The Hunger Games
The Hunger Games is a series of novels by Suzanne Collins, with the first volume written in 2008. The plot follows the life of 16 year old Katniss Everdeen, a resident of Panem (Post apocalyptic and World War North America), who is forced into a gladiatoral combat by the autocratic government of Panem, a successor state of Canada and the United states.
A film version of The Hunger Games broke US first weekend box office records in March 2012.
Plot
The story takes place in a post-apocalyptic North America, many years after unrevealed catastrophies and "a ravaging war for what little sustenance remains" causes the governments of North America to collapse, and Panem, "a shining capitol, ringed by thirteen districts" to form. Each district provides some type of resource or service for the wealthy Capitol, located in the rocky mountains, where the richest citizens of Panem reside. The protagonists hail from District 12, located near Appalachia today. District 12 mines coal, and is one of the poorest districts. As punishment for an earlier rebellion 74 years before the first book begins, the Hunger Games are imposed upon the citizens of the districts, who must send 1 boy and 1 girl from each of those 12 remaining districts (the 13th was obliterated in the rebellion) to the Capitol every year, to fight to the death. In the story, Katniss volunteers for her 12 year old sister to take place as tribute to the Capitol. Peeta Mellark, her counterpart, reveals his undying love for Katniss during the games itself, and due to public opinion strongly opposed to killing the "star crossed lovers", a rule change is implemented, and both tributes survive, to the chargrin of the Capitol, who views it as a poorly hidden rebellion. Afterwards, Peeta is heartbroken when he learns that Katniss's actions in the arena were part of a calculated ploy to earn sympathy from the audience.[1]
Characters
- Katniss Everdeen, the protagonist of the games.
- Peeta Mellark, Katniss's lover
- Haymitch Abernathy, their state sponsored mentor
- Primrose Everdeen, Katniss's sister
- Madge Undersee, Katniss's friend
- Gale Hawthorn, Katniss's (at the time) boyfriend.
Political Themes
In an interview with Collins, it was noted that the books tackle issues like severe poverty, starvation, oppression, and the effects of war among others".[2] Suzanne Collins compared the story to modern society, with western nations as the Capitol, whose nation building schemes blow up in the faces of the "districts" (other nations), who must support the capitol with cheap labour, resources, etc.[3]
Critics
The Hunger Games has been well received, with major book critics giving it favorable reviews. A common grievance was the "poor copyediting, which was distracting to readers."[4][5]
References
- ↑ ISBN 0439023483 "The Hunger Games", Collins, Suzanne
- ↑ http://en.scientificcommons.org/48135746
- ↑ http://www.forbes.com/sites/quora/2011/10/21/what-if-anything-does-the-hunger-games-series-teach-us-about-strategy/
- ↑ http://www.ala.org/advocacy/banned/frequentlychallenged/21stcenturychallenged/2010
- ↑ http://www.booklistonline.com/ProductInfo.aspx?pid=2739783