Before the Hunger Games....

On George Stromboulopoulos' blog/website, is an article about ten works of dystopian fiction, the forbears of today's trend of dystopia in fiction, especially young adult novels.  They include Steven King's first published novel, The Long Walk, which he published under the pseudonym Richard Bachman.  It is the story of an alternate America in the future wherein young men (teenagers really) are in a long walk of competition and should they walk too slowly, they will be gunned down.  All in the name of entertainment of a nation.  From Margaret Atwood's Oryx and Crake to the film Planet of the Apes starring Charlton Heston, dystopian societies occupied many story lines.  Also included is Rush's song 2112...yes..dystopian rock 'n roll!!

Now as society embraces dystopianism (that's a word, isn't it?), it's fun to look back through the decades at its predecessors.  Check it out at George Stromboulopoulos now.

Are you attending the midnight premiere tonight?