The Maze Runner by James Dashner is a dystopian science fiction book filled with mysteries, twists and turns, and exhilarating scenes. I picked up the book a few days ago, and it has become one of my favorite books. The story never lets you rest, throwing new ideas and facts about its intriguing world at you; every page has something new to ponder over. Many aspects of the book work together to create a story that makes the reader want to turn the page to learn more.
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One aspect of The Maze Runner that makes it a great book is its mysterious setting and how the author introduces it. The story starts with the protagonist, Thomas, waking up in an unfamiliar land where 50 amnesiac boys live in a clearing surrounded by an intricate maze. Massive walls separate the clearing from the maze, but the walls move every morning to create four openings that lead to the maze.
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Already, this setting sparks interest because it provokes a storm of questions. Why does this maze exist? What is the purpose of the maze? Who created the maze? How do the walls move? Why were these boys sent to the maze with their memories erased? Where is the rest of the human population? Because the author does not reveal everything about the setting at once, it makes you want to read more and learn more about the world. The book continuously makes you think and wonder about its world, which makes it an excellent book for readers who like stories filled with mysteries to solve as you read.
Another aspect of The Maze Runner that makes it enjoyable to read is how the author tells the story. James Dashner describes the setting in great detail. He paints a vivid picture of the setting and each scene, which makes reading the book like watching a movie. In addition, he writes the book to match Thomas' emotions. For example, at the beginning of the story, Thomas is confused about the maze. However, none of the boys tell him anything about the maze. Thus, Thomas is mostly wandering through the dark during the first few chapters of the book. James Dashner makes the pacing of the book slow and steady to match the confusion Thomas feels. The pacing starts to pick up and suspense starts to build as Thomas learns more about the maze, the boys, and himself. This way of writing makes the book more interesting, and it helps convey the emotion of the protagonist well. In a way, the reader can easily walk in Thomas' shoes throughout the story.
Overall, The Maze Runner is an amazing book everyone should read. The thought-provoking setting together with James Dashner's writing style creates a story that will make readers want to learn more and read more about the setting and characters. The Maze Runner will keep you turning the page and running through the amazing narrative it has to offer.
