Crank Palace is the First New Work in the Maze Runner Series from James Dashner in Four Years

At the request of his fans, author James Dashner began working on the story of what happened to Newt, one of the initial Maze Runner characters who were not immune to the fictional virus, The Flare. However, once the world was plunged into a real-life viral pandemic of its own with the outbreak of COVID-19, Newt’s story really came to life as Crank Palace. Innovative Publisher Riverdale Avenue Books is excited to be publishing James Dashner’s first new work from his best-selling series this November 23rd, right before the Thanksgiving holiday.

Taking place during the latter events of The Death Cure, Crank Palace tells the story of Newt like never before, from inside his own mind, as he searches for meaning in a life gone horribly wrong. He will try to fulfill a new-found destiny before his path leads to its inevitable conclusion—and one last meeting with his best friend.

Leaving only a note, Newt departs the Berg before the Gladers return from their mission into Denver, Colorado. From there, he experiences the gritty nightmare of life on the streets, running from the infected and those hunting them, until he ends up in the Crank Palace, the last dumping ground of those without hope. Although Newt thought he was running away from his friends to save them from himself, along the way he meets a young mother named Keisha and her son, Dante, who end up saving Newt in a way he could never have imagined.

“A large chunk of Crank Palace was written after the latest coronavirus began its mad spread across continents, seemingly sparing no corner of the Earth, no matter how far. That was an odd experience;” Dashner explained. “It added depth, a level of personal, relatable fear that might’ve been missing in earlier books.”

The author has pledged to donate all proceeds from the publication of the book to various charities designed to help those affected by the pandemic and cultural upheaval of the past year.