Discover The Maze Runner books order and enjoy the bestseller saga from beginning to end.

How to read the Maze Runner books order

Dystopian fiction offers readers a glimpse into alternate realities and harrowing adventures, and James Dashner's The Maze Runner series is a prime example of this exhilarating genre. If you're about to embark on the gripping journey through the Glade and beyond, knowing the correct order to read the books can greatly enhance your experience, so let’s explore how to read the Maze Runner books in order.

The Maze Runner series

The Maze Runner is a young-adult dystopian science-fiction series written by American writer James Dashner. The Maze Runner is the first book of the fantasy series and was released in 2009.

It follows the story of Thomas, who wakes up one day in The Glade with no memory of who he is except for his name. The Glade is a place run by Alby and his second-in-command, Newt.

The Maze Runner film adaptations

The Maze Runner film adaptations brought James Dashner's thrilling dystopian series to life on the big screen, introducing it to a broader audience and adding visual depth to the story. Directed by Wes Ball, the series commenced with The Maze Runner in 2014, immediately drawing attention for its intense action sequences and a young, talented cast led by Dylan O'Brien. The subsequent movies, Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials (2015) and Maze Runner: The Death Cure (2018), continued to delve deeper into the story's mysteries, offering fans cinematic interpretations of the Glade, the Scorch, and the sinister organization WCKD.

Though the films took some liberties with the source material, they were largely praised for their faithful representation of the series' core themes and for successfully capturing the suspenseful essence of Dashner's novels.

The Maze Runner series - Chronological order

Although The Maze Runner was the first book released, the six books that followed are not in chronological order. This young adult book series has you going back and forth in the story, discovering more details of the main plot with every page you turn. However, now that the whole series is complete, you can read The Maze Runner books in order. For readers who want a linear reading experience, we have listed the reading order chronologically. However, there are some spoilers so proceed with caution.

The Kill Order (2012)

Three years after The Maze Runner, the author released The Kill Order, but it’s actually the story’s prequel. It centers on a group of individuals trying to survive after sun flares ravage Earth. Another threat is a deadly virus destroying the eastern United States, known as The Flare.

The Fever Code (2016)

The Fever Code was also released after The Maze Runner but centered on previous events. In James Dashner’s story, a group of kids tries to get into the maze while dealing with people affected by the Flare, known as “Cranks.”

Before going into the maze, somebody will wipe their memory, and that’s only the first test.

The Maze Runner (2009)

The Maze Runner was the series’ first book and a New York Times bestseller. This was a book meant for an audience a little older than the typical children’s book demographic, although the premise is fairly simple. It tells the story of Thomas, a teenager who wakes up at the center of a giant labyrinth. Like every other youngster, he has no memory of who he is and how he got there. One day after his arrival, the first girl, Teresa, arrives in the Glade.

Thanks to his incredible abilities, he is promoted to Runner. He is in charge of patrolling the always-changing labyrinth. Along with Teresa, they share telepathic skills.

Their mission is to find a way out of the maze. Based on this novel, The Maze Runner film was released in 2014.

The Scorch Trials (2010)

In The Maze Runner’s next chapter, Thomas and his fellow Gladers escape the maze. However, uncovering the plot of a powerful organization called Wicked has put them in terrible danger.

The Gladers escape into the Scorch, where they’ll face many obstacles. The Scorch is a desolate landscape, except for the virus-infected Cranks.

Their only hope is to find the Right Hand, a resistance group that can help them fight the Wicked.

The Death Cure (2011)

By the end of book two, Thomas is quarantined by Wicked because he has the Flare. The Death Cure is the conclusion of The Maze Runner trilogy. It’s an action-packed story in which Thomas and his Glader friends find all the answers.

Wicked offered to remove their mental control chips, but Thomas escaped the surgery. He remembered more than he was letting on and didn’t trust Wicked.

When they find the cure for the Flare, Chancellor Ava Paige reveals that the government planned to release the virus.

Crank Palace (2020)

In the Crank Palace, a Maze Runner novella, James Dashner tells the story of Newt, one of The Maze Runner’s main characters.

Newts is a six-year-old infected with the Flare. After he departs from his friends, he has horrible experiences living on the streets until he gets to Crank Palace.

He meets a young mother and son who end up saving Newt in a way he never believed possible.

The Maze Cutter (2022)

The Maze Cutter follows the story of Isaac and Sadine. They lived on an island free of the Flare virus or infected people. That all changes when a ship with only one crew member arrives.

They discovered that Sadine’s DNA might be the source of the cure for the latest version of the Flare. They embark on a long journey to a medical clinic full of danger and adventures.

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FAQ

Are there 5 or 6 Maze Runner books?

The Maze Runner series complete collection boxed set consists of 5 books: The Maze Runner, The Scorch Trials, The Death Cure, The Kill Order, and The Fever Code.

There’s an additional novella called Crank Palace and a companion book titled The Maze Runner Files. The last book was released in 2022. It is set 73 years following the events of The Death Cure.

Is there a part 4 for Maze Runner?

The Maze Runner movie trilogy will likely have a part 4, although a release date is yet to be confirmed.

Is The Maze Runner a trilogy?

The Maze Runner is a science-fiction film trilogy based on James Dashner’s novels.

As for the book collection, the story's main plot ends in the third book of the saga, which could indicate The Maze Runner is a trilogy. The additional books tell stories related to the main plot and in some cases with characters from The Maze Runner trilogy.

Which Maze Runner book was the first one published?

The first book published was The Maze Runner. It was released on October 6, 2009.

Is there a Maze Runner movie?

The Maze Runner is a movie trilogy. The first installment was released in September 2014.

Is The Death Cure the last Maze Runner book?

The Death Cure is the end of The Maze Runner story, but it wasn’t the last book released.

What are other books by the Maze Runner author?

James Dashner, the author of The Maze Runner series, has also penned other books such as The 13th Reality series and The Mortality Doctrine series.