The Scorch Trials
Second book in The Maze Runner series, published 2010.
Cover scan · via Wikipedia: The Scorch Trials · Fair use
The Scorch Trials is a 2010 young adult post-apocalyptic dystopian science fiction novel written by American author James Dashner. It is the second book, fourth chronologically, in The Maze Runner series, following The Maze Runner and preceding The Death Cure. The novel was published on 18 September 2010 by Delacorte Press, and a film adaptation was released on 18 September 2015 by 20th Century Fox.
- Author
- James Dashner
- Published
- 18 September 2010
- Publisher
- Delacorte Press
- Genre
- Young adult post-apocalyptic dystopian science fiction
- Series
- The Maze Runner series (second book, fourth chronologically)
- Followed by
- The Death Cure
- Film adaptation release
- 18 September 2015
Lore & Background
The novel follows Thomas and the other Gladers, who escaped the Maze in the previous book and are brought to a facility by rescuers. Thomas is woken by a telepathic communication with Teresa, who is afraid. The facility is attacked by Cranks, aggressive zombie-like people infected by a plague called the Flare, which attacks the brain and causes victims to lose their humanity. The Gladers escape into the common area and find their rescuers dead and Teresa missing, replaced by a boy named Aris Jones, who escaped a similar Maze experiment, Group B. The boys discover tattoos on their necks assigning roles; Thomas's tattoo reads 'to be killed by Group B'.
Reader's Guide
The Scorch Trials is significant as the second installment in The Maze Runner series, expanding the post-apocalyptic world introduced in the first book. It introduces the Flare plague and the Cranks, deepening the dystopian setting. The novel explores themes of betrayal, survival, and the manipulation by the organization WICKED, which studies the Gladers to find a cure for the Flare. The book's plot involves the Gladers traveling through the Scorch, a burned-out section of Earth, and facing various trials, including encounters with Cranks and tests orchestrated by WICKED. The novel sets up the conflict for the final book, The Death Cure, and was adapted into a film released in 2015. Its legacy lies in its contribution to the young adult dystopian genre and its exploration of memory, identity, and trust.
Elsewhere in The Maze Runner
Spotted an error? Know more?
Reader corrections go straight into our review queue. Suggest an edit · How this site is sourced