James Smith Dashner, born on November 26, 1972, is an acclaimed American writer specializing in speculative fiction. Aimed predominantly at children and young adults, his creative works have garnered significant attention and acclaim. Dashner is celebrated for his The Maze Runner series and the young adult fantasy series The 13th Reality. His 2008 novel, The Journal of Curious Letters, the first installment in The 13th Reality series, was selected as one of the annual Borders Original Voices picks.

In 2014, the literary world saw the release of a film adaptation of The Maze Runner, which was followed by two more films in 2015 and 2018. These adaptations proved highly successful, collectively grossing an estimated $949 million and ranking as the fourth-highest-grossing film series based on young-adult books. This places Dashner's work behind only the film series of Harry Potter, The Twilight Saga, and The Hunger Games.

In 2018, Dashner faced challenges as he was dropped by his agent and publisher following accusations of sexual harassment. Responding to the allegations, Dashner stated that he was taking "any and all criticisms and accusations very seriously," and intended to seek "counseling and guidance to address them."

Aside from his notable series, Dashner has also penned A Door in the Woods and several other works, contributing to a diverse portfolio that spans across the genres of fantasy and science fiction. He continues to live and write in the Rocky Mountains, where his journey in literature marches on.