With Sunrise on the Reaping, Hunger Games leans on Star Wars’ greatest strength

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With the dawn breaking over “The Reaping,” the newest installment in the narrative universe of The Hunger Games, raised a substantial query when it was first unveiled a year ago: Is there truly a necessity for this expansion?

In essence, Suzanne Collins’ initial trilogy of books and subsequent films, which significantly altered the literary landscape, gave her the freedom to never revisit the world of The Hunger Games again. Later on, Collins expanded her fictional universe with A Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, a prequel that delves into the early years of young Snow during the early games. Although it subtly echoed the original books, its primary goal was to portray Snow not as a sympathetic villain, but rather as a future tyrant who stood by while evil prevailed, eventually choosing to align himself with it.

In Collins’ newest book, we find Haymitch, another victor from District 12 like Katniss and Peeta, who had previously endured his own version of the Hunger Games. This ordeal left him shattered and detached, a mere shadow of his former self. Although we were aware of his fate as we encountered him in Katniss’s narrative set decades later, Collins’ prequels offer a wealth of untapped potential. They introduce a multiverse of stories that intertwine intricately, enhancing one another and providing fresh insights into our own world. Remarkably, this world is the very same one addressed by the author throughout her Hunger Games series, despite the fact that these tales technically unfold within a fictional universe.

I’ve named this phenomenon the “Star Wars Impact.” If you compare The Hunger Games and Star Wars, you’ll find many similarities when you delve deeper. They both portray ordinary individuals who are unwillingly drawn into conflicts they didn’t choose, subjugated by rulers seeking retribution for sins that occurred long ago. In both series, the protagonists weren’t looking to lead rebellions; instead, their lives were forever altered by the destruction and victories that followed.

Now, due to Collins’ two prequels, both narratives gain depth from being told non-chronologically. One story is presented, followed by another that enriches our understanding of the preceding tales. Initially, we encounter Anakin Skywalker, who has been redeemed by his son’s love, and later learn about his descent into the dark side. Similarly, in “Sunrise on the Reaping“, we discover why District 12’s first victor was never mentioned before in “Songbirds”. It becomes deeply moving when we realize that Haymitch’s addiction in later years might have started as a comfort item turned into a vice.

This book not only discloses and hints at much deeper meanings without giving too much away, but the author clearly writes with the intent of inspiring readers rather than for financial gain. When Collins expresses herself, she does so boldly. Now, it’s increasingly crucial that we pay attention to her words.

Now could be an ideal moment to go back over these stories again, as you might have overlooked similarities between that fictional world and ours when you first read them during your teenage years. By doing so, you can appreciate the full significance of how relevant these tales are to our present lives. It’s essential to realize that while The Hunger Games may not be our actual future, many other unfortunate events could occur if we fail to challenge the idea that our lives are worth less than those in power today.

A prequel serves a purpose we should strive to emulate more often. It encourages us to delve into our past, not only for brighter tomorrows, but to secure any future for ourselves in the first place.

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2025-04-10 17:14