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The Maze Runner (The Maze Runner, Book 1) by [James Dashner]

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James Dashner

The Maze Runner (The Maze Runner, Book 1) Kindle Edition

by James Dashner (Author) Format: Kindle Edition

15,366 ratings

Book 1 of 5: The Maze Runner

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The first book in the blockbuster phenomenon The Maze Runner series now features chapters from the highly-anticipated series conclusion, The Fever Code, the book that finally reveals the story of how the maze was built!

   When Thomas wakes up in the lift, the only thing he can remember is his name. He’s surrounded by strangers—boys whose memories are also gone.
   Outside the towering stone walls that surround them is a limitless, ever-changing maze. It’s the only way out—and no one’s ever made it through alive.
   Then a girl arrives. The first girl ever. And the message she delivers is terrifying.
   Remember. Survive. Run.

   The Maze Runner and Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials are now major motion pictures featuring the star of MTV's Teen Wolf, Dylan O’Brien; Kaya Scodelario; Aml Ameen; Will Poulter; and Thomas Brodie-Sangster. The third movie, Maze Runner: The Death Cure, will hit screens in 2018.

   Also look for James Dashner’s edge-of-your-seat MORTALITY DOCTRINE series!

Praise for the Maze Runner series:
A #1 New York Times Bestselling Series
A USA Today Bestseller
A Kirkus Reviews Best Teen Book of the Year
An ALA-YASLA Best Fiction for Young Adults Book
An ALA-YALSA Quick Pick

"[A] mysterious survival saga that passionate fans describe as a fusion of Lord of the Flies, The Hunger Games, and Lost."—EW.com

“Wonderful action writing—fast-paced…but smart and well observed.”—Newsday

“[A] nail-biting must-read.”—Seventeen.com

“Breathless, cinematic action.”—Publishers Weekly

“Heart pounding to the very last moment.”—Kirkus Reviews

“Exclamation-worthy.”—Romantic Times

“James Dashner’s illuminating prequel [The Kill Order] will thrill fans of this Maze Runner [series] and prove just as exciting for readers new to the series.”—Shelf Awareness, Starred

"Take a deep breath before you start any James Dashner book."-Deseret News

Reading age

10+ years, from customers
Print length

386 pages
Language

English
Grade level

7 - 9
Lexile measure

HL770L
Publisher

Delacorte Press
Publication date

September 25, 2009
Page Flip

Enabled
Word Wise

Enabled
Enhanced typesetting

Enabled
ISBN-10

9780375893773
ISBN-13

978-0385737944
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Popular Highlights in this book

What are popular highlights?

But there was something about the largest object in the solar system vanishing that tended to disrupt normal schedules.
Highlighted by 7,444 Kindle readers
That’s just my way of saying I would’ve killed you if you’d died.
Highlighted by 5,748 Kindle readers
Minho looked at Thomas. “I nominate this shank to replace me as Keeper of the Runners.”
Highlighted by 2,746 Kindle readers

Editorial Reviews

Review

Praise for the Maze Runner series:
A #1 New York Times Bestselling Series
A USA Today Bestseller
A Kirkus Reviews Best Teen Book of the Year
An ALA-YASLA Best Fiction for Young Adults Book
An ALA-YALSA Quick Pick

"[A] mysterious survival saga that passionate fans describe as a fusion of Lord of the Flies, The Hunger Games, and Lost."—EW

“Wonderful action writing—fast-paced…but smart and well observed.”—Newsday

“[A] nail-biting must-read.”—Seventeen

“Breathless, cinematic action.”—Publishers Weekly

“Heart pounding to the very last moment.”—Kirkus Reviews

“Exclamation-worthy.”—Romantic Times

[STAR] “James Dashner’s illuminating prequel [The Kill Order] will thrill fans of this Maze Runner [series] and prove just as exciting for readers new to the series.”—Shelf Awareness, Starred

"Take a deep breath before you start any James Dashner book."-Deseret News

From School Library Journal

Grade 6–10—Thomas wakes up in an elevator, remembering nothing but his own name. He emerges into a world of about 60 teen boys who have learned to survive in a completely enclosed environment, subsisting on their own agriculture and supplies from below. A new boy arrives every 30 days. The original group has been in "the glade" for two years, trying to find a way to escape through a maze that surrounds their living space. They have begun to give up hope. Then a comatose girl arrives with a strange note, and their world begins to change. There are some great, fast-paced action scenes, particularly those involving the nightmarish Grievers who plague the boys. Thomas is a likable protagonist who uses the information available to him and his relationships (including his ties to the girl, Teresa) to lead the Gladers. Unfortunately, the question of whether the teens will escape the maze is answered 30 pages before the book ends, and the intervening chapter loses momentum. The epilogue, which would be deliciously creepy coming immediately after the plot resolves, fails to pack a punch as a result. That said, The Maze Runner has a great hook, and fans of dystopian literature, particularly older fans of Jeanne DuPrau's The City of Ember (Random, 2003), will likely enjoy this title and ask for the inevitable sequel.—Kristin Anderson, Columbus Metropolitan Library System, OH END --This text refers to an alternate kindle_edition edition.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

Chapter 1

He began his new life standing up, surrounded by cold darkness and stale, dusty air.
Metal ground against metal; a lurching shudder shook the floor beneath him. He fell down at the sudden movement and shuffled backward on his hands and feet, drops of sweat beading on his forehead despite the cool air. His back struck a hard metal wall; he slid along it until he hit the corner of the room. Sinking to the floor, he pulled his legs up tight against his body, hoping his eyes would soon adjust to the darkness.

With another jolt, the room jerked upward like an old lift in a mine shaft.

Harsh sounds of chains and pulleys, like the workings of an ancient steel factory, echoed through the room, bouncing off the walls with a hollow, tinny whine. The lightless elevator swayed back and forth as it ascended, turning the boy's stomach sour with nausea; a smell like burnt oil invaded his senses, making him feel worse. He wanted to cry, but no tears came; he could only sit there, alone, waiting.

My name is Thomas, he thought.

That... that was the only thing he could remember about his life.

He didn't understand how this could be possible. His mind functioned without flaw, trying to calculate his surroundings and predicament. Knowledge flooded his thoughts, facts and images, memories and details of the world and how it works. He pictured snow on trees, running down a leaf-strewn road, eating a hamburger, the moon casting a pale glow on a grassy meadow, swimming in a lake, a busy city square with hundreds of people bustling about their business.

And yet he didn't know where he came from, or how he'd gotten inside the dark lift, or who his parents were. He didn't even know his last name. Images of people flashed across his mind, but there was no recognition, their faces replaced with haunted smears of color. He couldn't think of one person he knew, or recall a single conversation.

The room continued its ascent, swaying; Thomas grew immune to the ceaseless rattling of the chains that pulled him upward. A long time passed. Minutes stretched into hours, although it was impossible to know for sure because every second seemed an eternity. No. He was smarter than that. Trusting his instincts, he knew he'd been moving for roughly half an hour.

Strangely enough, he felt his fear whisked away like a swarm of gnats caught in the wind, replaced by an intense curiosity. He wanted to know where he was and what was happening.

With a groan and then a clonk, the rising room halted; the sudden change jolted Thomas from his huddled position and threw him across the hard floor. As he scrambled to his feet, he felt the room sway less and less until it finally stilled. Everything fell silent.

A minute passed. Two. He looked in every direction but saw only darkness; he felt along the walls again, searching for a way out. But there was nothing, only the cool metal. He groaned in frustration; his echo amplified through the air, like the haunted moan of death. It faded, and silence returned. He screamed, called for help, pounded on the walls with his fists.

Nothing.

Thomas backed into the corner once again, folded his arms and shivered, and the fear returned. He felt a worrying shudder in his chest, as if his heart wanted to escape, to flee his body.

"Someone... help... me!" he screamed; each word ripped his throat raw.

A loud clank rang out above him and he sucked in a startled breath as he looked up. A straight line of light appeared across the ceiling of the room, and Thomas watched as it expanded. A heavy grating sound revealed double sliding doors being forced open. After so long in darkness, the light stabbed his eyes; he looked away, covering his face with both hands.

He heard noises above--voices--and fear squeezed his chest.

"Look at that shank."

"How old is he?"

"Looks like a klunk in a T-shirt."

"You're the klunk, shuck-face."

"Dude, it smells like feet down there!"

"Hope you enjoyed the one-way trip, Greenie."

"Ain't no ticket back, bro."

Thomas was hit with a wave of confusion, blistered with panic. The voices were odd, tinged with echo; some of the words were completely foreign--others felt familiar. He willed his eyes to adjust as he squinted toward the light and those speaking. At first he could see only shifting shadows, but they soon turned into the shapes of bodies--people bending over the hole in the ceiling, looking down at him, pointing.

And then, as if the lens of a camera had sharpened its focus, the faces cleared. They were boys, all of them--some young, some older. Thomas didn't know what he'd expected, but seeing those faces puzzled him. They were just teenagers. Kids. Some of his fear melted away, but not enough to calm his racing heart.

Someone lowered a rope from above, the end of it tied into a big loop. Thomas hesitated, then stepped into it with his right foot and clutched the rope as he was yanked toward the sky. Hands reached down, lots of hands, grabbing him by his clothes, pulling him up. The world seemed to spin, a swirling mist of faces and color and light. A storm of emotions wrenched his gut, twisted and pulled; he wanted to scream, cry, throw up. The chorus of voices had grown silent, but someone spoke as they yanked him over the sharp edge of the dark box. And Thomas knew he'd never forget the words.

"Nice to meet ya, shank," the boy said. "Welcome to the Glade." --This text refers to an alternate kindle_edition edition.

Review

Praise for the Maze Runner series:
A #1 New York Times Bestselling Series
A USA Today Bestseller
A Kirkus Reviews Best Teen Book of the Year
An ALA-YASLA Best Fiction for Young Adults Book
An ALA-YALSA Quick Pick

"[A] mysterious survival saga that passionate fans describe as a fusion of Lord of the Flies, The Hunger Games, and Lost."—EW

“Wonderful action writing—fast-paced…but smart and well observed.”—Newsday

“[A] nail-biting must-read.”—Seventeen

“Breathless, cinematic action.”—Publishers Weekly

“Heart pounding to the very last moment.”—Kirkus Reviews

“Exclamation-worthy.”—Romantic Times

[STAR] “James Dashner’s illuminating prequel [The Kill Order] will thrill fans of this Maze Runner [series] and prove just as exciting for readers new to the series.”—Shelf Awareness, Starred

"Take a deep breath before you start any James Dashner book."-Deseret News --This text refers to an alternate kindle_edition edition.

From AudioFile

The first of a projected sci-fi trilogy introduces listeners to a teenage boy who has been dropped into a mysterious "glade"--a walled-in field surrounded by a treacherous maze--with no memory of his life before his arrival. Actor Mark Deakins gives a compellingly subdued reading of this unsettling blend of LORD OF THE FLIES, ENDER'S GAME, and television's LOST. Deakins projects a real sense of uncertainty as he tells the story of Thomas, a boy who yearns to solve the mystery of the maze and find his way back to a home he can't remember. Deakins helps the listener navigate the maze of new terms, a slang invented by Dashner for the story. The result is an adventure that is thrilling and irresistible. S.E.S. © AudioFile 2010, Portland, Maine --This text refers to an alternate kindle_edition edition.

About the Author

James Dashner is the author of the #1 New York Times bestselling Maze Runner series: The Maze Runner, The Scorch Trials, The Death Cure, and The Kill Order, as well as The Eye of Minds and The Rule of Thoughts, the first two books in the Mortality Doctrine series. Dashner was born and raised in Georgia, but now lives and writes in the Rocky Mountains. To learn more about James and his books, visit JamesDashner.com, follow @jamesdashner on Twitter, and find dashnerjames on Instagram.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product details

ASIN ‏ : ‎ B002QE3CTY
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Delacorte Press (September 25, 2009)
Publication date ‏ : ‎ September 25, 2009
Language ‏ : ‎ English
File size ‏ : ‎ 9404 KB
Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Print length ‏ : ‎ 386 pages
Page numbers source ISBN ‏ : ‎ 0385737947
Lending ‏ : ‎ Enabled

Best Sellers Rank: #22,656 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
- #5 in Children's Dystopian Sci-Fi Books
- #9 in Children's Scary Stories
- #14 in Teen & Young Adult Fiction on Boys' & Men's Issues (Kindle Store)

Customer Reviews:
15,366 ratings

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James Dashner

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James Dashner is the #1 NY Times Bestselling author of over a dozen books, including The Maze Runner series (movies by 20th Century Fox, now owned by Disney). He grew up in Georgia but now lives in the Rocky Mountains with his wife and their four children. For more information on him and his books, events, etc., please visit jamesdashner.com.

Customer reviews

5 star		72%
4 star		18%
3 star		6%
2 star		2%
1 star		2%

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Top reviews from the United States

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William E Kaufman

Do NOT let a child read this.

Reviewed in the United States on February 5, 2019

Verified Purchase

This is a horror book filled with nastiness, lack of empathy, and most revoltingly, the idea that it's reasonable and morally correct to torture and kill children in the name of possibly saving the human race. I forced myself to finish it to see if the ending had any redeeming qualities---it does not. A "teaser" for the second book begins with a brother and sister kidnapped after watching the murder of their parents. Apparently many adults, including respected reviewers, can maintain enough emotional distance to enjoy this sort of thing, but I am not one of them. And I certainly do not regard this as appropriate for children, or even teenagers.

218 people found this helpful

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TeresaTop Contributor: Fantasy Books

Amazing

Reviewed in the United States on April 5, 2015

Verified Purchase

So recently I decided I wanted to try out audiobooks for my commute to and from work, and The Maze Runner was the first audiobook I decided to try. I had been meaning to get to this series for a while now and I figured this was the perfect excuse. I am so glad I finally got to this book because it was sooooo good! I loved it and I was addicted and I found myself listening at every single chance I could.

I am seriously kicking myself for waiting so long to get to this book. Beginning to end, this book just grabs you. It has been so long since I have read a dystopian that I really enjoyed but The Maze Runner changed that. The world is dangerous and crazy and kinda scary. The characters are both realistic and likable and the way they interact is so relatable and real. I loved the dynamics of the group and the dialogue.

Our main character Thomas is great and I really enjoyed his perspective. I love the way he took charge of every situation he found himself in and refused to give up. He asked questions and analyzed everything. He was brave and he fought but at the same time he was scared. He wasn’t just this fearless kid who was thrown into a crazy situation and then all of a sudden because awesome. No, he was awesome in spite of being afraid and lost and really having no clue what to do. That is what makes Thomas special.

I also loved the secondary characters: Newt, Teresa, Chuck, and Minho. I have a real soft spot for Teresa, mostly because she has an awesome name, but also because she seems like such a strong character and I feel like I am really going to love her as the story progresses. Chuck I loved even if he could be a bit annoying. And then I really like Newt and Minho and how they kept the other Gladers strong.

I really loved how this story was pulled apart piece by piece. That as a reader you don’t have any more information other than what Thomas has. Discovering everything and watching all the pieces come together was a great ride for the reader.

Now while I don’t have much comparison for it, I really enjoyed the narrator for The Maze Runner. I was able to distinguish between characters well and I never felt myself fall into a lull as he was reading.

All in all, I am really glad I finally made time for The Maze Runner. This is an awesome book and I cannot wait to get to The Scorch Trials.

19 people found this helpful

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Lisa Eledge

Thrilling, Adventurous and Quite interesting

Reviewed in the United States on September 1, 2014

Verified Purchase

I really enjoyed this book, it was very exciting and definitely kept you at the edge of your seat! The characters are well defined as well as the scenery that surrounds them. The book starts out with Thomas coming up a shaft known as "The Box" into a place known as the Glade. He doesn't know anything about his past, except his name. When he brought up he is met by a bunch of teenage kids, ranging from 12-18, all boys. They use odd terminology that make no sense to him. Some are rude and glare at him, while others are welcoming and friendly. He is lost, confused and doesn't know how or why he has been placed in this odd place. He eventually finds out that they are surrounded by a maze that seems to be unbeatable and are always fighting for their lives because of the Grievers.

Everything changes once Thomas arrives at the Glade and there are some who are for him and some who are against him. He is constantly being accused of being a spy for "The Creators" and always feels alone, until Teresa shows up. This is the first time the creators have ever sent more than one person a month and all of the Once she shows up everything is thrown into a whirlwind of chaos, especially with the ominous note from the creators. What they don't realize is the note speaks more truths then they are willing to admit. Pretty soon they will all have to face their biggest fears or there will be no one left to tell their story.

Overall, I found the book interesting and fast paced. The terminology was a bit odd and I found myself a little annoyed. It kind of made them sound like a bunch of uneducated children, even though they were supposed to be the smartest kids around. It didn't take away from the book though and I still enjoyed it.

One person found this helpful

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Yashira Marie

What a great read. I loved the craziness of this world

Reviewed in the United States on January 30, 2015

Verified Purchase

What a great read. I loved the craziness of this world. I mean mazes, walls that move, monsters called grievers, runners trying to solve the maze, not remembering anything, the changings. I was just in awe, I was so into it. I liked the writing style, it was easy, good flow, wasn't confusing. Although everything that happens was pretty much a mystery to me, you get all your questions answered little by little, in the best of ways in my opinion. I enjoyed the concept of how they all have built a community, groups for different jobs, everything in order, so that it all functions and no chaos ensues. I loved Thomas and Chuck, they were my favorites characters, especially Chuck. He was like a little brother to Thomas and I loved that he helped him so much through the entire story no matter what. I also liked Minho, Newt and Theresa. The only reason I knocked a little off my rating was that the characters weren't as developed as much, I didn't know that much about them. But it makes sense since none of them remembered anything about themselves. But I'm hoping we get more development as the series continues. I just love how amazing this adventure was. I even enjoyed the movie, although some things were different from the book, it was still amazing. It brought to life the whole maze, and even the grievers which were close to how I had imagined them. I have already purchased The Scorch Trials, The Death Cure, & The Kill Order and will be reading them soon. Excited and hoping for a good ending.... Crosses fingers.

One person found this helpful

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Top reviews from other countries

hibbzie.

The Maze Runner by James Dashner (as always no spoilers)

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 28, 2020

Verified Purchase

This was the first book by James Dashner that i have read and it will not be the last.

Thomas Wakes up in an elevator with no memory other than his name, when the elevator doors finally open he finds himself among many other teenagers in a vast glade.

The glade is at the centre of a massive maze hundreds of feet high and made of stone, the other teens (known as gladers) have been trying to escape through the maze for two years without ANY success, for inside the maze are horrors that i won't describe here. You will have to read this excellent book to understand what i mean.

This novel is supposed to be for teenage readers, i am 52 years old and i really enjoyed it. I give it a very well deserved 5 stars.

15 people found this helpful

vivette

Enjoyable thriller.

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 4, 2018

Verified Purchase

This story was captivating and held my interest throughout. Compared to other teenage dystopian novels, this is in my top ten. It would especially appeal to young adults who enjoy stories with peril, murder and mystery with a measure of science fiction. I, however was touched by the element of humanity that ran through the story. Highly recommended.

11 people found this helpful

Beatrice Joy

OK, but could have been done much better.

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 18, 2020

Verified Purchase

I saw the movie first and then read the three books in the series. Although I sort of enjoyed the books, they are quite different from the movie and the movie is way, way better. The idea is great, but poorly worked out: characters are shallow and do not seem to have logical conversations. They talk endlessly when things are on the verge of bursting. They react illogically given the dire situations at hand; not natural. Also quite a lot of repetition with all the beasties that appear from everywhere and one beastie simply being a variation on the previous beastie. Language constructs are poor and very simple. The author did unfortunately not exploit a great theme and I therefore gave it only a three star rating.

2 people found this helpful

D Calvert

A confusing but enjoyable start to the series

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 27, 2014

Verified Purchase

Read the full review at: http://polkadotbookblog.blogspot.com/2014/06/the-maze-runner.html

When I started this book, I was extremely excited because I had heard good things about it and was told that if I was a fan of the hunger games then this book would be right up my street. I was imagining it to be an amazing dystopian book that would have me gripped from page one. But after the first 100 pages I realised that I had too high expectations and unfortunately it was not looking up to it. Which is why this book has me so conflicted on what to rate it because at some points I love it and at others I don't.

Yet there are still many things that I did like about this book. I liked the mystery and the concept that surrounds the series. But then I didn't like how drawn out it was in the first part. I felt that there wasn't any important action happening until the middle-end of the book, so I was constantly urging myself to keep at it.

The second half of the book is when I started to really enjoy it. I started to get the gripped feeling, where you cannot put the book down because you just had to know what happens. The pace became fast moving and the mystery and action started to get bigger and better, which was not seen in the first part. I just loved the twist at the end. I did not expect it and it is all this that making me what to continue on with the series.

Another thing I did like was some of the characters, not all of them but some. Some characters I absolutely adored (Chuck and Newt) but others I was just so uninterested in. I just felt that I had no clue as to what was happening so I couldn't connect with the characters like I wanted to. Yet I loved the subtle loyalty and friendship Newt offered and the vulnerability of Chuck, that just made me what to kiss them and cheer at the little things they did.

Overall, as a book there were so many things that had me going back and forth on whether I loved it or hated it. I loved the plot, the pacing of the second half of the book and some of the characters. But then I hated the pacing at the beginning of the book and was completely confused as to what was going on due to the writing style and confusion the characters themselves were going through. This is ultimately why the rating is 3.5, because what I loved about the book happened in the second half. While at the beginning I was constantly urging myself to just stick with it and not give up, at the end I just couldn't put it down and was thoroughly gripped.

8 people found this helpful

Sascha

Can’t wait for the next car journey

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 19, 2020

Verified Purchase

My 2 boys are a bit young for this but the swear words are edited to the scene so aren’t as obvious! They really enjoy the accents and story and love getting in the car to go to school every morning! Not sure what we’ll do when we’ve finished the set!

One person found this helpful

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