No, after the collapse of our existing government as we now know it; that’s why this sticks in my craw so badly.
Collins made it very clear that the setting for HG is supposed to be the remains of what was once the United States, and not even the entirety of it; just the main middle portion:
So even being willing to wave away the rest of the planet as ‘MIA’- “we don’t know what happened because the citizens of Panem don’t know,” WTF happened to the Western and Eastern seaboards?
Again, that speaks to some sort of major fucking catastrophe happening at some point in the past that Collins never bothers to do more than even hint at, if that.
Had Collins placed her novels in some other reality or a completely fictitious setting, I’d have less of a problem with this particular aspect of the narrative.
But since she did set it in the US, it just comes across as yet another self-absorbed ‘American exceptionalism’ perspective; only the heartland of America survived whatever “really bad thing” happened, and only America matters.
O_O
No need for all that; a few lines strewn here and there would have done the trick:
She could have had tertiary characters gossiping about old legends involving a ‘big boom’ or a ‘great plague’ that caused unimaginable destruction and chaos, from which the “great and wise” leaders of panem rose up and ‘saved’ the remains of humanity (which is exactly how a fascist regime like the capitol would spin it.)
But again, she didn’t even deign to do that; maybe JK Rowling spoiled me when it comes to kids’ literature, but my opinion is that’s just some lazy ass writing.
I understand why; that’s basically a kick ass action flick, not a series of novels featuring a ‘strong female lead’ meant for young adults. Dollars to donuts, HG would not even exist if BR wasn’t a cult hit.
Therein is my whole problem with HG; Collins completely failed to suspend my disbelief that the narrative she pulled out of her ass is plausible.
