This brings me onto the first of the book's major problems that of character, and the biggest one of them all Darrow himself. I also admire the way that Brown used technology in the book, imagining a world where for purposes of prestige and power formal duels with blades occur, but making those blades morphing blades known as razors, and where flight on grav boots is as common for the higher colours as walking, indeed the way he represents the monolithic nature of the society and the Golds as a near godlike other species is an interesting on running theme.Īs the book begins we follow Darrow, a sixteen year old Red who is desperate to earn the laurel. We also learn rather too much about the philosophy of the Golds, their rule through might makes right and family and social loyalties, and in particular how their byzantine political family games are viewed by other colours. Though the book is mainly concerned with the machinations of the Golds, and in particular the academy where elite Golds prove themselves, what we see of the society is genuinely compelling, particularly some of the more subtle control methods such as having a laurel which would be awarded to the most hard working shift of Red miners, providing extra food and luxuries, but which is always won by the same group so that all of the miners hatred is focused only on that group rather than on the larger unfairness of their situation. While high Reds serve as menial labourers in the cities, low reds are miners, supposedly mining helium three to terraform Mars. Indeed, straightening out all of the functions of the various colours, and seeing how individuals from each colour interact within the society is interesting in itself.Īt the bottom of the pile are the Reds. The book is set on Mars of the future, where humanity is split into several different castes, the arrogant and almost godlike Golds at the top who hold power, the Greys who provide security, the Pinks who provide pleasure services to name but a few.

The setting indeed is one of the book's strongest points, since Brown does create a world which is bright and fascinating to explore. I was quite eager to try Red Rising, partly because of Ryan's review, and partly because I loved the idea of combining dystopian fiction with a science fiction setting, particularly a setting with some rather interesting and colourful themes, (colourful in more sense than one).

Red gold pierce brown