Synopses & Reviews
An exciting dystopian fantasy thriller series,and#160;
The Hunger Gamesand#160;began its life as a trilogy of books by Suzanne Collins, the first released in 2008. An immediate success, the first installment had a first printing of 50,000 hardcover copies, which quickly ballooned to 200,000. Spending one hundred consecutive weeks on theand#160;
New York Timesand#160;bestseller list, the book was put into development for release on the big screen. The first two films, starring Academy Award-winning actress Jennifer Lawrence, broke box office records, and the final installment is expected to follow suit.
Fan Phenomena: The Hunger Gamesand#160;charts the seriesand#8217;s success through the increasingly vocal online communities that drive the young adult book market. Essays here consider the fashion that the series has created and how the costumes, memorabilia, merchandising, and branding have become an ever bigger part of the fandom experience. Issues explored include debates over the movie starsand#8217; race and size, which tap into greater issues within the fan community and popular culture in general and the current argument that has divided fans and critics: whether or not the third book,and#160;Mockingjay, should be split into two films.
With this scholarly compendium, navigating the postapocalyptic landscape of Panem will be as effortless as Katniss Everdeenand#8217;s archery and ensure that the odds will be forever in your favor.
Review
"We really enjoyed
The Panem Companion. Its unapologetically smart and refuses to trivialize the series or its fandom
if youre going to read [a companion book], we suggest you go for this one.
Victor's Village, a Hunger Games blog
"An in-depth look into Panem and its districts, this book will help you understand why Panem is the way it is, and how it led to a rebellion
Overall, an exceptional companion book to the Hunger Games that every fan should read."
HG Girl on Fire, a Hunger Games fansite
If other companions are Hunger Games 101, this is the grad school class.”
Leah Wilson, editor of The Girl Who Was on Fire
Synopsis
From the creator of the most well-known fan map of Panem comes an unofficial guide to Suzanne Collins bestselling Hunger Games series. Writing with an engaging blend of literary insight and true fan passion, Hunger Games fan academic and seasoned media writer V. Arrow brings Panem to life, from how Panem could have evolved from the America we know today to textual clues as to socioeconomics, ethnicity, culture, sexuality, and more in the districts and the Capitol. Her companion is the perfect way for fans to go deeper into the Hunger Games while they wait for the release of the second film in 2013.
The Panem Companion includes a full lexicon of character name etymologies.
Synopsis
Go deeper into the home of the Hunger Games with the creator of the best-known fan map of Panem What does Panem look like?
How does Panem define race?
How do Panems districts reflect the major themes of the trilogy?
What allusions to our world are found in Panem names like Finnick, Johanna, Beetee, Cinna, Everdeen, and Mellark?
The Panem Companion gives fresh insight into Suzanne Collins trilogy by looking at the world of the Hunger Games and the forces that kept its citizens divided since the First Rebellion. With a blend of academic insight and true fan passion, V. Arrow explores how Panem could have evolved from the America we know today and uses textual clues to piece together Panems beliefs about class, ethnicity, culture, gender, sexuality, and more.
Includes an extensive name lexicon and color-illustrated unofficial map
Synopsis
Fan Phenomena: The Hunger Games charts the series success through the increasingly vocal online communities that are driven by the young adult market in which the series is aimed at. The golden age of the internet has empowered young people to speak about their passions and young adult literature is a topic that is being discussed more widely then ever through blogging, video blogging, and social media sites which have allowed the fandom to flourish online.
About the Author
V. Arrow graduated from Knox College in 2008 with degrees in history and creative writing, specializing in 20th-century pop culture and young adult lit. Under another name, she has previously published at Pop Matters, The One Love, Tommy2.net, and The Hollywood Reporter. Arrow has read a book a day for the last 22 years, and grew up to the age of 12 without realizing that the Muppets werent living creatures. She believes that pop culture affects, reflects, and informs all aspects of daily life in Western culture and that it is perhaps the most crucial form of media expression to analyze and discuss.
Table of Contents
Introduction
and#160;and#160; Nicola Balkind
The Hunger Games 101: Suzanne as a Fan and the Authorand#8217;s Influences
Hunger for the Games: War and Violence
Fan Appreciation no.1: V. Arrow on The Panem Companion and more
The Gender Games: Katniss and The and#8216;Strong Female Characterand#8217;
Propos: The Publicity vs The Message
Fan Appreciation no.2: Adam Spunberg and Savanna New of the Hunger Games Fireside Chat Podcast
Race and Represntation in Panem and Beyond
Fan Philosophies and Activism: The Hunger Games for Social Good
Fan Appreciation no.3: Sara Gundell on Reporting on The Hunger Games
Playing at The Hunger Games: Fandom Play Online and IRL
The Fans vs The Man: The Capitol PN vs Panem October
Fan Appreciation no.4: Samantha Sisson and Aaron Darcy on Panem Kitchen
Consumption Becomes Production: Fan Creations and The Hunger Games
Author Biography
Image Credits