Armchair BEA: It's the End of the World as We Know It

It's no secret that I love dystopian fiction.  There is something truly wonderful about a story where all seems lost, and then the reluctant hero emerges. So, here is my dream "dystopian" panel.

Suzanne Collins: The Hunger Games Trilogy
Cory Doctorow: Little Brother
Susan Beth Pfeffer: Life as We Knew It
Lois Lowry: The Giver
Scott Westerfeld: The Uglies Trilogy

What kinds of things would we discuss?

How do you define dystopian fiction?
Why do you think dystopian fiction has become so popular lately?
What are the essential elements of dystopian fiction?

So, what would be your dream panel? Want to take a crack at some of the questions I posed to my panel?