The Maze Runner, a novel by James Dashner, was published in 2009 and is set in a post-apocalyptic world, where a group of young boys find themselves trapped in a mysterious maze called the Glade. They have no memory of their past lives and are trying to find a way out of the maze while dealing with dangerous creatures called Grievers. A mysterious and oppressive organization known as WICKED is behind the main protagonist’s arrival at the Glade. The story explores themes of survival, friendship, memory, and the consequences of scientific experimentation gone awry, but rebellion is a central theme. Through the characters’ actions, motivations, and the challenges they face they begin to resist the containment of being controlled by the maze, the Grievers, and WICKED. The acts of rebellion drive the plot forward and showcase the strength of the human spirit in the face of adversity. From the moment Thomas arrives in the Glade, he is curious and questions the rules and authority figures. He challenges the established order, particularly the leadership of Alby and Newt, by suggesting new ideas and strategies to solve the maze. He refuses to accept ignorance and actively pushes for exploration and discovery, despite warnings from others. Thomas forms close friendships with characters like Minho and Chuck, and together they rebel against the obstacles they face. Their unity and cooperation are acts of rebellion against the divide-and-conquer tactics of the maze. As the novel progresses, it is revealed that the Gladers are part of an experiment conducted by the organization WICKED (World In Catastrophe: Killzone Experiment Department). The eventual escape provides some answers as to why the Gladers were encapsulated within the Maze. As the Gladers learn more about the Flare virus and the purpose of the maze, they also discover that they may hold the key to finding a cure in a new dystopian world. This knowledge gives them hope that their suffering and sacrifices might lead to a better future for others.

Drayton’s Discoveries by JL Nich is considered a space opera novel with colonization as part of the plot. The story takes place in space and on a dystopian planet. Herman Drayton is the primary protagonist, a science officer aboard the Icarus when he discovers a new unknown element on a planet called Atax. His captain is not interested in pursuing unknown minerals. He only wants to score gems or find known ore beds. As the story progresses, Herman rebels against the captain and forms a small coup as he, along with two others, dissolves their contract while planet-side, leaving the Icarus crew. They are forced to fight off the oppression of the vengeful captain and then take up residence on Atax to determine more about the materials. Herman yanks all of his strings and invites quite a few of his friends to come to help him build a small city within the planet’s dry underground waterways. The rebellion grows as they have to fight off Icarus’s return more than once. Herman and his science team soon discovered the material of the planet is a new energy source 10x more powerful than what is available on the market today.