"I always channel my emotions into my work. That way, I don't hurt anyone but myself."
Suzanne Collins has done it again with
the second installment of her Hunger Games trilogy. Catching Fire has
won the hearts of many due to its new twists and turns that make life
more complicated for our heroes, The Girl on Fire Katniss Everdeen,
and The Boy with the Bread Peeta Mellark. Collins has toured us to
the futuristic world of Panem, which is what has become of North
America many years into the future.
With a pinch of science fiction which
was characterized by the huge advancement of technology on their
simple scarce lives perfectly balances a sense of the past and the
future into the setting of the story. It has become the perfect mix
of human history, with the story's setting remaining as an element of
its own. The science fiction part in it was also reflected by the
futuristic side of their technology, and the nature of the games
itself likened to the prehistoric men's fight for survival in the old
times. Even the problems of the present is well-represented in the
storyline, such as widespread poverty in different parts of the world
(or in their case, the less important districts) and even corruption
in the government. Therefore, it is a commentary of the past, the
present and the future perfectly meshed into one.
Another great thing about the storyline
itself is how their technology is described. There was an abundance
of hovercrafts, centrally-controlled televisions (which by the way
uses LCD or hologram-like means of projection, and not mere TV
screens), some sort of holographic simulator (the one that allowed
the tributes, or should I say victor-tributes) to train in a
battle-like situation, and even the entire arena itself (although it
looks so natural, it is actually man-made and controlled 24/7 by the
gamemakers). The technology is something we could only have imagined
but not actually experienced in this lifetime. But it is not
everywhere in the story wherein the technology was great. The poorer
districts (which basically is all the districts excluding Districts
1, 2 and 4) do not have the privilege these three favorites of the
capitol have. They enjoy only enough technology and electricity based
on how much they actually need.
Suzanne Collins has given us another
mindblowing insight to the life within her books. Using the great
mesh of contrasting elements, she may have made yet another
masterpiece shared to all of us. Directed by Francis Lawrence, the
movie adaptation of the book is still being shown in theaters
nationwide.
Karmela Rae T. Baldo
2013-18602
STS THY
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