Book Log 24/2011 - Suzanne Collins: The Hunger Games

8/5/11
Suzanne Collins: The Hunger Games - The Hunger Games #1

Everyone was talking about this book at Eastercon this April, so, of course, I had to see what all the fuss was about. It's a trilogy, though, I doubt that it was originally meant to be since the Hunger Games themselves happen and are over by the end of the first book, but I can see that future problems are about to develop for the main character Katniss Everdeen.

But I'm getting ahead of myself...

In a land that used to be North America but is now Panam after some apocalyptic time we don't know about, there are 12 Districts which once tried to rebel against Capitol. As a result each district must send two teenage tributes, a boy and a girl, to the Hunger Games each year. It's a last-man-standing fight to the death, watched by everyone live-as-it-happens. Reality TV taken to extremes. Contestants between the ages of 12 and 18 are chosen by lottery. The older they are, the more 'tickets' they have in the lottery. They can also buy extra rations by having another ticket, so Katniss has 48 chances of being chosen. He little sister only one, as she's only just old enough to be entered.

Life is hard in District 12 but Katniss keeps her mother and younger sister fed by the extra food rations and by illegal hunting outside of the fence. Since her father was killed in the mine she's teamed up with Gale, a good hunter, whose father was killed in the same accident. Katniss and Gale are good friends, but there's nothing romantic in their relationship... yet.

When Katniss' little sister is selected in the Hunger Games lottery Katniss immediately volunteers to go in her place, believing it to be a death sentence. The chosen boy from District 12 is Peeta, the baker's son, who was once kind to Katniss when she was starving, but she can't afford to think of him as a friend. One of them may have to kill the other if the other contestants don't oblige.

There are twists and turns in the politics before the games start and then shifting alliances during the games.

Katniss is a fascinating character, self-sufficient both physically and mentally but the stress of being the family's provider is considerable and at 16 she shoulders all the responsibility herself. Oh how she wants someone to rely on, but she's to afraid to abdicate responsibility in case she reached out for a rock and finds an avalanche.  (Her mother let the family down when her father died by having some kind of depressive episode and they all nearly starved.) There are bittersweet little hints that the way Katniss sees herself is not the way others see her and one of the reasons she can't believe Peeta loves her is that she sees herself as pretty unlovable. The supporting characters are three-dimensional , too.

I really enjoyed this and can see why people are talking about it. It's breathlessly fast paced and stretches the dramatic tension as tight as a bowstring. It's written in present tense which in this case works very well. It gives reality TV a kick in the teeth (good!). The world-building is superb and there are some chilling ideas, all carried to their logical conclusions. It's not all dark and depressing, though it has its gritty sections (and bloody ones) and it's certainly not a laugh a minute. I will be looking out for the next book in the trilogy. In fact - I'll be rushing off to order it as soon as I've posted this.

Book Log 24/2011 - Suzanne Collins: The Hunger Games

8/5/11
Suzanne Collins: The Hunger Games - The Hunger Games #1

Everyone was talking about this book at Eastercon this April, so, of course, I had to see what all the fuss was about. It's a trilogy, though, I doubt that it was originally meant to be since the Hunger Games themselves happen and are over by the end of the first book, but I can see that future problems are about to develop for the main character Katniss Everdeen.

But I'm getting ahead of myself...

In a land that used to be North America but is now Panam after some apocalyptic time we don't know about, there are 12 Districts which once tried to rebel against Capitol. As a result each district must send two teenage tributes, a boy and a girl, to the Hunger Games each year. It's a last-man-standing fight to the death, watched by everyone live-as-it-happens. Reality TV taken to extremes. Contestants between the ages of 12 and 18 are chosen by lottery. The older they are, the more 'tickets' they have in the lottery. They can also buy extra rations by having another ticket, so Katniss has 48 chances of being chosen. He little sister only one, as she's only just old enough to be entered.

Life is hard in District 12 but Katniss keeps her mother and younger sister fed by the extra food rations and by illegal hunting outside of the fence. Since her father was killed in the mine she's teamed up with Gale, a good hunter, whose father was killed in the same accident. Katniss and Gale are good friends, but there's nothing romantic in their relationship... yet.

When Katniss' little sister is selected in the Hunger Games lottery Katniss immediately volunteers to go in her place, believing it to be a death sentence. The chosen boy from District 12 is Peeta, the baker's son, who was once kind to Katniss when she was starving, but she can't afford to think of him as a friend. One of them may have to kill the other if the other contestants don't oblige.

There are twists and turns in the politics before the games start and then shifting alliances during the games.

Katniss is a fascinating character, self-sufficient both physically and mentally but the stress of being the family's provider is considerable and at 16 she shoulders all the responsibility herself. Oh how she wants someone to rely on, but she's to afraid to abdicate responsibility in case she reached out for a rock and finds an avalanche.  (Her mother let the family down when her father died by having some kind of depressive episode and they all nearly starved.) There are bittersweet little hints that the way Katniss sees herself is not the way others see her and one of the reasons she can't believe Peeta loves her is that she sees herself as pretty unlovable. The supporting characters are three-dimensional , too.

I really enjoyed this and can see why people are talking about it. It's breathlessly fast paced and stretches the dramatic tension as tight as a bowstring. It's written in present tense which in this case works very well. It gives reality TV a kick in the teeth (good!). The world-building is superb and there are some chilling ideas, all carried to their logical conclusions. It's not all dark and depressing, though it has its gritty sections (and bloody ones) and it's certainly not a laugh a minute. I will be looking out for the next book in the trilogy. In fact - I'll be rushing off to order it as soon as I've posted this.