The Maze Runner: Book One of the Maze Runner Series
THE #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING MAZE RUNNER SERIES • A teenager with no memory must navigate a deadly maze to survive in book one of this post-apocalyptic phenomenon.
“[A] mysterious survival saga that passionate fans describe as a fusion of Lord of the Flies [and] The Hunger Games” (Entertainment Weekly)
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.
Look for more books in the blockbuster Maze Runner series:
THE MAZE RUNNER • THE SCORCH TRIALS • THE DEATH CURE • THE KILL ORDER • THE FEVER CODE
“[A] mysterious survival saga that passionate fans describe as a fusion of Lord of the Flies [and] The Hunger Games” (Entertainment Weekly)
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.
Look for more books in the blockbuster Maze Runner series:
THE MAZE RUNNER • THE SCORCH TRIALS • THE DEATH CURE • THE KILL ORDER • THE FEVER CODE
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Community Reviews
What Bookclubbers are saying about this book
✨ Summarized by Bookclubs AI
Readers say *The Maze Runner* presents a gripping dystopian world centered on a maze-surrounded boys-only society, with a suspenseful, fast-paced plot...
This is the sort of story I "should" really like, but it just didn't really capture me. In part that's due to the all-boy environment, and the way some of the boys react when an unconscious girl appears on the scene (though thankfully they stop being quite so obnoxious once she's conscious).
The "reveal" near the end of who was responsible for sending kids to the glades was also a bit of a letdown, possibly because it just didn't make much sense or wasn't very interesting -- certainly not as interesting as I'd been thinking it would be.
It's possible the story suffered from all the hype around it, which had made me expect something more like The Hunger Games or Divergent. But those stories had much richer, more complex worlds as well as much more engaging characters.
I'm not sure if I'll listen to the next in the series, esp. given how many other young-adult fantasies I have on my list.
The "reveal" near the end of who was responsible for sending kids to the glades was also a bit of a letdown, possibly because it just didn't make much sense or wasn't very interesting -- certainly not as interesting as I'd been thinking it would be.
It's possible the story suffered from all the hype around it, which had made me expect something more like The Hunger Games or Divergent. But those stories had much richer, more complex worlds as well as much more engaging characters.
I'm not sure if I'll listen to the next in the series, esp. given how many other young-adult fantasies I have on my list.
The Maze Runner is high-adrenaline, high-quality entertainment. It's the perfect choice if you're looking for a gripping adventure, full of suspense and with a unique setting. The 4 stars reward its success in creating a claustrophobic atmosphere and a breathless page-turner. The missing star is a warning: don't expect philosophical depth or memorable characters; its purpose is to keep you glued to the pages, and in this it succeeds admirably.
A teen boy, Thomas, awakens to find himself entering a glade filled with other teen boys and surrounded by a maze. Soon after he learns that the boys are captives, spending their lives attempting to escape the maze. The next day a girl arrives (something that has never happened before in the glade), and she carries a message for the boys: Everything is going to change. And so it does...
Thomas is a good boy. He has conviction and strength, even in the face of incredible odds and with the suspicions of the other boys weighing on him. They don't trust him, and since neither Thomas nor the other boys remember their pasts before the maze, Thomas doesn't trust himself. But soon the struggle to find their way out of the maze becomes a priority, and Thomas and the girl seem to be integral pieces in this puzzle.
I enjoyed this story. The more I read from this genre, the more I realize that my favorite areas are dystopian, post-apocalyptic and horror. Fun, fun, fun!
This one wasn't as "fun" as many of them, but still very enjoyable and satisfying and it left me curious to see where book two will pick up. Plus I read this in a week, which is unusual for me. I usually take at least two weeks to read a book. If you like YA dystopian, give this one a try.
Thomas is a good boy. He has conviction and strength, even in the face of incredible odds and with the suspicions of the other boys weighing on him. They don't trust him, and since neither Thomas nor the other boys remember their pasts before the maze, Thomas doesn't trust himself. But soon the struggle to find their way out of the maze becomes a priority, and Thomas and the girl seem to be integral pieces in this puzzle.
I enjoyed this story. The more I read from this genre, the more I realize that my favorite areas are dystopian, post-apocalyptic and horror. Fun, fun, fun!
This one wasn't as "fun" as many of them, but still very enjoyable and satisfying and it left me curious to see where book two will pick up. Plus I read this in a week, which is unusual for me. I usually take at least two weeks to read a book. If you like YA dystopian, give this one a try.
not bad! the idea behind the Maze Runner is good, interesting concept of a boys-only society.. but I wish it would be more developed throughout the first book.
I loved the concept of the labyrinth! I just didn’t enjoy the writing style that much, and I don’t intend to keep on reading the other two books of the series.. (and sorry to say, but hunger games or divergent dystopian worlds are way betterrr)
I loved the concept of the labyrinth! I just didn’t enjoy the writing style that much, and I don’t intend to keep on reading the other two books of the series.. (and sorry to say, but hunger games or divergent dystopian worlds are way betterrr)
This book was pretty decent, but it was one of those rare instances where I actually enjoyed the movie more than the book.
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