It begins with an unnamed narrator, whose gender Brooks does not identify, [1] arriving at a deserted island and finding that they are stuck in the world of Minecraft.

Minecraft: The Island is a novel by American author Max Brooks, [2] which was published by Del Rey Books on July 18, 2017. Max Brooks is a senior nonresident fellow at the Modern War Institute at West Point and the Atlantic Council's Brent Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security. Brooks' interest in the sandbox video game Minecraft began around 2012 when a friend introduced him to the game. Especially with no help except for a few makeshift tools and sage advice from an unlikely friend: a cow.His bestselling books include Minecraft: The Island, Minecraft: The Mountain, The Zombie Survival Guide, Devolution, and World War Z, which was adapted into a 2013 movie starring Brad Pitt. Minecraft: The Island by Max Brooks, bestselling author of World War Z, is the first official Minecraft novel. Written for a young-adult audience, [1] the book is divided into chapters that each teach a specific life lesson. Minecraft: The Island will tell the story of a new hero stranded in the world of Minecraft, who must survive the harsh, unfamiliar environment and unravel the secrets of the island. Max Brooks is an author, public speaker, and nonresident fellow at the Modern War Institute at West Point.

Mojang wanted readers to picture themselves in the novel, and were, according to Brooks, "very hands on when it came to inclusiveness".

Two audiobooks were also released on the same day, with narration provided by Jack Black and Samira Wiley, respectively. Though describing the plot as "ha[ving] a mechanical feel", John Peters of Booklist wrote that the book contained "useful hints and strategies".