Runner has such an interesting premise and though it's a YA book, readers of all ages will enjoy it.

The Maze Runner is a brooding YA mystery, where teens wake up inside a massive maze full of challenges and dangers… but their memories are wiped clean.

They have no idea where they are or what’s happening, and as they try to work together to escape the maze, they are also uncovering the secret of how they got there in the first place, which gives the story intrigue and suspense.

I enjoyed the puzzles and the taut relationships as the characters decide what to do and who to trust; I also liked the idea of the massive architectural elements and…

It’s horrifying to think you might risk everything you have for freedom, only to discover it isn’t what you thought.

I appreciate the depth of disillusionment at the heart of The Maze Runner, and how its characters persist despite it, because the alternative is to simply give up, and that’s not who they are. I’m always inspired by stories of perseverance, which is why the dedication of one of my books reads: “Because trying is all anyone can do”.

My main characters often have to sacrifice everything they have for the better life they believe exists; but in the end…

Dashner is one of my favorite authors. His books are always expertly written and include interesting protagonists, antagonists, and supporting characters which I typically don’t see in a lot of writing. Maze Runner incorporates mystery, survival, sci-fi, and adventure with tons of exciting twists and turns. It’s extremely engaging for the mind and will keep you on your seat!

I love books that combine mystery, science fiction, high stakes, adventure, and sizzling plots. The Maze Runner does it all. From the opening pages, I wanted to know how Thomas got there, and why? Why was his memory wiped? What’s the purpose of the maze? Who’s behind it all? And most important, is there a way out? Well worth the read.

To be honest, I read this book after seeing the movie because I wanted to understand how the author described the creature in the maze. The author did a great job of giving just enough information to let the reader’s imagination swell. Whoever designed the creature for the movie certainly let their imagination go wild, for sure! Even after seeing the movie, I found the book so powerful in stirring my imagination—and my adrenaline. It’s one of those books you just can’t put down.

From Randy's list on mystery with a science fiction feel.

If you ain’t scared… you ain’t human.” This is a perfect example of the relatability of the characters in The Maze Runner, even in an unrelatable situation: teenagers trapped inside a limitless, ever-changing maze—without their memories! As they struggle to survive, they uncover the secrets of both the shadowy organization that put them there and the maze itself. It features a male protagonist, and the intriguing plot will keep you coming back for more. I highly recommend this series… and the prequel is worth a read too!

From Aella's list on YA about experiments gone wrong.

While this book came out a while ago in 2009, and was made more famous by the film adaptation, I feel it’s fallen under the radar for people who have recently discovered their love of science fiction. Dashner’s dystopian is dominated by male characters, which I found refreshing since so many popular dystopian novels feature female protagonists. The Maze Runner’s non-stop action makes it the sort of book you want to read in a single sitting.  

From L. Blaise's list on young adult soft science-fiction.

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