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Just like Thomas, the Gladers don’t know why or how they got to the Glade. All they know is that every morning the stone doors to the maze that surrounds them have opened. Every night they’ve closed tight. And every 30 days a new boy has been delivered in the lift.
Thomas was expected. But the next day, a girl is sent up—the first girl to ever arrive in the Glade. And more surprising yet is the message she delivers.
Thomas might be more important than he could ever guess. If only he could unlock the dark secrets buried within his mind.
James Dashner lives and writes in Utah.
From the Hardcover edition.
Welcome, colleagues, to the beginning of the greatest collaborative human effort in the history of our planet. I would not dare suggest that this is a time for excitement. The world has never known such dark times as these, and celebration is far from appropriate. What I would like to establish, however, is that we can feel hope and pride that we are a part of something that is working to save the human race. To succeed, we must hit the ground running.
Those of you in charge of the search parties in the designated Twelve Sectors are to report back to the Council each time a suitable subject is discovered. It is far too early to know what percentage of the population meets our needs, but it has become obvious that the number will be small. We need to test each subject immediately so we can choose Candidates with the greatest potential to last until the very end.
The design team for the Maze will be presenting their latest plans to us tomorrow morning at 0900 hours at command center 1. Building a structure of this sophistication is an ambitious project during the best of times, and given the current state of the world, we anticipate that implementing phase 1 will take the next several years. We will spare no expense to keep the project on track. In a few years we will have our Elite Candidates to help in the final design and building phases.
Tomorrow’s meeting will also devote a segment to the biotech creatures we have manufactured to help us create and fully manage the planned Variables.
Our Psychs and doctors have worked to come up with an action plan. They believe that we can achieve 60 percent of the patterns we need by setting in motion the incidents we have plotted so far. With at least ten years until the project reaches its climax, I think that is an incredible number.
Members of the Council plan to stay in constant communication throughout the entirety of this project, so do feel free to share your thoughts with me or the others on the Council at any time. I am proud to be a part of this great endeavor, along with all of you.
The future has begun.
Hanna_thereckless
Posted January 20, 2010
I absolutely loved The Maze Runner. I first heard about it through an internet ad. It asked, "Like the Hunger Games? Then you should read The Maze Runner." It drew my attention because The Hunger Games is one of my most favorite books. So I started reading the "preview" of The Maze Runner on Barnes and Noble's website. There's something to be said for a book that I couldn't stay away from after the first sentence. I neglected my work and stared at my computer screen, reading. When I reached the end of the preview, I bought the ebook because I had to know what happened. It is a fast paced, action-packed adventure that completely sucks the reader in. From the very first sentence, I was simply dropped into the story; everything is from the main character's point of view. You only see and hear what he sees and hears. It was exciting, and I felt as if I was there.
It is true that the characters could have been more deeply developed; they were certainly lacking in personality depth. Also, The Maze Runner is quite violent in parts: there is death and insanity and truly terrifying monsters. It is part of a new genre of books, all exploring the possible futures of this world. It is not a light read; it will have you up at night. However, if you loved The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins, this is a book that you will enjoy just as much. I definitely recommend it.
73 out of 74 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.The Maze Runner is a sci-fi/dystopian novel at its best. It starts off with Thomas, a boy of about 16, waking up in a metal box with a bunch of teen boys, some older, some younger, staring at him. Thomas comes to learn that he has arrived in the Glade and he is now part of a small, self-contained community of boys. Each boy has his own job and title and for the past two years, the boys have been working to solve the puzzle of the Maze.
Like most of the boys, Thomas is scared upon his arrival, but unlike everyone else, Thomas has a feeling of familiarity with the Glade. When a girl arrives the day after Thomas, it's clear that everything is changing and it seems like Thomas may play a part in that change.
It took me some time to really get into The Maze Runner, but once I did, I was completely hooked. James Dashner is so descriptive and has created such an elaborate story that it is hard not to enjoy. The mystery of the Maze had me so intrigued that I needed to know more. The Gladers, the Maze, the Grievers, it's all so mysterious and unknown that I found myself reading more and more, in an attempt to solve the mystery.
The story is incredibly well-crafted with likable characters and twists and turns galore. There were times when I was nearly screaming because I didn't want the characters to do something and other times I was on the edge of my seat gnawing on my fingernails in anticipation.
One word that can perfectly describe this book is intense. The novel is intense in all respects. It can scare you death, have you laughing, and it even moved me to tears. The ending was entirely unexpected and the last 150 pages or so completely blew me away. The Maze Runner is pure genius and I'm now anxiously awaiting the second book in the series
27 out of 31 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.I picked this up at my local store when it first came out because it looked promising, but I was highly disappointed. First off this book is a drag to read. It didn't hook me at all and I had to force myself to finish it and even then the ending was completely unsatisfying. The story is about a boy named Tohm who wakes up in the middle of "The Glade" with no memories surrounded by other boys. It turns out that "The Glade" is surrounded by a huge maze that changes every night and the boys are trying to find a way out and he is this month's new arrival. It is quickly apparant that someone is watching, and tesing the kids with this maze to see if they can solve the problem. If that isn't enough every night strange creatures come out and kill everyone still in the maze. Throw in the first girl ever showing up after Thom and you have a story that provides more questions than answers and not the kind that keep you guessing, and not in a good way. If you want to read this type of story get The Hunger Games instead it's way better.
14 out of 38 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.brandyMD
Posted February 25, 2010
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This book reminded me very much of The Hunger Games (FANTASTIC book & trilogy!) This is written for teens, however I am an adult and both my 13 year old son and myself have now read it and thought it was hard to put down. This is definitely one where you need to use your brain matter and think of the options involved. You cannot help but feel compassion for the characters and your sense of emotion goes full speed. As my son says, 'you feel like you are right there with them'. (I must say, all of the same can be said for The Hunger Games as well)
Sure hope he gets the next book out sooner than later-it will definitely leave you thinking and ready for the next one ASAP.
14 out of 15 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Balina
Posted August 17, 2011
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The Maze runner is definitely a must read. I have enjoyed reading this book from start to finish.
12 out of 13 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.I loved this book. It made me smile, it made me laugh, but most importantly, it made me think. I found myself thinking through all of the situations with the main characters. It was the last thing i thought about at night, and the first in the morning. This is definately a book that will make you ask yourself, "what if that happemed to me?" This was a great book and i definately reccomemnd it.
10 out of 11 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.chris327
Posted April 29, 2010
I lost an entire day and night to this incredible book. James Dashner's The Maze Runner was truly addicting and an unforgettable read.
Thomas can't remember where he came from, his parents, or his life before the Glade. He finds himself in this bizarre world surrounded by walls and a maze. There are other boys in his situation (think Lord of the Flies) and they have learned to make this place "home." What is even more disturbing is the fact that there are crazy animal-monsters called Grievers that surround the Glade's walls and come out at night with basically one mission: To destroy humans. I'm going to be honest. The Grievers are the stuff of my own personal nightmares. Seriously. I have an irrational fear of needles and I also don't enjoy slugs. at. all. The description of these Grievers included both needles and slugs; needless to say, I vomited in my mouth a little just reading/imagining these volatile creatures.
Anyway, Thomas is learning the ropes and becomes friends Chuck and Minho, who both happen to be my favorite characters. Chuck is just simply endearing. Thomas really wants to be a runner and work with Minho, but he isn't sure why he is drawn to the job. There are various jobs and the way the Glade functioned I thought was pretty interesting. These boys even have their own slang/vernacular (klunk-love it!) as well as laws, which keeps the "order." Everything seems hunky dory- or as normal as possible if you live in a maze- until one day this all changes. A girl, the first girl ever, arrives to the Glade delivering an ominous message. Without giving too much away, the tension increases and their world turns upside down, even more than it already is! Simply stated......Thomas must find a way to survive.
I can't remember the last time that I questioned a book so much as I did while reading this novel. I had SO many questions that I wanted answered, but brilliantly, Dashner was holding out on me, which only increased my suspense. I'm going to get a little nerdy and teacher-eque, but bear with me. I also loved the fact that this book required me to use many comprehension strategies. I would LOVE to discuss this book with my literacy classes, because it really required me to infer, question, synthesize, predict, etc. It was truly a smart read and a puzzle that I was dying to put together. My poor husband, Mike, had to deal with my one million questions. Mike, surprisingly, read this book before me, which usually never happens. He saw the cover, read the synopsis and was hooked. So, it was pretty cool to be able to discuss and question him as I was reading, because Maze Runner is truly a book to be disected and discussed.
This story had me guessing the ENTIRE time, which I think is rare when it comes to young adult novels. Ususally you can figure out the plot at some point, but I was always shocked. Even right up to the end had me guessing. I can't wait for the sequel!
8 out of 11 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Wow. Wow. Wow. Wow. Wow...
The Maze Runner was just amazing.
The book starts out pretty slow, and stays that way for quite awhile. After you get into the book, you can not put it down. It is brilliantly written, and just...fantastic.
In the end, I almost cried out of anger. I can not wait for the sequel. This book was so amazing, but it is leaving me hanging here!
I have no idea why this book only has 4 stars. It is completely deserving of every single one of them! Go ahead, buy the book. It will be worth every penny and be a great addition to your bookshelf. :]
7 out of 9 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.I love reading unique and original stories! And that is exactly how I would describe Maze Runner. I do not know why this book was written for kids. The story was pretty creepy and kind of sent a hopeless message. Plus there was multiple murders and plenty of violence. I will be reading the sequel.
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.caycebean
Posted August 7, 2010
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This book will appeal to fans of lord of the flies as well as the hunger games. a group of boys, and eventually one girl, are stranded somewhere with their memories wiped clean. they struggle to survive, find a balance of power, and more importantly find a way out. i couldn't put this book down! cant wait for the scorch trials!
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Thomas wakes up in a lift with no other memory besides his first name. The lift deposits him in the Glade, a large courtyard surrounded by impossibly high stone walls. The Glade is populated by teenage boys in the same situation as him, they also have no memory. But they have made a life for themselves in this place, their only hope is trying to solve the maze that surrounds the walls. The Maze is a dangerous place, filled with terrifying half-machine/half-slug monsters that exist solely to sting the boys, thereby posioning them with a deadly toxin. The day after Thomas arrives in the Glade, something unexpected happens. A comatose girl is delivered into the maze, and she has a message: She's the last one. Ever.. The boys know everything is going to change, and Thomas just might have some answers.
I am a little disappointed. With all the raving reviews and awesome premise, I expected it to be much better. It just wasn't that thrilling for me, and the plot wore thin. Most of the book was based of off someone conviently remembering stuff. And the action wasn't tense enough. I always knew Thomas was going to end up all right. I was especially disappointed in Thomas's first night in the maze. It had the opportunity to be absolutely terrifying, but by then all the terror of the Grievers had vanished, and the whole scene seemded to make up two hours at the most, and not an entire night.
The ending was very good though, and very suspenseful. I was completely absorbed in those last few chapters, and even turned down ice cream in order to finish.
The writing and characters were simple. The writing was typical actiony fare. Thomas was a bit of a Gary Stu, with no real faults. Chuck was great though.....I'm sad now.
So anyway, it was good. Not great, but good. I am anxiously waiting for the sequel, and hope the books get better.
3 out of 4 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.imawesome
Posted July 10, 2010
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this was defanetly the best book ive ever read. im 13 and loved. wen i read it ther wasnt a second book and now my mom wont let me buy it till ive finished this other book for school.im so mad at her rite now. this book will always be on my mind. it was well wriiten. i actually hated sify books till i read this one. my fav writter is now jame dashner. this book was so emotional. sometimes i was scared others i was happy others i was crying. the book was so good i read it in 1 day. i stayed up all night 2 finish it. y mom was so mad but all i could think about was when will the next book come out. loved this book and would recomend it for anyone 10 and up no one any younger for it may frighten them. loved the book and hope you will 2.
3 out of 5 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.I decided to read this book because it was recommended by a B&N worker and because it sounded very interesting. However, I couldn't stand the POV from which it was written from. You do want to know more and more as the story goes on. I have mixed feeling about the ending, but it definitely left it open for the story to continue. Overall, I didn't feel much emotion, it didn't convince me that this could be real.it was just a story. I liked the atmosphere "The Glad" had, the slang, and how they survived; also I did laugh a bit, and feel a bit sad, but I really didn't feel it like I do with most fantasy novels. I think I will read the next one if it becomes a series, just for fun.
3 out of 4 people found this review helpful.
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Posted May 7, 2010
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I used to be the biggest fan of Harry Potter and Twilight, but when I read this book, they paled in comparison. It's my new favorite! I read it in three days (short for me), but now I really wish I had savored it. It really catches you from the first line, and endless twists and surprises keep you guessing and YEARNING for the sequel!
3 out of 5 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.This book keeped me on the edge the whole time. I never put it down and after I as done I didn't want to put it down. When I read the last word I was like "Wow!". I know there will be another book and I can't wait to find out what the cover looks like and when it will be coming out, because when it does I will be the first to buy it! Thomas is an amazing boy and Teresa is awesome, as well. They fought until the end and that's what shocked me so much, with all the chacos and deaths it really did amazes me. Minho, Chuck, and Newt have to be my favorite people in the books. Minho with his funny words and amazing power just really was amazing and Chuck, for a kid so young he probably was the strongest person out of all of them. Newt was more of a leader then anyone really in the books and really funny as well. Ably shocked me and kind of made me sad, I really liked him a lot, too. So if you like the Hunger Games then you should really really get this book like now! This is worth every penny, trust me. Cause I am just like Thomas, I don't lie.
3 out of 5 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.This was an amazing book! Packed with excitement and suspense around every corner, "The Maze Runner" was a fast-paced novel that will have you holding your breath until the very end! Dashner did a great job with this one; he is an author who is sure to have you captivated from the first page to the last! This book follows a sixteen year old boy named Thomas. He is faced with something that no one should have to be put up against. Do not miss out on this adventure. It is the chance into a world you never knew existed...
3 out of 4 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.It was a little hard to get into at first, but when I did I found it enjoyable. There were a few moments when I would wish it would just get to the point, and then moments when I wish it would've slowed down a bit and explained more. But other than that, I think this has promise to be a good series that will make a nice edition to my bookshelves, and I would definitely buy the next book. I almost screamed when I read the epilogue; I really want to know what happens next!! I give it four stars, because there a few things that couldve been done better, but I think it holds a lot of potential to grow :)
3 out of 4 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted December 30, 2011
Ive read alot of the books in this new sub-genre of science fiction, so when i heard that this was "better than the hunger games" and "expanding the genre further" i was a bit skeptical. I took a chance with this one and i have to say that its very good. The plot follows a boy named thomas who wakes up in a mysterious place called the glade. He has no memory of his life before the maze or how he got there, all he can remeber is his name. There are many other boys there like him. They are all trying to try and escape the area surrounding the glade which is a gigantic maze. Just a day after thomas arrives in the glade a girl shows up. The first girl ever to appear in the glade. She bears with her news that her coming heralds the beginning of the end for the gladers. I wont spoil the ending but the gladers have to work together in order to escape the maze. Overall its a good and compelling read that wont let you put it down for a minute. However ive read the second book and im beginning to read the third. Theyre not as good as the first such as is with the majority of series. The book functions well as a stand-alone novel and id recommend it to anyone. Please give this excellent sci-fi novel a chance and give it a read. Happy reading!
-Silente
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Reader_of_Many_Worlds
Posted September 5, 2010
This book was a great read. It was full of moments that kept the reader's eyes glued to the pages, trapt in the "Glade", until you found out if everything would be okay or not! The author has a way with his writing style to keep an good pace on his details, being sure not to leave to much out that would confuse anyone, but not spilling the beans on everything till the time was right, making the reader even more anxious to learn about the "Glade" and the "Maze" and the terrible creatures that await!
The ending may seem to soon, but be sure to read the Epilogue and find out what really happens! Trust me, you'll immediately pre-order the second book, just to find out more on the strange occurances that I'd rather leave out, as to not spoil the book!
2 out of 3 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.This book was great. It has actually been a while since i read it, but i keep coming back to it. It is edgy and unforgettable.
When i read, i tend skim. A majority of authors in this generation go on and on about useless details that never tie the story together in anyway. I can understand a book perfectly, even if i only have read two thirds of the story. This book was not one of those books. I read it thoroughly and enjoyed every sentence. It kept me thinking, and even when i wasn't reading it, i was thinking about Thomas. The whole story was amazing, and the plot was genius. It was beautiful written and Dashner's imagination never stops amazing me! I would recommend this book to anyone who wants the perfect amount of adventure, thrill, survival, and a little romance.
2 out of 3 people found this review helpful.
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LendMe™
Overview
When Thomas wakes up in the lift, the only thing he can remember is his first name. His memory is blank. But he’s not alone. When the lift’s doors open, Thomas finds himself surrounded by kids who welcome him to the Glade—a large, open expanse surrounded by stone walls.Just like Thomas, the Gladers don’t know why or how they got to the Glade. All they know is that every morning the stone doors to the maze that surrounds them have opened. Every night they’ve closed tight. And every 30 days a new boy has been delivered in the lift.
Thomas was expected. But the next day, a girl is sent up—the first girl to ever arrive in ...