Monday, November 30, 2009

Kirkus Best Books of 2009

I know you guys get tired of hearing good news and feeling like you have to say congrats (which you don't, I swear), but I sure love getting it!

This is one of the biggest honors we've received yet: THE MAZE RUNNER has been selected as one of the best young adult books of 2009 by Kirkus. You can see for yourself by CLICKING HERE and looking at page 4. Or, here is their writeup:


Warning: Not for claustrophobics, or those who worry about being killed by techno-demons in the night. An elevator door opens and an amnesiac boy stumbles out into the Glade, a sanctuary—as glades have been since antiquity— surrounded by a devious, humongous maze. In the Glade, Thomas, the newcomer, finds a company of similarly amnesiac boys, some of them residents for up to two years, with their own rules and a decision-making Council. Defeating the maze is foremost and made especially difficult by its population of Grievers—half-machine, half-animal horrors—that patrol its corridors. James Dashner’s moody, complex narrative manages to maintain a jet-propelled, jaw-wiring intensity. “The Maze Runner was heavily influenced by two books I loved when growing up—Ender’s Game and Lord of the Flies,” says Dashner. "Throw in Holes and the television show Lost, and you get the flavor of the story—frightening but hopeful.” The characters prove a gutsy bunch who use their heads. “The boys show an uncanny, gritty determination not to give up in the face of obstacles,” says the author. “Something I hope all of us would do when it came down to it.” (Ages 12 & up)


We're all very excited and honored by this selection. THANK YOU Kirkus!!! (Congrats to my good friend Sara Zarr for also making the list with her book, ONCE WAS LOST!)

Here are some Q&A from the comments:

Jade, I would LOVE to come to Australia. Make that happen, would ya?

LT Elliot, I really, really love the Droid phone. Love, love, love it.

Alyssa, there might be a chance of me coming to Atlanta in April for the release of Book 3 of THE 13TH REALITY. Stay tuned...

One Cluttered Brain, don't know yet about St. George. Sorry!

Laura and Nichole, about those drums. My best friend, Ben Egan, had a set when we were teenagers. He was very good on them, I was very bad. But he taught me how to play, and I got to where I could kinda do it. Then I went to a studio with my brothers last summer and played for awhile and fell back in love with them. Hence the gift. And I'm getting better and better, but not quite band worthy yet. Haha. My ultimate dream is to jam with Stephen King and his band of authors.

As for a video? Hmmmm. Maybe. Maybe.

dcaprice1224: YES! There is going to be a second book AND a third book. THE SCORCH TRIALS comes out next October, and THE DEATH CURE comes out in October 2011. Just think, when that happens, we'll only have 2 months left to THE HOBBIT in theaters!!!

Debbie, yes, I like celebrating for as long as humanly possibly. I milk it like you wouldn't believe. Just ask my wife.

Deb, don't count out the Falcons just yet. If they beat Phillie next week they are back in the playoffs.

Alyssa, you can see all my books by scrolling down and looking at the right side of my blog.

Kirsten, you know I can't show favoritism or it becomes too obvious!

Most of all, thank you for the birthday wishes. I only have 2 more before I quit counting.

If you haven't "followed" me on this blog yet, please do by CLICKING HERE.

And if you haven't followed me on Twitter yet, CLICK HERE. I promise to get better at it!

Lyrics of the Day:

Don't waste your time on me,
You're already the voice inside my head.

I Miss You, Blink 182

27 comments:

Melanie said...

I'm with those who are for a video! That would be awesome.

Laura said...

So Dashner, now that you've made it big time, what are you going to do next? (Something Not related to writing books or being an author- You know, Disneyland or something original.)

And congratulations for being awesome, writing amazing books and taking it as far as you can. You will always have my admiration.

Shannon O'Donnell said...

Silly James - like we could EVER get tired of hearing more good news. You know we all love it just as much as you do! :)

I love that review - how fun is that?!

You have NOT emailed me yet about being a featured speaker at Montana's state reading conference next year. Don't pop my bubble of Dashner bliss - I'm beyond ecstatic at the idea of you coming. :)

Debbie Barr said...

I just started reading your blog, and I ALSO just finished The Maze Runner last week. It was awesome! I can't wait to read the next book. :)

Juliana said...

Many congrats on the continuing accolades! I was waiting until you did a local signing to buy my copy (you know, support the store that's hosting you) but then I apparently completely missed it! Will you be doing another signing here in the UC or shall I just go ahead and purchase it? ;)

Stacey said...

So so fun! It's great to see a good book and a great person get recognition! Congrats!

I have a question...

James, what was something you did to celebrate selling MAZE? Ex. my friend has said when she lands an agent we're all going to Benihanna's for dinner.

Jack Porter said...

Kirkus is huge, congratulations on making it.

I have a question, how many times was 13th Reality rejected before it was accepted into Shadow Mountain?
Just wondering.

numberonedashnerfan said...

yay! congrats! Your inspiring to us all...Who are good publishers my violin teacher is writing a book about rasing her disabled kids....dashnog parrell def. scared to take the driving test cause you cant parrell park for your life....

Dave said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Dave said...

Dash,
Although not required...congrats! You can now officially be dubbed CPT. JAMES KIRKus!

What on earth could be next? I just saw in an email from either B&N or Amazon (can't remember which), Maze was a top seller! Now that you are rockin the world, let's see how you rock those drums!

Way to go!

Dave

Unknown said...

I would so much prefer good news to bad news.

Unknown said...

I'm going to go ahead and count the Falcons out ahead of time. Even if they beat Phillie, they might someday have to face the Colts, and my boy Peyton Manning is kind of a football pimp.

Wendy Toliver said...

awesome news, james! and yes, there does seem to be a lot of it lately and please never stop sharing and letting us all help celebrate your successes! xoxo

Unknown said...

Well, if you can't show favoritism then why am I trying so hard on my homework?? =P

Sharon K. Mayhew said...

WTG! Congratulations....

Nichole Giles said...

I vote you bring those drums to the April conference and play for the Authors Incognito skit. We'll fit you in somewhere...

I'll learn to play a song on the guitar if you say yes.

Please? *looking at you with big, pleading eyes* Aw, come on, it'll be fun!

Allison (Well-Read Reviews) said...

Yay! I found your blog. Found it while attempting to find out what the title of The Maze Runner # 2 is going to be called.

Waiting impatiently.. err.. patiently. Sure. :)

Vanessa M. said...

Shame on you James. I almost gave up on you ever writing on you blog again. If this is some social experiement its making me kinda mad! If you weren't so awesome with all of your books, I would give up on you! ;)

Unknown said...

No more social experiment please!! I don't think I can take it any more, and I think I'm just about ready for SOME news than none at all!
I still need to read the maze runner but have not had one available to me yet.

Shannon O'Donnell said...

James,
I did not get your email, but I ran around my house like a crazy woman when I saw you had left a comment on my blog. I made my son (the one I have to share your books with) come and see it, just so he'd believe me! ;-) You know that feeling you had with Judy Blume? Yeah, that was me! I left you a return comment on my blog, but I was afraid you wouldn't see it, so I'm covering my bases here. Will you please try emailing me again?
mrso(underscore)d(at)yahoo(dot)com
or
odonnellsh(at)sd5.k12.mt.us

Thanks!!

Lyssa(: said...

I loved the blog!

Oh, and I just saw the extended Maze Runner trailer!! It was so cool!!

Here's the link: http://www.vimeo.com/7119805

Looooove that book!!!

storyqueen said...

Even if you weren't an amazing author, I'd follow this blog simply because of it's name.

The ultimate in cool, Dashner Dude.

Shelley

Bethany Wiggins said...

Congratulations!!! What an amazing thing, Kirkus!

Rach said...

My latest production weekly tells me TWENTIETH CENTURY FOX is in development on a movie called "Maze Runners". Awesome James! Loved the book and I would certainly see the movie.

numberonedashnerfan said...

James you went missing again I think I may have to call a search party.....hehe.....

admin said...

yay! congrats! Your inspiring to us all...Who are good publishers my violin teacher is writing a book about rasing her disabled

kanishk said...

congratulations for being awesome, writing amazing books and taking it as far as you can. You will always have my admiration.

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