Battle Royale

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Answered Questions (15)

Candice Kamencik The whole idea of "only one can survive" is a popular theme that's been around for a long time - even far before this book. One extremely mainstream e…moreThe whole idea of "only one can survive" is a popular theme that's been around for a long time - even far before this book. One extremely mainstream example was the show Highlander. So did all these people rip each other off? I don't believe so. The "only one" idea is made unique by the way it is set within a story. The Hunger Games series does share a lot of common threads with this novel, but even so, to see this idea and say, "Hmm, I'm going to write an "only one can survive" book, but base it as a culminating activity within an entire population, and stipulate political intrigue as the main guiding factor." is what makes them different. To say books/stories with the "only one" theme are the same is like saying that books with "good vs. evil" are all the same. It's the story crafting that separates things.(less)
Eric Starr You have it backwards. This is the book that "inspired" Hunger Games, not the other way around. Read this if you get a chance, it is excellent, plus i…moreYou have it backwards. This is the book that "inspired" Hunger Games, not the other way around. Read this if you get a chance, it is excellent, plus it is the original.(less)
Isaiah That might be a matter of how it was translated. If that is what the Japanese translates as then it is what it is. There are different schools of tran…moreThat might be a matter of how it was translated. If that is what the Japanese translates as then it is what it is. There are different schools of translations. I can't say which one this book falls into, but if you want to see how drastically different translations can be watch an episode of an anime that is dubbed and subbed at the same time. The dialogue will be different despite them both being a translation of the same thing. I watched an entire series this way and it changed the actual plot.

It might also be of note that it might have been intentional to show that they are kids and use slang. Not all adults understand how teenagers talk. So it might be a conscious choice of an translator and/or editor; or it might be bad writing. I couldn't tell you without learning Japanese and translating the novel myself. Hope that helped!(less)

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