The Maze Runner Saga

The Maze Runner (saga The maze runner, in Spanish) is a series of science fiction novels written by American author James Dashner. Its five titles were published between 2009 and 2016, plus the companion book The Maze Runner files (2013). In literary terms it is located within the dystopias for adolescents and young adults.

Like the series The Hunger Games (The Hunger Games) Y Divergent (Divergent), The maze Runner has received rave reviews. Similarly, its reception among the general public has been fantastic. Not surprisingly, the first three titles in the series have already been successfully brought to the cinema and two more films are expected, at least.

About the author, James Dashner

James Smith Dashner was born in Austell, Georgia, United States, on November 26, 1972. He attended Brigham Young University, where he studied accounting. However, in his college days he decided to become a writer, since from childhood he was an avid reader. After several attempts, Dashner created the character of Jimmy Fincher and expanded his universe to complete the book series The Jimmy Fincher Saga.

After completing all four Jimmy Fincher titles, Dashner turned to another series: The Maze Runner. Although, both plots are similar in the fact that they develop around young people involved in dangerous situations. In this regard, the author declared to have been substantially influenced by lord of the flies (Lord of the Flies) by William Golding and Ender's Game (Ender's Game) by Orson Scott Card.

The books of the saga The Maze Runner

In the first instance, the trilogy starring the character Thomas was launched: The Maze Runner (2009) The Scorch Trials (2010) and The Death Cure (2011) Subsequently, the prequel book appeared Kill Order (2012), where the genesis of the whole story is explained. In 2016 it was published The Fever Code, located chronologically between the events of Kill Order y The Maze Runner.

Similarities and differences with The Hunger Games and Divergent

According to The Guardian (2014), the similarities between the first book of The Maze Runner with those of The Hunger Games y Divergent they are amazing. From the outset, the three sagas place the protagonists in a post-apocalyptic world oppressed by an authoritarian regime. In them, a young hero or heroine is put to the test in various life-threatening scenarios and forced to fight for their lives.

While the book of The Hunger Games was written in the first person, the narrator of The maze Runner it is in the third person. Another difference is that The Maze Runner has a style closer to mystery novels compared to Divergent y The Hunger Games. But these last two have been perceived more realistically, both by the audience and by literary critics.

Synopsis of The Maze Runner - The Maze Runner (2009)

At the beginning of the trilogy, Thomas, the 16-year-old protagonist, does not remember anything other than his name because his memory has been erased. You have also lost track of gladers. That is, the adolescent inhabitants of a central area called Glade (the clearing) within the maze (a gigantic maze). Thomas' only certainty is the need to solve the maze (the maze) to save his inhabitants and himself.

Every day a small group of boys - the runners - come out of the Glade to face the unknown to find a way out and to Thomas. Additionally, the walls of the labyrinth move each night to seal off the clearing (and protect it from outside monsters). In this way, the difficulty of solving it is constantly increasing.

Synopsis for The Scorch Trials - Trial by Fire (2010)

After escaping the maze, Thomas feels safe and ready to start a happy new life with his friends. But suddenly he is thrown into a desert territory where food is scarce, as well as protection from the inclement sun. Then the gladers they are forced to traverse this desert filled with humans subtly controlled by the flare (the flare).

To add insult to injury, WICKED (the entity that pulls the strings in the shadow) sends all kinds of monsters and horrors against the gladers. Little by little, their minds and bodies begin to give way under the pressure of the tortuous time trials. Consequently, they surrender to power in order to save themselves. The betrayal of Thomas is served in the middle of the infernal heat.

Synopsis of The Death Cure - The Mortal Cure (2011)

In the closing book of the trilogy, the Cranks they appear as the main threat in a third test. It is about crazy beings - turned into zombies - due to the infection of the virus described in The litmus test. This book clarifies important details about the beginning of the saga when Thomas recalls his short stay in the Glade.

Likewise, the nature of the flare and Group B (a group of people with immunity similar to most of the gladers). Later, the gladers and the members of Group B manage to recover their memory completely and escape from the domain of WICKED. But Thomas resists restoration in order to rescue the rest of his companions.

Synopsis of The Kill Order - Lethal Virus (2012)

Thirteen years before the events exposed in The maze Runner, the world was ravaged by solar flares and mass deaths of people. The protagonists, Mark and Trina, barely manage to save themselves and are taken to a settlement. A year later, the PFC organization attacks the world with darts infected with a zombie virus. For this reason, the human species is on the verge of extinction.

In the settlement, only Mark, Trina, and DeeDee (a six-year-old girl) survive. Eventually they form a gang alongside Alec and Lana to help each other as they escape the city of the infected. Brutality and horror are the order of the day in a book with far more carnage than the rest of the trilogy put together.

Synopsis of The Fever Code - CRUEL Code (2016)

The book is narrated from Thomas's point of view. It tells how he was separated from his infected parents. He was immediately taken to an institution where scientists told him that his immunity is the hope of humanity's survival. Likewise, James Dashner explains in this book how involved Thomas and Teresa were in creating the labyrinth when they were inserted into Glade.

Additionally, the relationships, affinities and rivalries between the other boys of Glade. Probably The Fever Code is the deepest book from the emotional perspective of the entire universe Maze Runner. Of course, like the other books in the saga, there is no shortage of violent scenes and multiple zombie kills.

Main characters of the saga of The Maze Runner

Thomas:

(Books 1 - 3 and 5, a brief appearance in the room) He is one of the creators of the labyrinth with Teresa Agnes. He would become the leader of Group A of the gladers. His real name was Stephen before he was abducted by WICKED. He was called Thomas in reference to Thomas Edison.

Theresa Agnes:

(Books 1 - 5) her name was inspired by Mother Teresa. She is the creator of the labyrinth with Thomas. Her real name is DeeDee (found in book 4).

Newt:

(books 1 - 3 and 5) named after Sir Isaac Newton. He is the leader of the British faction of Group A of the gladers and second in command of Alby's section. He is the brother of Sonya, one of the girls in Group B, whom he called Lizzy.

Minho:

(Books 1 - 3 and 5) is the leader of the Asian faction of Group A of the gladers and guardian of the Runners (runners). He was also the general leader of the gladers during fire tests.

gally:

(Books 1 - 3 and 5) is the antagonist of the series. He was leader of Group A of the gladers when Thomas was considered an enemy during the first book. Left for dead in the trials by fire, he reappears in the third book as an ally. Gally is named after Galileo.

Alby:

(Books 1 and 5) was the first commander of the gladers. It was named after Albert Einstein.

Chuck:

(Books 1 and 5, mentioned in books 2 and 3) Thomas' best friend. Named after Charles Darwin.

Canciller Ava Paige:

WICKED's highest ranking officer.