Are you a huge fan of young adult dystopian science fiction novels? Would you like to know where to read a book like the Hunger Games? Have you seriously been searching online for where you can download the maze runner series? Well, today is your lucky day! Right here on knowdemia, you can get all the books in The Maze Runner book Series without stress or registration! The Maze Runner is a series of young adult dystopian science fiction novels written by James Dashner. The series consists of The Maze Runner (2009), The Scorch Trials (2010), and The Death Cure (2011), as well as two prequel novels, The Kill Order (2012) and The Fever Code (2016), a novella titled Crank Palace (2020), and a companion book titled The Maze Runner Files (2013).

Well, if you would like to know about the maze runner series, then you are in the right place. In this post, we will answer questions like how many books in the maze runner series, What Genre is The Maze Runner by James Dashner, and other questions you may have about this book series.

What Genre is The Maze Runner by James Dashner?

• Novel
• Adventure
• Young Adult Fiction
• Dystopian Fiction
• Science fiction
• Fantasy Fiction

What is The Maze Runner by James Dashner About?

The Maze Runner Series is a three-novel series of dystopian/Adventure. A young adult series written by James Dashner.

It follows the journey of Thomas for the first three novels of this series. Thomas the sixteen years old hero, remembers nothing about himself except his name. His memory has been wiped, as have all the memories of the Gladers, the teenagers who inhabit the maze. The only thing Thomas can recall is that he must solve the Maze to save himself and the other Gladers. The maze is gigantic and the fifty boys who are caught in it live on a farm in the middle of the maze, an area called the Glade. Every day a small number of the boys, the Runners, leave the Glade and head out into the unknown to find a way out and Thomas wants to become one of them.

As if solving a gigantic maze wouldn’t be challenging enough, the walls of the maze move every night to create new dead ends and new paths. And each night the walls directly surrounding the Glade, the place where the boys live, close and shield the Gladers against the dreadful monsters that inhabit the maze. It has been two years since the first boys have found themselves in the maze with wiped-out memories and now Thomas has joined them. He soon notices that he knows more about the maze and the reason why they have all been placed in it. With his help, the Gladers are closer to solving the maze than ever before. Will they succeed in solving the maze? Get the books below and find out.

How Many Books are in The Maze Runner Series?

There are seven books in the Maze Runner Series. Consisting of three main books, two prequels, a companion book and one novella.

Main Books

(1) The Maze Runner (2009) – The Maze Runner #1
(2) The Scorch Trials (2010) – The Maze Runner #2
(3) The Death Cure (2011) – The Maze Runner #3

 Prequel Novels

(1) The Kill Order (2012)
(2) The Fever Code (2016)

Companion Book 

(1) The Maze Runner Files (2013)

Novella

(1) Crank Palace (2020)

In what order should I read The Maze Runner series?

1. The Maze Runner (2009) – The Maze Runner #1
2. The Scorch Trials (2010) – The Maze Runner #2
3. The Death Cure (2011) – The Maze Runner #3
4. Crank Palace (2020) – A novella
5. The Kill Order (2012) – First Prequel
6. The Fever Code (2016) – Second Prequel

The Maze Runner Series Summary

Below is a detailed summary of all the books in the maze runner series.

The Maze Runner

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

A group of teenagers, who call themselves the “Gladers” are left in a strange place which they call the “Glade”. The Glade is surrounded by four doors, leading to the Maze, that close every night at sundown and open in the morning. Beyond the walls of the Glade is the ever-changing Maze, populated by horrifying, biomechanical creatures, called Grievers. Every month, a newcomer, nicknamed “Greenie”, joins the Gladers, sent by a lift they call the Box. Each newcomer has all past memories (except language and other common things) wiped out. The only thing that they remember is their name. They are watched by large mechanical beetles, called ‘beetle blades’ which belong to their ‘creators’. Each beetle blade has the word “WICKED” stamped across its back. The ultimate goal of the Gladers is to find a way out of the Maze. To do so, certain Gladers called “Runners” venture into the Maze every day, to map it in an attempt to find a pattern in the Maze that would lead them to find an exit.

 The main character, Thomas, arrives at the Glade. 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 them is a limitless, ever-changing maze. It’s the only way out—and no one’s ever made it through alive. Shortly thereafter, then a girl arrives. The first girl ever. And the message she delivers is terrifying. Remember. Survive. Run.

The Scorch Trials

The Scorch Trials is the second book released in the series, on September 18, 2010. The Gladers thought that getting through the maze was it; however, they did not know that their world was scorched by the sun. Thomas was sure that escape from the Maze would mean freedom for him and the Gladers. But WICKED isn’t done yet. Phase Two has just begun. The Gladers have two weeks to cross through the Scorch—the most burned-out section of the world. And WICKED has made sure to adjust the variables and stack the odds against them. There are others now. Their survival depends on the Gladers’ destruction—and they’re determined to survive. They must survive the Scorch and face WICKED’s challenges.

Thomas’s First Memory of the Flare

Short flashback that occurs between “The Scorch Trials” and “The Death Cure.” You can read it here.

The Death Cure

The Death Cure is the third book released in the series, on October 11, 2011. In the third book of “The Maze Runner” Series, WICKED has taken everything from Thomas: his life, his memories, and now his only friends—the Gladers. But it’s finally over. The trials are complete, after one final test. What WICKED doesn’t know is that Thomas remembers far more than they think. And it’s enough to prove that he can’t believe a word of what they say.  Thomas beat the Maze. He survived the Scorch. Now He’ll risk anything to save his friends. But the truth might be what ends it all.

Crank Palace

Crank Palace is a novella, released on August 25, 2020. The story is centered on the character Newt and takes place during the events of The Death Cure. Newt has been to hell and back with his friends. The Glade. The Maze. The Scorch. The inner halls of WICKED. But now he has a burden that can’t be shared with Thomas and the others–the Flare. And Newt can’t bear the thought of his friends watching him descend into madness as he succumbs to the virus. It was first released as an audiobook on August 25, 2020, while the print copy and ebook version was released on November 23 of the same year.

The two following books are prequels to the main books – The Maze Runner, The Scorch Trials, and The Death Cure I recommend you to read them after, following the publishing order, or risking spoilers for the trilogy.

The Kill Order

The Kill Order is the fourth book released in the series, on August 14, 2012. It is the first novel in narrative order, set prior to the events of The Fever Code and 13 years before the events in The Maze Runner. It is followed in narrative order by The Fever Code. Happens about 15 years before the first Maze Runner book. Before WICKED was formed, before the Glade was built, before Thomas entered the Maze, sun flares hit the earth, killing most of the population. Mark and Trina were there when it happened. They survived. But now a virus is spreading. A virus that fills humans with murderous rage. They’re convinced that there’s a way to save those who are left—if they can stay alive…

The Fever Code

The Fever Code is the fifth book released in the series, on September 27, 2016. It is the second prequel and the fifth installment of The Maze Runner series. It is the second book in narrative order, preceded by The Kill Order and followed by The Maze Runner. Follows the events after The Kill Order. Once there was a world’s end. The forests burned, the lakes and rivers dried up, and the oceans swelled. Then came a plague, and fever spread across the globe. Families died, violence reigned, and men killed men. Next came WICKED, who were looking for an answer. And then they found the perfect boy. The boy’s name was Thomas, and Thomas built a maze. This is the story of that boy, Thomas, and how he built a maze that only he could tear down.

Other Books in the maze runner series

The Maze Runner Files

The Maze Runner Files is a companion book to The Maze Runner series. It was released on 1 January 2013 as an e-book. 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, and much more.

Inside the Maze Runner: The Guide to the Glade 

A movie companion book to The Maze Runner film. The book includes more than 100 photos from the movie, details about the whole Maze Runner series, and profiles of the characters and actors.

The Maze Runner Books in Chronological Order:

I highly recommend you to read The Maze Runner Series in the order of publication. But here is the chronological order :

1. The Maze Runner
2. The Scorch Trials
3. The Death Cure
4. Crank Palace
5. The Kill Order
6. The Fever Code

You can get all the books in the maze runner series right here on knowdemia.

Characters in the Maze Runner

Thomas

The protagonist of the story. He arrives in the Glade with no knowledge of who he is or was. He only remembers his name and nothing else about his life. Thomas proves to be brave, loyal, and clever, with isolated telepathic powers and a very limited memory of previous knowledge of the Maze. Soon after arriving in the Glade, Thomas makes both friends and enemies and proves a leader among the boys.

Alby

The leader of the Gladers, Alby has authority over much of what goes on in the Glade. He is hot-headed but experienced. Only a few Gladers, those who have been there the longest like Minho, ever see fit to question Alby’s decisions. After being stung by a Griever, Alby undergoes the Changing and becomes convinced that they should not return to the outside world. He wishes to stay in the Glade and even tries to sabotage an escape plan by burning the maps drawn by the Runners. Alby dies during the escape attempt by throwing himself onto a Griever.

Newt

Named after Sir Isaac Newton, Newt is a tall, muscular boy with long blonde hair who operates as second in command in the Glade. Sarcastic and direct, Newt befriends Thomas early on and spends time explaining the way the Glade and Maze work to him. As Alby’s leadership begins to erode, Newt steps in to fill the gap and support Thomas’s plans to escape.

Chuck

A chubby boy who is assigned to be Thomas’s guide on his first night in the Glade. Chuck is awkward and one of the youngest Gladers. He is talkative, innocent and naive, and though he is also annoying at times Thomas comes to see Chuck as a friend and even as a sort of younger brother. Thomas takes it upon himself to ensure that Chuck gets out of the Maze and is reunited with his family. Chuck gives his life to save Thomas from Gally’s knife. His character represents innocence.

Ben

A pale, thin boy who Thomas first hears screaming from the wooden building. He learns that Ben has been stung by a Griever. Ben later attacks Thomas in the graveyard and is struck by Alby’s arrow. Ben claims that Thomas is the true criminal and needs to be punished, though Thomas is not sure for what. Following his attempt on Thomas’s life Ben is banished to the Maze for his crime, eliciting great guilt in Thomas.

Gally

An arrogant, dark-haired boy who bullies Thomas on his first day in the Glade. He tells Thomas he has seen him before, during the Changing, and sows suspicion amongst the Gladers. Gally is not particularly popular amongst the Gladers. Following a confrontation with Minho, Gally disappears but reappears to warn the Gladers that the Creators mean to kill them by sending in a Griever to take one of them every night until they are all dead. He is then taken by a Griever himself. Thomas and the other escapees encounter Gally again after escaping the Maze. Gally throws a knife at Thomas, but Chuck steps in the way and is killed. Thomas then attacks and beats Gally mercilessly.

Frypan

An older-looking, bearded boy who operates as the cook in the Glade. Frypan does his best to provide nutritious meals for the Gladers every day. He is very territorial about his kitchen and its contents but his ultimate aim is to provide for all the inhabitants. He demonstrates his appreciation of Thomas several times by cooking special meals for him.

Clint

The shorter of the two Med-jacks, Clint has dark hair that is already graying at the sides. Along with Jeff, they are the only Med-jacks in the Glade. They operate as the medical first responders in the Glade, doing their best to look after Gladers who have been hurt or stung by Grievers.

Jeff

A large boy with a high-pitched voice. Jeff is one of the two Med-jacks, along with Clint. They operate as the medical first responders in the Glade, doing their best to look after Gladers who have been hurt or stung by Grievers.

Winston

The Keeper of the Blood House, the section of the Glade devoted to the slaughter of animals for food. The Blood House attendants have a reputation for being the more unusual and creepy Gladers, as they spend their days killing and dismembering livestock. Winston is no exception. After a short time around Winston, Thomas is sure he’d rather work somewhere else in the Glade.

Minho

One of the first Gladers, and therefore one of the most senior, Minho is a sometimes brash but dependable leader. As Keeper of the Runners, he is charged with overseeing the daily searching and mapping of the Maze, a dangerous task. Although he and Thomas do not get along upon meeting they come to be close allies after becoming trapped in the Maze overnight.

Teresa

A teenage girl who mysteriously arrives in the Glade the day after Thomas. She tells everyone that everything is about to change, before slipping into a coma. Thomas is sure that he knows Teresa from before, but cannot remember. Later, it is revealed that she shares a telepathic link with Thomas. They become close friends over the course of the novel and Teresa helps Thomas and Chuck deactivate the Maze during their escape. She is the only female character in almost the entire book, yet she serves little purpose except to catalyze plot and Thomas’s character development.

Zart

The Keeper of the Track-hoes, the Gladers who work the Garden. Zart doesn’t speak often and is described as being big and broody. He seems to like Thomas, supporting him during his trial and stating that Thomas should not be punished for saving Minho and Alby. He falls victim to a Griever during the second day of attacks.

Ava Paige

An administrator of some sort, who is cited as the author of a memo sent to the employees of WICKED. The memorandum reveals that Thomas and the other Gladers have not actually escaped but are simply entering the next phase of the experiment, without their knowledge. The memorandum also reveals there is another test group.

Hideous Woman

A crazed woman covered in hideous sores who tells Thomas that he is meant to save them all from the Flare. She is subsequently run over by the bus driven by the rescue party the Gladers encounter after meeting the Creators.

The Creators

The individuals who designed the experiments conducted on the Gladers, the ones who imprisoned them in the Glade. Thomas, Minho, Teresa, and Chuck encounter a few of them after escaping the Maze. They are described as having pale, deathly faces that betray little emotion.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the maze runner series is an amazing young adult dystopian science fiction novel series that you are sure to enjoy if you are a fan of dystopian novels. If you loved reading the hunger games and you have been searching for another book like it this is just the right book for you.