James Dashner
He launched a generation of readers into heart-pounding dystopian labyrinths with his high-concept, action-packed Maze Runner series.
Born 1972 (age 54)·American author·Birthday: November 26·Generation X
Biography
James Dashner built a gateway into dystopian fiction for a huge audience of young readers in the late 2000s. A former accountant from Georgia who always wanted to write, he first found success with a middle-grade fantasy series before unleashing his most potent creation. 'The Maze Runner,' published in 2009, dropped readers into the Glade with no memory and a shifting, deadly maze, tapping into a primal fear of the unknown and a fascination with puzzle-box narratives. Its relentless pace and cliffhanger chapters made it a word-of-mouth sensation, perfectly timed to ride the wave of young adult dystopian hunger. The series' expansion into a major film franchise cemented its place in the genre. Dashner's work is defined by high-stakes scenarios that prioritize propulsive mystery and survivalist action, locking readers into a breathless race to the final page.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
James was born in 1972, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When James Was Born
The biggest hits of 1972
#1 Movie
The Godfather
Best Picture
The Godfather
#1 TV Show
All in the Family
James's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1972Born
Watergate break-in; last Apollo Moon mission
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $19,550Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" — Roberta FlackBest Picture: The Godfather
1977Started school
Star Wars premieres; Elvis dies
Gas: $0.62/galHome: $31,800Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Tonight's the Night" — Rod StewartBest Picture: Annie Hall
1985Became a teenager
Live Aid concerts raise money for Ethiopian famine
Gas: $1.12/galHome: $62,900Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Careless Whisper" — Wham!Best Picture: Out of Africa
1988Could drive
Pan Am Flight 103 bombed over Lockerbie
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $74,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Faith" — George MichaelBest Picture: Rain Man
1990Could vote
Hubble Space Telescope launched; Germany reunifies
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.80/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Hold On" — Wilson PhillipsBest Picture: Dances with Wolves
1993Turned 21
European Union officially established
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $86,600Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"I Will Always Love You" — Whitney HoustonBest Picture: Schindler's List
2002Turned 30
Euro currency enters circulation
Gas: $1.36/galHome: $137,800Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"How You Remind Me" — NickelbackBest Picture: Chicago
2012Turned 40
Curiosity rover lands on Mars; Sandy Hook shooting
Gas: $3.64/galHome: $143,200Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Somebody That I Used to Know" — GotyeBest Picture: Argo
2022Turned 50
Russia invades Ukraine; Queen Elizabeth II dies
Gas: $3.97/galHome: $348,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"As It Was" — Harry StylesBest Picture: Everything Everywhere All at Once
2026Age 54 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Authored 'The Maze Runner' series, which became a global bestselling phenomenon and a major film franchise.
- His debut novel in 'The 13th Reality' series, 'The Journal of Curious Letters', was selected as a Borders Original Voices pick.
- Has sold millions of books worldwide, with his works translated into numerous languages.
Did You Know?
He originally pursued a career in accounting before becoming a full-time writer.
He is an avid fan of the TV series 'Lost', which influenced the mysterious, ensemble-driven nature of 'The Maze Runner'.
The initial idea for 'The Maze Runner' came to him as a single, vivid image of kids living in a glade surrounded by a massive maze.
“The best advice I ever got was to read a lot and write a lot.”
