The Maze Runner

The Maze Runner, #1

by James Dashner

Hardcover, 384 pages

English language

Published Oct. 6, 2009 by Delacorte Press.

ISBN:: 978-0-385-73794-4
ASIN:: 0385737947
Goodreads:: 6186357

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(112 reviews)

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 the Glade 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.

19 editions

jvt038 reviewed The Maze Runner by James Dashner (The Maze Runner, #1)

Review of 'The maze runner' on 'Goodreads'

5 stars

The story begins with Thomas, waking up in the elevator, or "the Box" as "the Gladers" call it.
Thomas finds out he's stuck in some sort of floating prison. The only way out is through a huge maze, which changes every night.
The emotions and thoughts of the characters are described very well.
As reader, I get fully immersed into the story and the plot is well structured too.
The mysterious background story is also very interesting and it's clear the author doesn't want to spoil everything, which only amplifies my curiosity as the reader.
I recommend this book to anyone who likes dystopia stories, such as the hunger games and divergent.

doug reviewed The Maze Runner by James Dashner (The Maze Runner, #1)

Review of 'The maze runner' on 'Goodreads'

1 star

This is more like a book written BY a 12 year-old than FOR a 12 year-old. The writing is just short of terrible, the dialogue is painful, the pacing is unnecessarily drawn out, and the characters are uninteresting.
For the plot and what happens, this should be a short story, or a novella at most.

nikmahie reviewed Maze Runner by James Dashner

Review of 'Maze Runner' on 'Goodreads'

3 stars

Interesting story, but so slow... I've read so many times that he 'wanted to become a runner but he didn't know why' or that 'nobody gave him answers' or that 'nobody wanted to stay outside' or that 'he knew her but doesn't know from where'. This book could have been half the size and still tell the same story...

But, it's interesting. And I do look forward to the next book to see where this is going.

Cheri reviewed The Maze Runner by James Dashner (The Maze Runner, #1)

Review of 'The Maze Runner' on 'Storygraph'

3 stars

Meh. It was fine. I enjoyed listening to it with my kid but it's not something I would have finished if it were just me. We'll be listening to the second one in the near future.

hwebb reviewed The Maze Runner by James Dashner (The Maze Runner, #1)

Review of 'The maze runner' on 'Goodreads'

2 stars

The dialogue is poor, and the story is derivative, but it was enough to hold my interest.

govmarley reviewed The Maze Runner by James Dashner (The Maze Runner, #1)

Review of 'The maze runner' on 'Goodreads'

3 stars

This book took me some time to get into. I think it was a combination of stupid vernacular and lack of character development. You want explanations? You won't get them here. The author tries overly hard to keep you as in the dark about what is happening in the Glade as Thomas. Drop me in a place where I have no clue who I am, where I am, or why I am there, and you had better believe I would be demanding answers. Not so with Thomas. He just blindly accepts his fate for the most part, and doesn't push when no one seems to tell him what is going on.

That aside, I like the concept of the Maze Runner, and I am interested enough to read the next book in the series when I can find it for cheap, and will most likely take the kids to see …

anka.trini reviewed The Maze Runner by James Dashner (The Maze Runner, #1)

Review of 'The Maze Runner' on 'Goodreads'

4 stars

"The Maze Runner" ist eine SciFi-Dystopie, die irgendwie anders ist als der ganze Rest. Das liegt wahrscheinlich daran, dass es hier kein unnötiges Liebesgedusel gibt. Stattdessen stehen Freundschaft und Mut im Vordergrund. Außerdem ist das Buch unfassbar spannend, weshalb man es nicht am Abend anfangen sollte, weil man sich sonst schon mal auf eine schlaflose Nacht einstellen kann. Der Cliffhanger am Ende (so viel darf ich verraten) ist ein echter WTF-Moment und ein weiterer Pluspunkt, der Lust auf mehr macht! P.S. Ich habe zu dem Buch wegen des Films gegriffen und diesen auch schon im Kino angeschaut. Leider kann ich nur sagen, dass Fans des Buches wohl eher auf den Film verzichten sollten, weil er ziemlich enttäuschend ist. Aber eine Freundin von mir, die das Buch nicht gelesen hatte, fand den Film gut. Ist aber ja meistens so bei Buchverfilmungen...

Yashima reviewed The Maze Runner by James Dashner (The Maze Runner, #1)

Review of 'The maze runner' on 'Goodreads'

3 stars

I am surprised at myself that I didn't like this book more. First the good: the pacing of the try fail cycles and the problems building of up more and more worked really well for me. I finished the book quickly but not as quick as other YA books. At the start I also enjoyed the premise of the boys caught in the glade.

What I did not enjoy so much is that much of the characterization fell flat for me and the inner life of the protagonist was more often simply told instead of shown. Also there were no major reveals that surprised me. Information trickles out slowly mostly through the device of people recovering some memories, which just screams "plot device" at me.

And why is it only boys? Aren't girls up to the task?

The end may be ok for people who are going on to read …

Rainer reviewed The Maze Runner by James Dashner (The Maze Runner, #1)

Review of 'The maze runner' on 'Goodreads'

4 stars

This was an entertaining book that was easy to move through and still very captivating. Helped pass the time on a long road trip and momentarily took my mind off of the loss of a family member. Somewhat predictable at times, but for the most part it left the reader just as much in the dark as the characters themselves. Can't wait to move on to the sequel.

cthulhu reviewed The Maze Runner by James Dashner (The Maze Runner, #1)

Review of 'The maze runner' on 'Goodreads'

4 stars

Fun little read. The second half of the book was stronger than the first half (once we got past all of the what/where/why am I in a maze confusion).

patchworkbunny reviewed The Maze Runner by James Dashner

Review of 'The Maze Runner' on 'Goodreads'

No rating

DNF - 140 pages read

This sounded so good from the blurb but just didn’t deliver for me. I fear it’s a bit of a boy book. The characters didn’t rouse any empathy in me and the prose was a bit bland. The bad things in the maze weren't described in a way that made them scary or sinister and it's lacking in tension. The world is rather intriguing and younger readers will probably enjoy the action and story elements. Other than wanting to know what the maze is (I have a theory), there’s nothing to keep me reading and I bet you have to read the whole trilogy to get all the answers. I have other books I’d rather be reading!

Just when I was wondering where all the girls were, one did crop up. I am not averse to a book without female characters but I do feel …

Nikita reviewed The Maze Runner by James Dashner (The Maze Runner, #1)

Review of 'The maze runner' on 'Goodreads'

2 stars

This book started off well and pulled me in quickly. I wanted to learn more. More about the maze, more about why they were there. More about everything. I could barely put the book down. But by the last quarter of the book, I didn't care anymore. I got tired of everyone telling Thomas, the main character, that it couldn't be done, and him ignoring everyone and doing it anyway and succeeding.

Another thing that bugged me, A LOT, the over use of the word "breaths". Every time someone was running or scared, their "breaths" were quick, or ragged or whatever. It sounded wrong every time I read it and I lost count how many times I did. Maybe a different description could have been used after the fifth time.

I don't think I will be reading the rest of the books in the series, especially, since the second book …

dankeller reviewed The Maze Runner by James Dashner (The Maze Runner, #1)

Review of 'The maze runner' on 'Goodreads'

4 stars

Definitely a page turner, although a bit predictable. Read it for the Battle of the Books here at my middle school! Now I just have to think of some good questions to write...