With the movie adaption of “The Hunger Games” in theaters, John Dwyer wants to discuss the original idea for the story.
Tom has been writing about “The Hunger Games” and its protagonist, Katniss*, for a bit already, but I can’t help voice a little counter-argument. We both came to the series with an open mind. He used the books as an opportunity to connect with his kids and I needed an audiobook that my girlfriend and I could agree upon during a 16 hour road trip. She has described my literary tastes as “elitist” during kinder moments, and I have tried not to call her habits plebian, because it only reinforces her argument.
I will preface my counter-argument with this: I am talking about the entire trilogy here, and thoroughly enjoyed listening to the first book. However, just like the Millennium Trilogy, the books literarily disintegrate as the series progresses (and yes, I did pun on literally). More importantly, whereas “The Girl with a Dragon Tattoo” was an impressively original piece of work despite its many other flaws, the first installment of “The Hunger Games” is simply a cheesy, foreign knock-off. That is to say, it’s the domestic version of a beautiful Japanese novel.
I’m not accusing Suzanne Collins of plagiarism, though. She creates a dystopian future completely her own, filled with plenty of brightly colored cyber/steam-punk stereotypes. Her novels’ mix of Survivor, Project Runway, and telenovela programming makes it highly doubtful that she has ever heard of Battle Royale unless she was perusing the screenplay for the theatrical version.
**Spoiler Alert**
If you don’t want to read spoilers, then feel free to skip down to the comments section now. Right above it, you’ll find suggestions for some interesting YA novels. What really ruined my fun with this guilty pleasure, is an exact passage in the second book, “Catching Fire” (and I find the similarities between Best-Sellers quite interesting). If you want to see for yourself, my citation can be found on page 358, beginning with the final paragraph:
“There was a plan to break us out of the arena from the moment the Quell was announced. [show, don’t tell, were there any hints of this plan?] The victor tributes from 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, and 11 had varying degrees of knowledge about it. [But why not the reader?] Plutarch Heavensbee has been, for several years, part of an undercover group aiming to overthrow the Capitol [what a cool idea that has been completely untouched for over 300 pages!] … Bonnie and Twill, the women I met in the woods from 8 were right about its existence [District 13, a nearly unfounded guess based on the fact that stock footage played for the District is exactly that, re-used stock footage] and its defense capabilities [not nearly unfounded, completely unfounded! and almost unmentioned] … Meanwhile all the districts in Panem are in full-scale rebellion. [Oh please, don’t go to the bother of actually showing this to me. You’re right, yet again, just telling me after the fact is way more interesting. It’s only the entire point and goal of this book, getting to the godd*mn rebellion.]”
The brackets are my additions. I posted this on Facebook and the response was stunning. Among some fantastic links and an honestly good discussion that only once teetered on the edge of Godwin’s Law, I received some fantastic suggestions for alternative reading. So I’ll leave you with a list that I hope will lighten this criticism of “The Hunger Games.” Young Adult literature doesn’t have to dumb itself down to the masses, and can often be a rewarding experience that challenges as it entertains:
- Robin McKinley’s “The Hero and the Crown”
- Elizabeth Marie Pope’s “The Perilous Guard”
- Salman Rushdie’s “Haroun and the Sea of Stories”
- Neil Gaiman’s “Sandman Chronicles” (actually a series of graphic novels)
- Susan Cooper’s “The Dark is Rising” series
- Piers Anthony’s “The Magic of Xanth”
Oh, and I plan to see the movie anyway this weekend (hopefully the crowds have dwindled after a week of showings). Suzanne Collins is actually a television writer, so maybe the screen will play to her strengths. Blame Mr. Anthony for my puns.
—
*Updated thanks to a fan catching my typo!
John: “Eagle, you’re right, my overlooking of autocorrect’s name change completely undermines my argument. I’m glad you started with that point, and I will rectify that immediately. The ensuing citations and points I make never fully recover from the mistake.” Well, like I said, and this to all those critics out there who can’t help but deplore The Hunger Games trilogy using the argument that it’s a “Rip-off” of Battle Royal” Original Inspiration: Greek Mythology Reality TV War Susan Collins has stated clearly these are what inspired her to write the series, particularly when she viewed footage of current wars… Read more »
Peter, could you elaborate? I think you’re the second one to bring up “The Running Man,” and I am embarrassingly unfamiliar with much of Steven King’s body of work. Eagle, you’re right, my overlooking of autocorrect’s name change completely undermines my argument. I’m glad you started with that point, and I will rectify that immediately. The ensuing citations and points I make never fully recover from the mistake. It’s a shame you have trouble reading a graphic novel. The series has won multiple awards including 26 Eisner awards, and the World Fantasy Award in 1991 for Best Short Fiction which… Read more »
Has anyone read “the long walk” by stephen king or “the running man”? Both did it better than battle royale. I’m re-reading battle royale now and its horrifyingly sexist.
Where to begin. John: “Tom has been writing about “The Hunger Games” and its protagonist, Cattiness, for a bit already,” To start with, if you’re going to critique the world and its characters, you might want to consider getting the names right. Her name is “Katniss”, not Cattiness. Unless you’re quoting Tom, in which case he’s wrong as well. John: “I’m not accusing Suzanne Collins of plagiarism, though.” Yes you are, even if it’s not blatant. You do it through this: “the first installment of “The Hunger Games” is simply a cheesy, foreign knock-off. That is to say, it’s the… Read more »
I hope I did not lead anyone to believe that the Battle Royale comparison was my own. I included the link to the meme because it’s both hilarious and already an established comparison. I bring up the Battle Royale comparison because it’s the most immediate and relevant comparison to the book as far as originality is concerned. Amanda brings up some great ideas with regards to the original, original idea. I do think she is on the right track and that the gladiatorial combat comparison is implied even through the choice of “Games” as a description for the combat. I… Read more »
Yeah, I have nothing against the Hunger Games, but it did kinda ruin any chance of a Battle Royale remake over here. Again, nothing against the Hunger Games, but Battle Royale was so much better and so much deeper. I really wanted to see a remake with the full force of an American budget behind it, the novel and graphic novel had so much backstory and content that had to be cut from the movie.
I also find it irritating when self-appointed critics take down a YA book using an adult fiction book as a yardstick. Chief differences: YA is usually held to 100,000 words.(Dragon Tattoo is approximately 25,000 longer) YA is defined by having lead characters that are themselves young-adults. 3rd ly – The whole Battle Royale thing is a red herring (best taken down by Amanda6 above) – I had seen that movie before I read the books and other than vague setting and plot issues they have nothing in common. By your reckoning Real Steal and Transformers are both telling the same… Read more »
I keep reading articles comparing The Hunger Games to Battle Royale as if every author thinks they’re the first person to make the argument that they’re practically identical. I understand the comparisons; they both specifically involve the government-forced massacre of children at each others’ hands. Other than that very simplified synopsis, the stories are very different. Beyond that fact, though, is another fact: Battle Royale is not, itself, an original story. So why does everyone keep holding it up as the primary source of Collins’ work? Gladiatorial combat — a real thing in history! — has spawned fictional and nonfictional… Read more »
I think the main downside to the film is that it has pretty much shut down any hopes of an American version of Battle Royale. The Japanese films are still out there (the first is awesome, the second not so much), as is the original novel (great read) and manga (another great read).
Tom, about the whole “the girl saves the day,” that is nothing new. It is all through pop culture, and in lots of the comics, video games, and anime that kids watch and play.
I totally agree that books 2 and 3 are inferior. I would also agree to a point that this is light fare compared to Dragon Tats. But I do think “The Road” element is cool and the idea that a girl has to save us is an encouraging sign in so far as it has been widely and enthusiastically received. My 16 year old son is widely read for his age, even some on your list, and he read the first HG book literally 10 times. And forced me to read it. So I am going to have to say… Read more »