The Maze Runner (series)

The Maze Runner

2009 edition cover of the first book
Author James Dashner
Cover artist Philip Straub
Country United States
Language English
Genre Adventure
Science fiction
Dystopian
Young adult fiction
Publisher Delacorte Press
Published 2009–present
Media type Print (hardcover and paperback), audiobook, e-book

The Maze Runner series is a series of young adult science fiction adventure novels written by American author James Dashner.[1][2] The series consists of The Maze Runner (2009), The Scorch Trials (2010), and The Death Cure (2011), as well as the two prequel novels The Kill Order (2012), and The Fever Code (2016) and a companion book titled The Maze Runner Files (2013).[1]

The series, revealing details in non-chronological order, tells how the world was devastated by a series of massive solar flares and coronal mass ejections. The scorched planet can no longer cultivate enough food for the survivors, so authorities engineer a virus (the Flare) as a form of population control, believing it kills quickly and will stop spreading after a while. When the Flare escalates beyond control, killing many but turning others into mindless Cranks capable of further spreading the Flare, the remaining authorities create WICKED to try and find a cure. WICKED soon realizes that some children and newborns are Immunes, performing a "Swipe" of their memories and experimenting on them to find a cure. WICKED eventually understands that there is no cure and the world will crumble, focusing their final efforts on giving a settlement of Immunes their memories and all remaining resources to rebuild society and restore the human race.

Books

The Maze Runner

Main article: The Maze Runner

The Maze Runner is the first book in the series and was released on October 6th, 2009.

A number of teenagers, who call themselves "The Gladers", are left in a strange place which they call "The Glade". Beyond the walls of the Glade is the ever-changing maze, with its horrifying creatures, the Grievers. Every month a newcomer, or greenie, joins the Gladers, sent by a lift with all past memories (except language and other common things) wiped out. The only thing that they really do remember is their name. The ultimate goal of the remaining Gladers, is to find a way out of the Glade. To do so, the runners venture into the maze everyday, to map it in an attempt to find a pattern in the maze that would lead them to find an exit. When Thomas, a curious newcomer, arrives at the Glade and ventures into the maze, unusual things begin to happen.

The Scorch Trials

Main article: The Scorch Trials

The Scorch Trials is the second book in the series and was released on September 18, 2010.

The Gladers thought that getting through the maze was it; except they did not know that their world was scorched by the sun. The Gladers did not know that they would have to fight for their lives another time. Burning and naked, the earth is a wasteland, its people driven mad by an infection known as the Flare. Instead of freedom, the Gladers must face another trial. They must survive the scorch trials to find their happy ending.

The Death Cure

Main article: The Death Cure

The Death Cure is the third book in the series and was released on October 11, 2011.

The Kill Order

Main article: The Kill Order

The Kill Order is the fourth book in the series and was released on August 14, 2012. It is the first prequel in series, telling the events before The Maze Runner and The Fever Code. It is followed by The Fever Code.

Series

Of the novel, Dashner stated that he wanted to expand the world but not focus on the main characters of the main Maze Runner trilogy.[3] He also stated that he had originally planned to write a prequel for the series, but that the plans did not become official until he had completed the third book in the trilogy.[4]

The Fever Code

Main article: The Fever Code

The Fever Code was released on September 27, 2016. It is the second prequel in the series and the fifth installment overall, preceded by The Kill Order and followed by The Maze Runner.

Summary

In the prologue, it is revealed that Newt had a sister named Lizzy and that his parents were killed as WICKED wanted to bring in Lizzy. But they brought in Newt to test his killzone as he was not immune.

They then skip to the part where we are introduced to Stephen, who is renamed as Thomas by WICKED. Thomas was only five years old, and had never met any other kid his age, until four years later, under the care of WICKED, he met Teresa. They soon meet the others and Newt reveals that his sister had been renamed as Sonya and is a part of Group B. Newt, Minho, Alby , Thomas and Teresa then start exploring the complex everyday. The three (Newt, Minho, and Alby) took Thomas and the girl into the outside world, only to be caught and thrown into the Crank pits(except for Newt, who was taken to be tested for the virus, since he was not immune), where they encounter the founder of WICKED, who was nearly past his sanity.

The experience really got through the kids. They didn’t have any of their secret meeting in the maintenance room for quite a while, but then Teresa managed to hack WICKED’s security systems and allow the friends to meet.Teresa and Thomas along with Aris and Rachel are then recruited to build the maze. On one of their meetings, Thomas and Teresa stumbled upon Charles, who became the little brother that they never had, and was nicknamed Chuck. Pretty soon, the secret meetings was back in business. But Minho was planning something big- Escaping WICKED. Hating the fact that they were treated like lab mice, Minho allied with Gally to form a plan, though no one agreed to leave.

The day after WICKED found out that Minho tried to escaped, in front of Thomas, they unleashed the Griever on Minho, to show him that anyone who tries to escape, and get caught would be harshly punished. But also, they are still working on the Griever itself, using this as a chance to test its mechanics. After the horrifying experience(yet again), Thomas went back and directed all his attention to building the Maze. Shortly, the Maze was complete. Which means-his best, and only friends are going to get sent in. Into the labyrinth that he himself built. Right before they were sent in, Thomas went to say his goodbyes. His friends interrogated him with questions of why only THEY are going in, and not him. Not being able to answer truthfully about the Maze being his project and all only made his friends more suspicious. Finally, after all the guilt, he was about to open up, only to get controlled by WICKED (although he didn’t know at the time) and making his friends hate him more. But Chuck does not go with the first batch and for a long time Chuck, Thomas and Teresa remain friends.

Thomas observes his friends in the glade through the beetle blade and it is revealed how Newt got a limp and why the Grievers started stinging the Gladers. And how the first few serums were unsuccessful in healing the injured Gladers.

Randall, one of the officials, is found outside the WICKED complex.Dr. Paige then summons Teresa and Thomas and reveals that she suspects some people at WICKED have the flare, so she sends Thomas, Teresa, Aris, and Rachel to kill them. Then we are introduced to Jorge and Brenda, who indirectly reveal that the Gladers will have to go through the Scorch. And Thomas now feels that a cure would never be possible. He believes he can rescue his friends and run away. Later, Thomas comes up with an idea, along with Teresa, to insert the elite candidates into the maze with their memories intact so they can rescue the gladers. They inform this plant to Paige without telling her about the rescuing-part. Dr. Paige approves this plan, but tricks Thomas and explains how it was her idea to give WICKED staff the flare because they wanted to end experimenting after the maze trials and she didn't. Dr. Paige reveals that she will be erasing his memory by the Swipe. And Thomas believes that Paige has betrayed him and Teresa. Thomas's emotions are then shown as he sees his memories being erased.

In the epilogue, however, it is revealed in a letter that Paige declares Aris and Teresa to be the final candidates. Also another letter by Teresa shows that she knew they would be doing this to Thomas. However her memories would be intact and she would be reporting information to WICKED from the Glade like Thomas had suggested. She believed in WICKED and she would enter with 'WICKED is good' written on her arm. She believed her friends would one day thank her. Thus in the end we learn that Teresa and Aris had their memories intact. Teresa had mentioned in the 'Scorch Trials' that she could communicate with Aris and it is revealed that it was WICKED's plan as Teresa and Aris had their memories all the time.

Companion book

The Maze Runner Files

The Maze Runner Files is a companion book to The Maze Runner series. It was released on January 1, 2013 in e-book form. It is 50 pages long. The book is divided into three parts: Confidential Files, Recovered Correspondence, and Suppressed Memories.

It contains information about the Flare, WICKED and some of the Gladers. It also reveals events such as Thomas and Teresa's first conversation, Minho's Phase Three Trial, Frypan's past, e-mails between WICKED correspondents, and more.

Main characters

  • Thomas (books 1-3, minor appearances in book 4, 5) was a Glader and one of the creators of The Maze along with Teresa Agnes. He is the main protagonist of the series, named after Thomas Edison. Thomas's real name before being taken by WICKED was Stephen.[5]
  • Teresa Agnes (books 1-4, appears in book 4 as Deedee before her name is changed, 5) was a Glader and a creator of the Maze with Thomas. She was named after Mother Teresa.
  • Minho (books 1-3, 5) is a former Glader and Keeper of the Runners.
  • Newt (books 1-3, 5) was a Glader and Alby's Second-in-command. He has a heavy limp from attempting suicide when he was a Runner. Newt was named after Sir Isaac Newton.
  • Gally (books 1, 3, 5) was a Glader who was Thomas's first enemy in the Glade. He serves as the main antagonist of the first book. Gally was named after Galileo.
  • Alby (book 1, 5) was the first-in-command and leader of the Gladers. He is named after Albert Einstein.
  • Chuck, (book 1, mentioned in 2 and 3, 5) Chuck was a Glader who befriended Thomas in the Maze. He was Thomas' best friend. He was named after Charles Darwin.
  • Frypan, (books 1-3) Frypan is the former Keeper of the Cooks. He is named after Sigmund Freud. He was originally named Toby before being taken by WICKED.
  • Winston (books 1-2) was a Glader and the Keeper of the Slicers.
  • Chancellor Ava Paige (books 1-3, 5) is the highest-ranking official of WICKED. She initially opposed the use of Immunes for the Trials and also was one of the two people to oppose Thomas' death. All epilogues of the three books consist of an email written by Chancellor Paige to her associates.
  • Assistant Director Janson (books 2-3) also referred to as Rat Man, was the highest-ranking official in the organization WICKED under Chancellor Paige.
  • Jorge Gallaparga (books 2-3, 5) was a pilot for WICKED. He became a leader of a group of Cranks residing in the Scorch after .
  • Brenda (books 2-3, 5) is a character that the Gladers assumed to be a Crank. Eventually, it is discovered that she is part of the group of Immunes.
  • Aris Jones (books 2-3, 5) was the only male member of a group of female teenagers called Group B. He was named after Aristotle.
  • Rachel (book 2, 5) was a member of Group B and the best friend of Aris Jones, with whom she had a telepathic connection.
  • Harriet (books 2-3) was one of the leaders of Group B.
  • Sonya (books 2-3) was one of the leaders of Group B along with Harriet, another Group B member, in their Maze. She is the younger sister of Newt.[6]
  • Mark (book 4) is the main protagonist of The Kill Order. He survived the Sun Flares, and escaped to the Appalachians.
  • Alec (book 4) was a veteran and a pilot of the United States Military. He survived the Sun Flares and is one of the protagonists in The Kill Order.
  • Trina (book 4) is one of the protagonists in The Kill Order. She is also the love interest of Mark.
  • Lana (book 4) is a former military nurse and is one of the protagonists who survived the sun flares in The Kill Order.

Critical reception

Book retailer Barnes & Noble included The Maze Runner book as part of its showcasing of new writers for the end of 2009 and the beginning of 2010. Kirkus Reviews wrote, "Hard to put down, this is clearly just a first installment, and it will leave readers dying to find out what comes next".

Jessica Harrison of the Deseret Morning News labeled The Maze Runner as "a thrilling adventurous book for kids ages 13+ that will get readers' hearts pumping and leave them asking for more." She noted that it "starts out a bit slow" but as it matched Thomas's confusion and picked up pace as he became more accustomed, she wrote that "it's almost as if Dashner is easing the reader into what becomes a fast-paced, nonstop action." However, she thought the "only drawback" was the "fictionalized slang" that although it "feels realistic and fits with his characters, it gets old pretty fast. On the plus side, however, it's used so often that the reader almost becomes desensitized and learns to ignore it."

Film adaptations

References

  1. 1 2 Shill, Aaron (November 25, 2009). "'Maze Runner' on 'right track'". Deseret Morning News. Archived from the original on December 19, 2009. Retrieved December 19, 2009.
  2. ↑ Dig, Enric (September 24, 2014). "The Maze Runner 2014 Full Movie Review". Publishers Weekly. Retrieved September 24, 2014.
  3. ↑ Haddock, Sharon (Aug 11, 2012). "'The Kill Order' explains much of the series' story". Deseret News. Retrieved 25 June 2013.
  4. ↑ Young, Terrell (February 7, 2013). "Talking with James Dashner about 'The Kill Order'". Herald Extra. Retrieved 25 June 2013.
  5. ↑ "James Dashner on Twitter".
  6. ↑ "Sugarscape on Twitter".
  7. ↑ Zeitchik, Steven (January 4, 2011). "Young-adult sensation 'The Maze Runner' gets ready to run the movie gantlet (Updated)". The Los Angeles Times. Retrieved February 5, 2012.
  8. ↑ "Maze Runner Movie Set". jamesdashner.com. Retrieved September 12, 2014.
  9. ↑ "The Maze Runner Movie Release Date, News, and Updates: 2 New Clips Released in Anticipation of The Premiere". hallels.com. Retrieved September 12, 2014.
  10. ↑ Busch, Anita (September 21, 2014). "Box Office Sunday: 'Maze Runner' Finds $32.5M; Liam's 'Walk' Limps In; 'Where I Leave You' No. 3". Deadline.com. Retrieved September 21, 2014.
  11. ↑ Maze Runner Official Twitter (October 27, 2014). "Maze Runner: Scorch Trials begins filming". Twitter. Retrieved October 27, 2014.
  12. ↑ Wentz, Brook (January 29, 2015). "'The Maze Runner' sequel 'The Scorch Trials' officially wraps filming". Hypable. Retrieved January 29, 2015.
  13. ↑ Dashner, James (September 21, 2014). "And like that's not cool enough, it's official: THE SCORCH TRIALS movie is coming September 18, 2015. Doesn't this look sweet: #ScorchTrials". Twitter. Retrieved September 25, 2014.
  14. ↑ Busch, Anita (March 4, 2015). "'Maze Runner: The Death Cure' Sets T.S. Nowlin To Pen". Deadline.com. Retrieved March 10, 2015.
  15. ↑ McNary, Dave; Chi, Paul (September 16, 2015). "Wes Ball Returning to Direct Third 'Maze Runner'". Variety. Retrieved September 17, 2015.
  16. ↑ Sciretta, Peter (October 9, 2014). "'The Maze Runner' Finale 'The Death Cure' Won't Be Split Into Two Movies". /Film. Retrieved October 24, 2014.
  17. ↑ Anita Busch (August 29, 2016). "'The Maze Runner: The Death Cure' Will Restart Production In February". Deadline. Retrieved August 30, 2016.
  18. ↑ Ian Bailey (September 4, 2016). "Maze Runner film production leaving B.C. for South Africa". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved September 5, 2016.
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