Note: This post was originally published on Audible.com.
is the series that really brought young adult dystopian fiction into the forefront of popular culture. The novels—a trilogy and a prequel, written by —are set in the fictional country of Panem. To keep its citizens in line, the Capitol of Panem forces each of the nation's 12 districts to participate in the annual Hunger Games. In this fierce competition, young representatives from each district are pitted against one another in a televised fight to the death.
Since its initial publication in 2008, the series has only grown in popularity, proving itself a mainstay among listeners young and old. Now, buzz for the Hunger Games has been renewed yet again with the highly anticipated release of , a prequel set 24 years prior to that monumental first book. Sunrise explores the origins of fan-favorite character Haymitch Abernathy, homing in on his experiences as a tribute in the 50th annual Hunger Games. While you wait for March 18, brush up on and revisit the details of the unforgettable story that started it all.
Warning: The following article contains spoilers for The Hunger Games series.
What inspired The Hunger Games?
The Hunger Games series was inspired by the Greek myth of "Theseus and the Minotaur." In this story, King Minos of Crete punishes Athens for the death of a son by demanding a sacrifice of 14 youths—seven girls and seven boys—to be brought to the Minotaur. Theseus volunteers as tribute and slays the beast. In The Hunger Games, the novel that started it all, Katniss Everdeen from the 12th District volunteers as tribute to save her sister from being sacrificed. Over the course of the series, she ends up fighting against the Capitol to free the people of Panem.
Where is The Hunger Games series set?
The series is set in the nation of Panem, which is divided into 12 districts, each specializing in a different trade. District 1 is closest to the Capitol, and as the districts get further away from the Capitol, they become less favored by Capitol officials and more impoverished. District 1 is the wealthiest of the districts of Panem, and it specializes in luxury. District 2 is in charge of masonry and defense. District 3 specializes in technology and electronics. District 4 is the coastal district and specializes in fishing. District 5 specializes in electrical power. District 6 specializes in transportation. District 7 specializes in lumber. District 8: textiles. District 9: grain. District 10: livestock. District 11: agriculture. District 12, which Katniss Everdeen calls home, is the least favored and poorest of them all; it specializes in coal mining. There once was an even unluckier district that specialized in nuclear weaponry. District 13 was bombed and supposedly destroyed at the end of the Dark Days war. However, as Katniss later discovers, the people of District 13 have been hiding, planning rebellion.