Jonathan Maas asked Alma Katsu:

Hello Alma! Just got done with your beyond incredible The Hunger. Just incredible. One of the great, albeit terrifying, themes in the book is exploring conditions when humans stop cooperating, and start turning on each other. Can you shed any insight on what you’ve learned, or feel about those conditions? Do you believe there is a point where virtually everyone will turn on their neighbor?

Alma Katsu A great question! That was one of the sad lessons of the Donner Party: you had families that didn't share with more vulnerable, so a couple families were nearly wiped out, while one managed to have no fatalities. It's hard to say what you'd do if faced with a similar situation: they didn't know how long they'd be trapped in the mountains, and there was definitely no way to get additional food.Can you blame them for hoarding food? Which is the greater good or the higher loyalty: saving your family, or helping your neighbor? You just hope you'll never fin yourself in the same situation.

One thing I learned--not necessarily from writing the book but from my previous life as an analyst for the government, studying mass atrocities and genocides--is the fragility of civil society. It is frightening what people are capable of, sometimes at the slightest provocation. How easily some people can be frightened into acting against their own best interest, let alone the interest of their neighbors.

I believe there are always some people who will not turn on their neighbor, people with good hearts or who understand we stand stronger when we stand together, but it takes a lot of confidence and will-power to do that, particularly when everyone around you is surrendering to fear.

Thanks for the question and so glad you enjoyed The Hunger!

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