I had thought I completed my 2000s dystopian binge when I finished the Matched trilogy but I realized I would be remissed if I hadn’t read The Maze Runner. So in I go to the maze with very little idea of what it is really about.

Only to find Dashner’s world to be a dangerous thrill ride of puzzles and gruesome death that may lead Thomas and the Gladers to potential freedom. . . or death.

Dashner’s fully immerses readers into the world by having them see it through Thomas, recently arrived to a mysterious forest with thirty boys standing over him. He only knows one thing, his name, the rest of his memory is wiped out.

So readers can feel as equally frustrated and confused as Thomas is when he’s hit with confusing slang-slithead, shuck, Gladers-accusations and taunts from these dirty strangers who all seem to be the same position as him, amnesiac but certain that they’re there for a purpose.

Thomas is quickly updated about the state of things. Every corner is potential for death, primarily from sluggish, monsterous, bladed creatures called Grievers. But those are primarily confined to the Maze where the boys believe there must be an escape. Sure, it’s been two years, but there has to be a way out to the puzzle they’ve been dropped into.

It’s a very Lord of the Flies type of enviroment where the boys have created their semi-functioning leadership made up of Keepers that are the heads of different jobs like Slicers, Toe-heads, Sloppers etc. Here, Thomas quickly susses out his potential allies, Newt and Minho, enemies, Gally, and a sweet friendship with the runt of the pack, Chuck.

Even though Thomas’ arrival is pretty ordinary as a Greenie is dropped in every month with supplies, Gally is certain that he’s seen Thomas before and he’s part of the problem that they’re all in the Maze. Not that Thomas remembers anything much less how he’s got to do with any of this. But Thomas must admit that he feels uneasy about the situation. He feels a memory trying to click, and has unusual desire to become a Maze Runner, one of the dangerous jobs in this semi-functioning society.

Then a girl comes the next day warning everyone that there will be no more after her. Oh and that she’s triggered the Ending. Something only Thomas knows because she told him telepathically while in a coma.

Pretty freaky stuff and Dashner’s imagination is absolutely wild with the deadly tech he has invented and the detailed description of the Maze and other gear adds to the futuristic feel of this dystopian. The hints and flashes of the real world beyond the Maze doesn’t add much hope for the few who remember their past (through a terrifying process that’s called the Changing where there’s no guarentee you won’t go psycho and kill everyone like a deranged zombie). There’s a reason it’s called the Change because those who remember the Real World become depressed and don’t want to return, yet they don’t want to stay in the Maze. There’s no reason to survive.

But Thomas’ story shows the depths of the survival spirit in the boys. Even as they face moments of hopelessness and nihilism, when the going gets tough, they fight to live flares up again. It is especially poignent in the friendships that are formed like Alby and Newt and Chuck and Thomas. It also brings up interesting questions about the government or the Creators controlling their world, thus necesitating the nihilism of the piece, what is this all for? They don’t want to kill them all so it must be a test but what for? And what is the pattern? And why is Teresa here?

None of those questions have an easy answer as Thomas navigates this world. Honestly, I’m frustrated as him as no one will give him a straight answer and are constantly hiding secrets.

I surprised myself by finishing it one afternoon, but I’ll admit I found it a bit slow paced for the first half with the world building. It’s there but like I said, Thomas has to piece it together himself rather than clear cut explanations. I also found the romance between Teresa and Thomas to be very deus-ex-machina or something similar as the bond is planted there by their shared past but as neither remembers, it rings hollow.

Nonetheless, I’m interested in seeing what happens to the Gladers as they venture out of the Maze to the real world.