Starters
question
Too Much (in a rip-off formulaic way) like Hunger Games?
Leslie
(last edited
Aug 20, 2012 08:07PM
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Aug 20, 2012 07:57PM
I just finished Starters... and have to admit I feel very uneasy about it. I am still considering my review. [SPOILER ALERT -- I'm going to do a little run-down of characters and key scenes.]
First, I have to say that I thought the set-up--where only the very young and very old have survived in this cruel dystopian landscape--was original, believable and intriguing. Given this, I became upset with the author when I began to see definite "hearty helpings" of The Hunger Games mixed into Starters--almost like someone copying a RECIPE for a teen hit.
Callie/Katniss is...
- sole protector of her younger sibling. "I have to do this for Primrose/Tyler."
- surviving by teaming up with a 'sort of' boyfriend who really understands her and vows to keep her sibling safe in her absence. "How can I forget Gale/Michael?"
- removed from her normal tough existence and thrown into an amazingly luxurious (but dangerous) new one. (Games/Rentals)
- in that removed situation and when she meets new potential boyfriend (Peeta/Blake) who wins her over despite lots of guilty, angsty internal dialogue.
- at the cold, "beauty make-over processing center" when she meets one empathetic worker who is initially kind to her (Cinna/Trax) and who helps her later.
- managed by a fake-sweet, coldly proper, business woman who runs the contestant/renter side of the show (Effie/Doris).
- befriended by small, waif-like young girl (Rue/Sara) who idolizes her and who ultimately dies a terrible death that Carrie/Katniss witnesses.
There are more... but need I go on? As each Hunger Games' doppelganger arrived in Starters, I began to imagine Lissa Price with all the characters names from Hunger Games on cards on her bulletin board -- recasting them in her story to play if not an identical then, an eerily similar, role. Hmmm.
I mean, like, gee? Why mess with success?
BECAUSE it is a kind of plagiarism! And as more and more parallels (the Sara/Rue sacrifice device felt blatant!) showed up in the book, I began to resent being taken for the formulaic ride. Especially because the cool original parts of the book are clever and imaginative; it's clear Ms. Price could have done her own casting and plotting without resorting to this sort of copycat fiction. (Unless there is a book out there I haven't read with the youngster/oldster viral survival story that was also 'borrowed' by LP.)
Or maybe reading this just made me paranoid?
I mean, did anyone else notice this? Do others think there are just a tad too many coincidences between Carrie's/Katniss's key relationships?
Curious to know what goodreaders think.
First, I have to say that I thought the set-up--where only the very young and very old have survived in this cruel dystopian landscape--was original, believable and intriguing. Given this, I became upset with the author when I began to see definite "hearty helpings" of The Hunger Games mixed into Starters--almost like someone copying a RECIPE for a teen hit.
Callie/Katniss is...
- sole protector of her younger sibling. "I have to do this for Primrose/Tyler."
- surviving by teaming up with a 'sort of' boyfriend who really understands her and vows to keep her sibling safe in her absence. "How can I forget Gale/Michael?"
- removed from her normal tough existence and thrown into an amazingly luxurious (but dangerous) new one. (Games/Rentals)
- in that removed situation and when she meets new potential boyfriend (Peeta/Blake) who wins her over despite lots of guilty, angsty internal dialogue.
- at the cold, "beauty make-over processing center" when she meets one empathetic worker who is initially kind to her (Cinna/Trax) and who helps her later.
- managed by a fake-sweet, coldly proper, business woman who runs the contestant/renter side of the show (Effie/Doris).
- befriended by small, waif-like young girl (Rue/Sara) who idolizes her and who ultimately dies a terrible death that Carrie/Katniss witnesses.
There are more... but need I go on? As each Hunger Games' doppelganger arrived in Starters, I began to imagine Lissa Price with all the characters names from Hunger Games on cards on her bulletin board -- recasting them in her story to play if not an identical then, an eerily similar, role. Hmmm.
I mean, like, gee? Why mess with success?
BECAUSE it is a kind of plagiarism! And as more and more parallels (the Sara/Rue sacrifice device felt blatant!) showed up in the book, I began to resent being taken for the formulaic ride. Especially because the cool original parts of the book are clever and imaginative; it's clear Ms. Price could have done her own casting and plotting without resorting to this sort of copycat fiction. (Unless there is a book out there I haven't read with the youngster/oldster viral survival story that was also 'borrowed' by LP.)
Or maybe reading this just made me paranoid?
I mean, did anyone else notice this? Do others think there are just a tad too many coincidences between Carrie's/Katniss's key relationships?
Curious to know what goodreaders think.
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Hmm, having read them in reverse, I did not have that experience when I read Starters. In Hindsight now, I can see the similarities that you've pointed out.
And yet, I think it's fair to say that this "recipe" found in Hunger Games has been an old model and is being revised again and again especially in newer works of Dystopian fiction.
If you really wanted to I'm sure we could pull all of the fast up and comers since the release of the Hunger Games and find similarities in character roles, placement, trials so on and so forth. Is it fair to say she ripped it off? I'm not quite convinced.
And I think there's the glaring fact that no matter how many characters may feel familiar, they are not all consistently the same as the Hunger Games, they merely fill similar roles. I mean, just the chemistry between Callie and Blake is leaps and bounds different from the relationship between Katniss and Peeta (which I've always felt was gravely strained and one-sided)
Sara is also a deluded young girl who is excited to become a rentee where as Rue is a girl who knows she's in a death trap and wants to survive.
The plot itself also has many, many differences. In the end, I enjoyed Starter's a great deal, probably because I wasn't measuring it up against the Hunger Games. To be quite honest, and I realize I am facing great scrutiny because of what I'm about to say next, I wasn't impressed with the Hunger Games. I can say it was a bareable read (the first one) but afterwards I would love everything else more.
I'll concede there are similarities, but key relationships in Callie's and Katniss's lives unfurl very differently.
And yet, I think it's fair to say that this "recipe" found in Hunger Games has been an old model and is being revised again and again especially in newer works of Dystopian fiction.
If you really wanted to I'm sure we could pull all of the fast up and comers since the release of the Hunger Games and find similarities in character roles, placement, trials so on and so forth. Is it fair to say she ripped it off? I'm not quite convinced.
And I think there's the glaring fact that no matter how many characters may feel familiar, they are not all consistently the same as the Hunger Games, they merely fill similar roles. I mean, just the chemistry between Callie and Blake is leaps and bounds different from the relationship between Katniss and Peeta (which I've always felt was gravely strained and one-sided)
Sara is also a deluded young girl who is excited to become a rentee where as Rue is a girl who knows she's in a death trap and wants to survive.
The plot itself also has many, many differences. In the end, I enjoyed Starter's a great deal, probably because I wasn't measuring it up against the Hunger Games. To be quite honest, and I realize I am facing great scrutiny because of what I'm about to say next, I wasn't impressed with the Hunger Games. I can say it was a bareable read (the first one) but afterwards I would love everything else more.
I'll concede there are similarities, but key relationships in Callie's and Katniss's lives unfurl very differently.
There are a lot of parallels but the story and concept behind starters is completely different to the hunger games.
- sole protector of her younger sibling. "I have to do this for Primrose/Tyler."
For one Callie chooses to become a rentee as one of a number of options. No one is forcing her into the decision it is simply the one she feels will help her and her brother the most. Katniss has no choice on the other hand, if she doesn't volunteer her sister would almost definitely be killed in the games and the only way she can save her is to take her place. Callie could have just continued living on the streets and her brother would still have likely survived.
Also it's unfair to say that the protagonist being motivated by protecting a loved one is a rip off. This motivation is the driving force behind a lot of characters in all sorts of books. A loved one is threatened, they feel responsible and so begin the journey to save/protect them. It's a stock standard motive.
- surviving by teaming up with a 'sort of' boyfriend who really understands her and vows to keep her sibling safe in her absence. "How can I forget Gale/Michael?"
Again this is a stock standard for many novels, especially if they're going to have a romantic subplot. Adding a character who is trusted and the protagonist has feelings for leads to conflict when they later find someone else they start to fall for. It also frees up the protagonist to do what is necessary to save their loved one without having to drag them along (otherwise the loved one is usually held captive by the 'bad guys' again resulting in the same freeing up of the protagonist)
- removed from her normal tough existence and thrown into an amazingly luxurious (but dangerous) new one. (Games/Rentals)
Contrast is a very important aspect of dystopian fiction as the genre is all about oppression aka the rich, wealthy, beautiful etc are in power and oppress others. The oppressors typically live in luxury whilst the oppressed live in poverty. Not to mention the whole 'rag's to riches' story is one of the main plots in so many stories it's not funny.
- in that removed situation and when she meets new potential boyfriend (Peeta/Blake) who wins her over despite lots of guilty, angsty internal dialogue.
Again a staple of a lot stories with a romantic sub plot. Boy meet girl, they start to have feelings for each other, something comes between them (either physical or emotional) stopping them from being together, they overcome it and end up together anyway.
- at the cold, "beauty make-over processing center" when she meets one empathetic worker who is initially kind to her (Cinna/Trax) and who helps her later.
Again the enemy who turns out to be a friend is a staple in a lot of fiction (read Garth Nix's Key's to the kingdom series, there's a character like this in practically every book)
- managed by a fake-sweet, coldly proper, business woman who runs the contestant/renter side of the show (Effie/Doris).
The fake businessman/woman who appears charming/sweet is again in a large amount of dystopian fiction. Along with the cold hearted evil leader who doesn't care about the suffering of the people and only cares about power, profit etc.
- befriended by small, waif-like young girl (Rue/Sara) who idolizes her and who ultimately dies a terrible death that Carrie/Katniss witnesses.
Loss of innocence is another reoccuring theme in dyspopian fiction, this is often represented by the death of someone innocent that the main character is close to, which then hardens him/her and gives them all the more reason to fight against the people oppressing them.
Basically if you try and draw parallels between two book in the same genre you will find a lot of similarities. This is because they are from the SAME GENRE. They're going to have a lot in common. Think about romance novels for example a lot of them have pretty much the exact same plot, but that doesn't mean the authors plagiarised.
The hunger games and Starters are both young adult dyspipian fiction, as dystoipa they are about over coming oppression and surviving in terrible circumstances. As young adult fiction they deal with teen angst and young romance.
Both Callie and Katniss have very different personalities, as do a lot of the central characters that surround them, even if they play the same roles in each series. The specifics of the world and plot are also very different. So while there are a lot of similarities they are still very different stories.
- sole protector of her younger sibling. "I have to do this for Primrose/Tyler."
For one Callie chooses to become a rentee as one of a number of options. No one is forcing her into the decision it is simply the one she feels will help her and her brother the most. Katniss has no choice on the other hand, if she doesn't volunteer her sister would almost definitely be killed in the games and the only way she can save her is to take her place. Callie could have just continued living on the streets and her brother would still have likely survived.
Also it's unfair to say that the protagonist being motivated by protecting a loved one is a rip off. This motivation is the driving force behind a lot of characters in all sorts of books. A loved one is threatened, they feel responsible and so begin the journey to save/protect them. It's a stock standard motive.
- surviving by teaming up with a 'sort of' boyfriend who really understands her and vows to keep her sibling safe in her absence. "How can I forget Gale/Michael?"
Again this is a stock standard for many novels, especially if they're going to have a romantic subplot. Adding a character who is trusted and the protagonist has feelings for leads to conflict when they later find someone else they start to fall for. It also frees up the protagonist to do what is necessary to save their loved one without having to drag them along (otherwise the loved one is usually held captive by the 'bad guys' again resulting in the same freeing up of the protagonist)
- removed from her normal tough existence and thrown into an amazingly luxurious (but dangerous) new one. (Games/Rentals)
Contrast is a very important aspect of dystopian fiction as the genre is all about oppression aka the rich, wealthy, beautiful etc are in power and oppress others. The oppressors typically live in luxury whilst the oppressed live in poverty. Not to mention the whole 'rag's to riches' story is one of the main plots in so many stories it's not funny.
- in that removed situation and when she meets new potential boyfriend (Peeta/Blake) who wins her over despite lots of guilty, angsty internal dialogue.
Again a staple of a lot stories with a romantic sub plot. Boy meet girl, they start to have feelings for each other, something comes between them (either physical or emotional) stopping them from being together, they overcome it and end up together anyway.
- at the cold, "beauty make-over processing center" when she meets one empathetic worker who is initially kind to her (Cinna/Trax) and who helps her later.
Again the enemy who turns out to be a friend is a staple in a lot of fiction (read Garth Nix's Key's to the kingdom series, there's a character like this in practically every book)
- managed by a fake-sweet, coldly proper, business woman who runs the contestant/renter side of the show (Effie/Doris).
The fake businessman/woman who appears charming/sweet is again in a large amount of dystopian fiction. Along with the cold hearted evil leader who doesn't care about the suffering of the people and only cares about power, profit etc.
- befriended by small, waif-like young girl (Rue/Sara) who idolizes her and who ultimately dies a terrible death that Carrie/Katniss witnesses.
Loss of innocence is another reoccuring theme in dyspopian fiction, this is often represented by the death of someone innocent that the main character is close to, which then hardens him/her and gives them all the more reason to fight against the people oppressing them.
Basically if you try and draw parallels between two book in the same genre you will find a lot of similarities. This is because they are from the SAME GENRE. They're going to have a lot in common. Think about romance novels for example a lot of them have pretty much the exact same plot, but that doesn't mean the authors plagiarised.
The hunger games and Starters are both young adult dyspipian fiction, as dystoipa they are about over coming oppression and surviving in terrible circumstances. As young adult fiction they deal with teen angst and young romance.
Both Callie and Katniss have very different personalities, as do a lot of the central characters that surround them, even if they play the same roles in each series. The specifics of the world and plot are also very different. So while there are a lot of similarities they are still very different stories.
I think this story is to original. If you wanna read a story that really copies Hunger Games read Selection the book bears way more resemblance to the Hunger Games than this book.
I read the Hunger Games after I read Starters and, I'm sorry, because I know you'll all disagree with me, but I preferred Starters.
I also don't see the parallels as a downright copy. People have used older siblings looking out for younger siblings as a character trait/plot point for years. The Hunger Games wasn't the first to do it, and it isn't fair to say that any book that uses it is copying it. That's like saying that having a boarding school for wizards/werewolves/whatever is copying Harry Potter, even though magical boarding schools have been around for much longer than that.
I could talk about the other suggested parallels, but I won't because this is getting long, most of it has been said, and I think we're all aware that love triangles are used in every YA novel under the sun nowadays and that rags to riches has been around as long as Cinderella.
I also don't see the parallels as a downright copy. People have used older siblings looking out for younger siblings as a character trait/plot point for years. The Hunger Games wasn't the first to do it, and it isn't fair to say that any book that uses it is copying it. That's like saying that having a boarding school for wizards/werewolves/whatever is copying Harry Potter, even though magical boarding schools have been around for much longer than that.
I could talk about the other suggested parallels, but I won't because this is getting long, most of it has been said, and I think we're all aware that love triangles are used in every YA novel under the sun nowadays and that rags to riches has been around as long as Cinderella.
I did notice some parallels, but I agree that the concept or premise of the story is different from The Hunger Games. To me, Starters is about mortality and anti-aging attitudes (in American culture today), as well as control by the wealthy & powerful.
The book jacket and book review I read said those who loved The Hunger Games will love this too. And I did, as I was deflated after finishing THG. I wanted more...and I found similar fare here. I'm reading The Enders now, the conclusion.
The book jacket and book review I read said those who loved The Hunger Games will love this too. And I did, as I was deflated after finishing THG. I wanted more...and I found similar fare here. I'm reading The Enders now, the conclusion.
I've never read the Hunger Games, but Wow. In Lissa Price's defense, the Hunger Games was a rip off of the Uglies, which was probably a rip off of some other book, which was probably a rip off of some other book, and so on and so on. Because, really, no has completely original ideas anymore. And with these sort of books in particular, there is a formula that every author follows to a T. The only thing they do is switch it around a little bit, but it's like the commutative property of algebra (Yeah, that's right. I'm using math outside of school) no matter how you switch it around a + b is the same thing as b + a. Really the best thing an author can do is mix it around enough so that it takes the reader longer to figure it out.
I think some point make me think of THG but I think another novel The Selection is really kind of plagiarism of THG. It is almost like an AU version of THG
That is all true the similarities but being a Hunger Games fan longing for a book that made me feel like the Hunger Games again I loved it
Plus there was a lot different and things that reminded me of other books as well
Helena in Cassie's head reminded me of Wander in Melanie's head in the Host
the old man reminded me of many antagonists like in Double Identity and Uglies
This book was wonderful and the perfect mess of many of my favorite books
Plus there was a lot different and things that reminded me of other books as well
Helena in Cassie's head reminded me of Wander in Melanie's head in the Host
the old man reminded me of many antagonists like in Double Identity and Uglies
This book was wonderful and the perfect mess of many of my favorite books
I wouldn't go as far as to call it plagiarism, but you definitely do have a point.
I don't understand. All stories have similar components- and when an author, magazine etc says "The next Hunger Games!" they don't mean literally it's like the Hunger Games. All it's saying is that it might turn out to be as popular as the Hunger Games.
And personally, I don't see how it is anything like THG. Yes, they both have younger siblings, but their situations are completely different. The settings are completely different; the character types are completely different; the ending is completely different- they are, put simply, different books!
Wow. Who would've thought, really? That two seperate books could be two seperate stories?!
*sarcasm, for those who didn't pick that up :)*
And personally, I don't see how it is anything like THG. Yes, they both have younger siblings, but their situations are completely different. The settings are completely different; the character types are completely different; the ending is completely different- they are, put simply, different books!
Wow. Who would've thought, really? That two seperate books could be two seperate stories?!
*sarcasm, for those who didn't pick that up :)*
It's not a rip off! How in the heck does old people [spoiler] stealing family-less teenagers bodies relate to a game where kids are thrown into an arena to kill a bunch of other kids? Both were awesome but in no way are they related, I mean seriously!
Though there were some similarities, the plot was different. I read the Hunger Games first and as I was reading Starters, I did not compare the books. Callie is an orphan, for one. Then, her whole situation is different. She did what she did for money, not to save her brother from sure death.
I don't think so. I mean, there are a few aspects of the book similar to TGH, but the story itself is unique in it's own way.
I think that a lot of stories have similarities because dor a long time people have used the same "Formula" to create these stories. I mean The Hunger Games is similar to Battle Royale. When a book becomes a huge success you notice the similarities more. So if you read books before The Hunger Games you'll still see the similarities. I think that the stories have totally different concepts so I didn't notice the similarities until I read a review. I might also have missed the similarities because I didn't really like The Hunger Games.
you'r right it similar to The Hunher Games but Starters have it on story and i liked it.even thought it was hard for me not to compare the two books. so i know what you mean :/
I kept seeing the website reviews saying "the next Hunger Games!" and thinking...what?!? I think you're totally right about all the copycat aspects you pointed out. Starters seems like a blatant rip-off...and the writing isn't even good. Not happy when I finished the book. This book is definitely NOT the next Hunger Games.
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