New queen of dystopian novels?

Marie Lu

Will Marie Lu’s debut novel LEGEND,  which introduced the YA audience to a new dystopian world and two star-crossed teen lovers June and Day, make her the next “it” author in Hollywood?

“Twilight” producer Wyck Godfrey thinks so. He purchased the film rights and CBS Films has snapped it up.

LEGEND is set  in Los Angeles where we meet teens Day and June. Day — who grew up in the slums of the city — is a  criminal blamed for the murder of June’s older brother. June — the rich kid — is a military-officer-in-training who is sent out to hunt Day.

Here’s what Lu said about her series and what she’s going to be doing at Comic-Con.  (The second book — PRODIGY — comes out Jan. 29, 2013.)

Q: Why write a dystopian series?

A: I think being born in 1984 somehow meant I was destined to write a dystopian series! I also find it fascinating to explore these worlds in fiction because they echo the dystopias that exist and have existed in the real world. We’re often asked, “Do you think these terrifying societies could ever exist in real life?” They have existed, and still exist today. The United States had an eugenics movement in the early 20th century, and then placed millions of Japanese-Americans in concentration camps during WWII; we had Nazi Germany and China’s Cultural Revolution; North Korea’s regime is still around. Dystopian stories are fascinating because they remind us how warped our reality can be.

Q: A “don’t miss” for you at the Con?
A: I’m going to have to knock some people over to get a seat at the Legend of Korra panel on Friday morning, because I’m a big A:TLA and Korra fan. “Remixed Fairy Tales and Superhero Lore” is also one that will be amazing fun! And, of course, there’s the Firefly 10-year reunion. No explanation needed.

Q: Anyone you’d like to bump into at the Con?
A: I was lucky enough to chat with George R.R. Martin last year at a party, and I’m keeping my fingers crossed that it happens again this year! Also, if I were to stumble across Bryan Konietzko and Mike DiMartino, I might just collapse from Too Much Joy.

Lu  will be signing books at the Penguin Teen booth on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Penguin will be giving away limited edition Comic-Con editions of “Legend” throughout the show.