James Dashner, born in 1972, is an American author primarily recognized for his speculative fiction aimed at young adults and children. He gained significant international acclaim with "The Maze Runner" series, which was adapted into a successful film franchise. Another notable series is "The 13th Reality."

Dashner's career began with "A Door in the Woods" in 2003, part of "The Jimmy Fincher Saga." He later launched "The 13th Reality" series, with its first book, "The Journal of Curious Letters," published in 2008 and receiving critical recognition. The Maze Runner series began in 2009 and quickly became a bestseller, leading to a major film adaptation that commenced in 2014. The film series achieved substantial box office success.

In 2018, Dashner's career faced a significant setback when accusations of sexual harassment emerged. Following these allegations, his agent and publisher severed ties with him. Dashner issued a statement acknowledging the seriousness of the criticisms and expressed intent to seek counseling. In 2021, he released an adult horror novel, "The House of Tongues."

James Dashner's writing career commenced with "A Door in the Woods" in 2003, the initial installment in "The Jimmy Fincher Saga." This series, aimed at teenagers, explored fantastical elements and concluded with "War of the Black Curtain" in 2005. Following this, Dashner embarked on two new series that would achieve widespread recognition: "The 13th Reality" and "The Maze Runner." The first book in "The 13th Reality" series, "The Journal of Curious Letters" (2008), garnered critical acclaim and was selected as a Borders Original Voices pick. His most famous work, "The Maze Runner" (2009), became a New York Times Best Seller and was adapted into a highly successful film trilogy, grossing nearly a billion dollars worldwide. Dashner has also ventured into adult horror with "The House of Tongues" (2021).

The immense popularity of "The Maze Runner" series led to its adaptation into a film franchise, beginning with the release of "The Maze Runner" in 2014. This initial film achieved significant commercial success, earning over $348 million globally. Two sequels, "Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials" (2015) and "Maze Runner: The Death Cure" (2018), followed, with the latter experiencing production delays due to an on-set injury. Collectively, the film adaptations of "The Maze Runner" series rank among the highest-grossing film series based on young adult literature, demonstrating Dashner's broad appeal to a global audience.

In 2018, James Dashner faced serious allegations of sexual harassment. These claims surfaced online and led to significant professional consequences. His literary agent, Michael Bourret, announced he could no longer work with Dashner, citing ethical concerns. Similarly, Dashner's publisher, Penguin Random House, stated they would not release further books by the author. Dashner responded to the accusations via a public statement, expressing that he took them seriously and intended to seek guidance and counseling to address the issues raised.

“I am taking any and all criticisms and accusations very seriously, and I will seek counseling and guidance to address them.”

“I didn't honor or fully understand boundaries and power dynamics. I can sincerely say that I have never intentionally hurt another person. But to those affected, I am so deeply sorry.”