The Maze Runner book series by James Dashner has sold over 14 million copies in North America alone.
Originally, Dashner envisioned The Maze Runner as a fusion of the Lord of the Flies by William Golding, Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card and Holes by Louis Sachar.
Prior to The Maze Runner’s publication, Dashner spent three years making several drafts and was rejected multiple times.
After reading an 80-page manuscript of the book, Random House were immediately interested and did not need to see the remainder of Dashner’s proposal for the rest of the novel.
Prior to the release of the series’ first title, Random House distributed 90,000 chapter samples across college campuses, coffee shops and movie theaters.
When the title was launched on October 6, 2009, it had a first printing of 100,000-copies.
The book series has been adapted into three films with a total budget of $157 million, grossing $949 million worldwide.
Maze Runner is the fourth highest grossing film series based on young-adult books.
James Dashner commented that the film’s director, Wes Ball, was the only person who would have been able to turn his book into a movie.
Furthermore, Dashner has reportedly mentioned that he believes the film series to be better than the books.
The Maze Runner books in order
As of 2023, there are 8 books within The Maze Runner series.
This includes:
3 main series titles.
2 prequel series titles.
1 sequel series title.
2 companion titles.
Two further sequel series titles are due to be released, The Godhead Complex in 2024 and an additional title with details yet to be confirmed.
#
Year published
Title
Type
Page count
Audiobook length
1
2009
The Maze Runner
Main series
372
10h50m
2
2010
The Scorch Trials
Main series
361
10h53m
3
2011
The Death Cure
Main series
325
8h55m
4
2012
The Kill Order
Prequel series
384
9h58m
5
2013
The Maze Runner Files
Companion
50
1h19m
6
2016
The Fever Code
Prequel series
347
9h57m
7
2020
Crank Palace
Companion
186
3h59m
8
2022
The Maze Cutter
Sequel series
328
8h47m
The Maze Runner FAQ
What is The Maze Runner about?
The Maze Runner is about a group of young adults that find themselves trapped within the confines of a strange and dangerous maze.
The story is set in a post-apocalyptic world where the maze’s occupants are caught in a struggle for survival and have little-to-no memory of their past.
As the story unfolds, the group attempts to uncover the true nature of their situation, including the reason for their confinement.
Who wrote The Maze Runner?
The Maze Runner was written by James Dashner.
The series has also become his best-known work.
What genre is The Maze Runner?
The Maze Runner is a dystopian science-fiction series aimed at young adult readers.
The series also includes sections consistent with the action, mystery and thriller genres.
