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The Maze Runner Reading Order.

Authorby James Dashner
6 Entries
Quick Answer

Start with The Maze Runner (2009). Read the main trilogy first, then the prequels: they reveal answers the trilogy deliberately keeps secret.

The complete reading order for the The Maze Runner series by James Dashner. Below you'll find the authoritative guide on how to read the books in order, including publication dates and chronological timeline placements.

Where to start

Start with The Maze Runner (2009). Read the main trilogy first, then the prequels: they reveal answers the trilogy deliberately keeps secret.

  • •The Kill Order (2012) is set 13 years before the trilogy; The Fever Code (2016) leads directly into The Maze Runner. The Chronological view puts them first, but read in publication order on a first pass.
  • •Crank Palace (2020) is a short novella following Newt during The Death Cure; read it after the trilogy.
  • •The Maze Cutter (2022) begins a sequel series set 73 years later.
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Complete Series Reading Order

Publication Reading Order6 Titles

Why Publication Order?We recommend reading in Publication Order (default). This follows the author's release schedule, ensuring you experience plot twists, character growth, and world-building exactly as intended without spoilers.
Best Start Here
1

The Maze Runner

Pub: 2009

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. From the Hardcover edition.

2

The Scorch Trials

Pub: 2010

Plot details hidden until you finish "The Maze Runner".

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 Scorch. 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. Friendships will be tested. Loyalties will be broken. All bets are off.

3

The Death Cure

Pub: 2011

Plot details hidden until you finish "The Scorch Trials".

Thomas knows that Wicked can't be trusted, but they say the time for lies is over, that they've collected all they can from the Trials and now must rely on the Gladers, with full memories restored, to help them with their ultimate mission. It's up to the Gladers to complete the blueprint for the cure to the Flare with a final voluntary test. What Wicked doesn't know is that something's happened that no Trial or Variable could have foreseen. Thomas has remembered far more than they think. And he knows that he can't believe a word of what Wicked says. The time for lies is over. But the truth is more dangerous than Thomas could ever imagine. Will anyone survive the Death Cure?

4

The Kill Order

Pub: 2012

Plot details hidden until you finish "The Death Cure".

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. Because in this new, devastated world, every life has a price. And to some you’re worth more dead than alive.

5

The Fever Code

Pub: 2016

Plot details hidden until you finish "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 man killed man. 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. Now there are secrets. There are lies. And there are loyalties history could never have foreseen. This is the story of that boy, Thomas, and how he built a maze that only he could tear down. All will be revealed.

6

Crank Palace

Pub: 2020Optional

Plot details hidden until you finish "The Fever Code".

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Frequently Asked Questions

What order should I read The Maze Runner in?

Start with The Maze Runner (2009). Read the main trilogy first, then the prequels: they reveal answers the trilogy deliberately keeps secret.

How many books are in The Maze Runner?

3 main books, published 2009–2011, plus 3 side stories.

Can I read The Maze Runner out of order?

It's best not to. The books build on each other, so reading out of order spoils earlier twists.

Which books in The Maze Runner are prequels, novellas or side stories?

"The Kill Order" (prequel), "The Fever Code" (prequel), "Crank Palace" (novella). Each is placed in the reading order below.

Is there a chronological order for The Maze Runner?

Yes. In story order the series begins with "The Kill Order" rather than "The Maze Runner". Switch the list below to Chronological to see the full timeline.

Has The Maze Runner been adapted for TV or film?

Films: The Maze Runner (2014), Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials (2015) and Maze Runner: The Death Cure (2018).