Gardening Sale!
 
 

Special Offers see all

Enter to WIN!

Weekly drawing for $100 credit. Subscribe to our Specials newsletter for a chance to win.
Privacy Policy

More at Powell's

Recently Viewed clear list

Guests | May 6, 2013

Benjamin Percy: IMG The Roof People

1 comment By Benjamin Percy

My sister slept with the light on until she was 27. She rightfully blames me. I would leap out of closets with my hands made into claws. I would... Continue »
  1. $18.19 Sale Hardcover add to wish list

    Red Moon

    Benjamin Percy 9781455501663
spacer

The Maze Runner (Maze Runner Trilogy #01)

by

The Maze Runner (Maze Runner Trilogy #01) Cover

 

Synopses & Reviews

Publisher Comments:

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 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.

Review:

"Dashner (the 13th Reality series) offers up a dark and gripping tale of survival set in a world where teenagers fight for their lives on a daily basis. It starts when Thomas, a teenage amnesiac, wakes up in the Glade, a fragile oasis in the middle of an enormous maze. Here, a group of teenage boys eke out a hazardous existence, exploring the Maze by day and retreating to the Glade at night. No one knows how they got there; no one has ever found a way out ('Old life's over, new life's begun. Learn the rules quick,' the group's leader tells Thomas). Bizarre technological monsters called Grievers patrol the Maze's corridors, almost certain death for any who encounter them. Thomas struggles to regain his memories, but the arrival of a young woman with an ominous message changes the rules of the game. With a fast-paced narrative steadily answering the myriad questions that arise and an ever-increasing air of tension, Dashner's suspenseful adventure will keep readers guessing until the very end, which paves the way for the inevitable continuation. Ages 12 — up." Publishers Weekly (Copyright Reed Business Information, Inc.)

Synopsis:

From New York Times bestselling author Melissa de la Cruz and Michael Johnston comes this remarkable first book in a spellbinding new series about the dawn of a new kind of magic.

Welcome to New Vegas, a city once covered in bling, now blanketed in ice. Like much of the destroyed planet, the place knows only one temperature—freezing. But some things never change. The diamond in the ice desert is still a 24-hour hedonistic playground and nothing keeps the crowds away from the casino floors, never mind the rumors about sinister sorcery in its shadows.

 

At the heart of this city is Natasha Kestal, a young blackjack dealer looking for a way out. Like many, she's heard of a mythical land simply called “the Blue.” They say its a paradise, where the sun still shines and the waters are turquoise. More importantly, its a place where Nat wont be persecuted, even if her darkest secret comes to light.

 

But passage to the Blue is treacherous, if not impossible, and her only shot is to bet on a ragtag crew of mercenaries led by a cocky runner named Ryan Wesson to take her there. Danger and deceit await on every corner, even as Nat and Wes find themselves inexorably drawn to each other. But can true love survive the lies? Fiery hearts collide in this fantastic tale of the evil men do and the awesome power within us all.

 

Synopsis:

Debut author Teri Terry has written a brilliantly compelling, original and thought-provoking novel about an uncomfortably plausible future.

Kyla has been Slated—her memory and personality erased as punishment for committing a crime she cant remember. The government has taught her how to walk and talk again, given her a new identity and a new family, and told her to be grateful for this second chance that she doesnt deserve. Its also her last chance—because theyll be watching to make sure she plays by their rules.

As Kyla adjusts to her new life, shes plagued by fear. Who is she, really? And if only criminals are slated, why are so many innocent people disappearing? Kyla is torn between the need to know more and her instinct for self-preservation. She knows a dangerous game is being played with her life, and she cant let anyone see her make the wrong move . . . but who can she trust when everyone is a stranger?

 

back to top

Video

About the Author

James Dashner is also the author of the 13th Reality series. James was born and raised in Georgia, but now lives in the Rocky Mountains with his family. After several years working in finance, he is now a full-time writer.
back to top

What Our Readers Are Saying

Add a comment for a chance to win!
Average customer rating based on 3 comments:
lilianxcheng, July 12, 2012 (view all comments by lilianxcheng)
The Maze Runner thrives on the suspense and the fantastical setting. Just like Thomas, the protagonist, we are thrown into the Glade being just as (if not more) confused as him. The technology, the creatures, the absurdity of the situation was like a video game as we follow Thomas on his journey to solving it. The pace was fine, Dashner knows how to keep my attention with action. But one of the biggest issues are the characters: especially Thomas, who despite his bravery doesn't seem like a smart guy; he only "solves" the whole thing by relying on past memories. However, The Maze Runner is comprised with many surprising elements that draw me into the story, keeping me reading to find out how the pieces fit together. An exciting (even if dark) story of a group of teenagers trying to solve their way out of a dire situation.

Plot:
Thomas wakes up in an elevator and is led to The Glade, a town of only boys surrounded by a Maze. There are also monsters that lurk the Maze at night, so that nobody is allowed out of The Glade after the walls close. Every week, supplies are sent from the elevator, and every month a new boy is sent. There are different jobs: farmers, cooks, police officers, janitors, etc. And then there are the Runners, a group of elite Gladers sent to run in the maze everyday to find an exit. The Maze changes everyday, and for two years, an exit hasn't been found. Thomas feels strongly tied to being a Runner, but before think about it-a girl comes up in the elevator.

Language:
The Gladers have their own slang, which I suspect might be a way to bypass swearing for a novel targeted towards young teens. The abundance of strange words bogs down the story a bit and leaves me in complete confusion in the first chapter. The slang could have been used a bit less so the reader has a stronger grasp of what's going on. If anything, it sounded like the boys were using the slang to intimidate people. Gradually we begin to know what words stand for and it becomes less of a distraction. However, I am not sure why they start creating slang that makes them sound like cavemen even though they all know English. If you are fine with the slang in Moira Young's Blood Red Road, The Maze Runner's language won't faze you.

Dark:
There's no gore, but there are a LOT of deaths. Thankfully, their deaths usually don't arise from unnecessary fighting. The Gladers generally know they have to work together, and killing one of their own is just not helping the situation.

Characters:
I am confused as to why The Maze Runner is written in third person limited instead of first person. Obviously we can't have such a suspenseful story in third person omniscient: there wouldn't be any secrets if the narrator is supposed to know everything. We only get follow Thomas and knows what he knows, but the third person stance leaves me unable to understand Thomas. I want to know what is going inside his head. Because of the narrator, the other characters, although many of them likable, don't get enough depth.

Thomas: Protagonist and one of the reasons why The Maze Runner has a slow start: it's because he SO CONFUSED, with so many questions. HOLD YOUR HORSES AND WAIT FOR THEM TO EXPLAIN, DUDE! Makes me want to yell at him to stop interrupting the story with his questions. He is like the annoying kid in class that doesn't know when to shut up. I know why his peers ignore him half the time now. It just might be a guy thing, or a sign of his natural curiosity. I applaud his bravery, his intelligence, but I expected more to solving everything than just remembering stuff. A bit of a let down to be honest. Despite his talkative, curious nature, his determined demeanor makes him a good leader--and one of his best traits.

Teresa: Maybe my head was in the gutter, but one girl amongst like forty guys...wouldn't you be expecting them to procreate? Anyway, she still remains pretty much a mystery. I want to like her, but I don't know her. Thomas and Teresa share a connection, but whether it's romantic or not, I don't know.

Minho: A supporting character and the Keeper of the Maze Runners. He is also my favorite character (maybe it's because he is Asian? I love supporting minorities.) Unlike Thomas, he is less optimistic, but a strong leader nonetheless.

Newt: Despite the ridiculous nickname, he is a charismatic leader. He is more calmer one in the group. I definitely like him more than Thomas as well.

Grievers:
The "monsters" that make the Maze so scary. When they were first introduced I thought they were like gigantic buffalos (since they were ramming windows)...but it turns up they are just six feet long, mechanized, ugly slugs. Actually now that I imagine it, they seem ridiculous. I rather have a buffalo. They can kill, and sometimes sting to give someone flashbacks. I am puzzled with the flashbacks for they seem to be an intentional product of the Grievers. If it was intentional, they wouldn't be built with those needles in the first place, right? But if the needles were intentional, then why brainwash everyone? But if the flashback needles were un-intentional, why create the needles and stick them in the Grievers?

Ending:
GIVE ME MY ANSWERS! I'm feeling a bit cheated right now (even though I know it's a strategy to get me to continue the series.) The Maze Runner gives me these half-answers that don't quite tell me why people would waste so much time and money on such a elaborate maze. Do people have nothing better to do? SPOILER ALERT: So you waste two years conducting this thing when you could just gather them all to work together? Aren't more brains better than a few traumatized ones? (or worse yet, the murderous ones?)

Overall, I did like the suspense, the world-building. But I am disappointed that my curiosity wasn't quenched: the answers given just left me with even more questions. I hope I will get some logical answers in the sequel, and all this stuff isn't just introduced for the heck of it.
Was this comment helpful? | Yes | No
report this comment
Jemima, November 17, 2009 (view all comments by Jemima)
Dashner has created a strange but believable world that captured my interest and kept me reading.The Maze Runner sets up a very suspenseful story with an end-of-the-world type theme. At first it seems that the action is confined to trying to solve a maze, but by the end of the novel the setting has broadened and new mysteries are hinted at. I look forward to reading the next installment and finding out what is going on. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes suspenseful science fiction and particularly to teenage boys: what with the heroic young male protagonist, the spots of blood and gore plus the mysteries to solve, it is a great choice for them.
Was this comment helpful? | Yes | No
(0 of 1 readers found this comment helpful)
report this comment
CC, November 16, 2009 (view all comments by CC)
An excellent YA novel and such a page turner! James Dashner has created an eerie blend of "Lord of the Flies" and "Hunger Games". I definitely recommend this book to anyone looking for a fast-paced can't put down book.
Was this comment helpful? | Yes | No
(2 of 4 readers found this comment helpful)
report this comment
View all 3 comments
back to top

Product Details

ISBN:
9780385737944
Subtitle:
Heart of Dread, Book One
Author:
Dashner, James
Author:
de La Cruz, Melissa
Author:
John, Antony
Author:
Johnston, Michael
Author:
Miller, Kirsten
Author:
Cruz, Melissa de La
Author:
Terry, Teri
Publisher:
Putnam Juvenile
Subject:
Science fiction
Subject:
Amnesia
Subject:
Visionary & metaphysical
Subject:
Boys / Men
Subject:
Social Issues - Friendship
Subject:
Social Issues - General
Subject:
General-General
Subject:
Action & Adventure
Subject:
Science & Technology
Copyright:
2009
Edition Description:
Hardback
Series:
HEART OF DREAD
Series Volume:
01
Publication Date:
20130917
Binding:
Hardback
Grade Level:
from 7
Language:
English
Pages:
336
Dimensions:
8.25 x 5.5 in 1 lb
Age Level:
12-17
back to top

Other books you might like

  1. Front and Center Used Hardcover $7.95
  2. Destroy All Cars Used Hardcover $8.95
  3. The Looking Glass Wars (Looking...
    Used Trade Paper $4.95
  4. Leviathan
    Used Hardcover $8.95
  5. Confessions of a Serial Kisser Used Trade Paper $2.48
  6. Good Neighbors #02: Kith New Trade Paper $12.99
back to top

Related Subjects

Children's » Featured Titles
Children's » Sale Books
Children's » Science Fiction and Fantasy » General
Children's » Science Fiction and Fantasy » Science Fiction
Children's » Situations » General
Young Adult » Fiction » Social Issues » Friendship
Young Adult » General

The Maze Runner (Maze Runner Trilogy #01) New Hardcover
0 stars - 0 reviews
$16.99 In Stock
Product details 336 pages Delacorte Press Books for Young Readers - English 9780385737944 Reviews:
"Publishers Weekly Review" by , "Dashner (the 13th Reality series) offers up a dark and gripping tale of survival set in a world where teenagers fight for their lives on a daily basis. It starts when Thomas, a teenage amnesiac, wakes up in the Glade, a fragile oasis in the middle of an enormous maze. Here, a group of teenage boys eke out a hazardous existence, exploring the Maze by day and retreating to the Glade at night. No one knows how they got there; no one has ever found a way out ('Old life's over, new life's begun. Learn the rules quick,' the group's leader tells Thomas). Bizarre technological monsters called Grievers patrol the Maze's corridors, almost certain death for any who encounter them. Thomas struggles to regain his memories, but the arrival of a young woman with an ominous message changes the rules of the game. With a fast-paced narrative steadily answering the myriad questions that arise and an ever-increasing air of tension, Dashner's suspenseful adventure will keep readers guessing until the very end, which paves the way for the inevitable continuation. Ages 12 — up." Publishers Weekly (Copyright Reed Business Information, Inc.)
"Synopsis" by ,
From New York Times bestselling author Melissa de la Cruz and Michael Johnston comes this remarkable first book in a spellbinding new series about the dawn of a new kind of magic.

Welcome to New Vegas, a city once covered in bling, now blanketed in ice. Like much of the destroyed planet, the place knows only one temperature—freezing. But some things never change. The diamond in the ice desert is still a 24-hour hedonistic playground and nothing keeps the crowds away from the casino floors, never mind the rumors about sinister sorcery in its shadows.

 

At the heart of this city is Natasha Kestal, a young blackjack dealer looking for a way out. Like many, she's heard of a mythical land simply called “the Blue.” They say its a paradise, where the sun still shines and the waters are turquoise. More importantly, its a place where Nat wont be persecuted, even if her darkest secret comes to light.

 

But passage to the Blue is treacherous, if not impossible, and her only shot is to bet on a ragtag crew of mercenaries led by a cocky runner named Ryan Wesson to take her there. Danger and deceit await on every corner, even as Nat and Wes find themselves inexorably drawn to each other. But can true love survive the lies? Fiery hearts collide in this fantastic tale of the evil men do and the awesome power within us all.

 
"Synopsis" by ,

Debut author Teri Terry has written a brilliantly compelling, original and thought-provoking novel about an uncomfortably plausible future.

Kyla has been Slated—her memory and personality erased as punishment for committing a crime she cant remember. The government has taught her how to walk and talk again, given her a new identity and a new family, and told her to be grateful for this second chance that she doesnt deserve. Its also her last chance—because theyll be watching to make sure she plays by their rules.

As Kyla adjusts to her new life, shes plagued by fear. Who is she, really? And if only criminals are slated, why are so many innocent people disappearing? Kyla is torn between the need to know more and her instinct for self-preservation. She knows a dangerous game is being played with her life, and she cant let anyone see her make the wrong move . . . but who can she trust when everyone is a stranger?

 
spacer
spacer
  • back to top
Follow us on...




Powell's City of Books is an independent bookstore in Portland, Oregon, that fills a whole city block with more than a million new, used, and out of print books. Shop those shelves — plus literally millions more books, DVDs, and eBooks — here at Powells.com.