Red Rising
by Pierce Brown · first published 2014
80% recommend17% neutral3% critical
Why HN recommends it
Fast, gripping sci-fi trilogy about a rebel in a brutal caste society, often described as Roman empire in space with Hunger Games-style intensity. Suits readers who want epic scope, action and fun.
Summarised by Claude from recommending comments
"I live for the dream that my children will be born free," she says. "That they will be what they like. That they will own the land their father gave them." "I live for you," I say sadly. Eo kisses my cheek. "Then you must live for more." Darrow is a Red, a member of the lowest caste in the color-coded society of the future. Like his fellow Reds, he works all day, believing that he and his people are making the surface of Mars livable for future generations. Yet he spends his life willingly, knowing that his blood and sweat will one day result in a better world for his children.
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What Hacker News says
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…meant when asking for book suggestions on HN, but since you didn't specify: If you're into 2D action / sci-fi / dystopian fiction (or to be honest, if you're into fantasy/sci-fi at all) check out the Red Rising trilogy by Pierce Brown. I went in expecting nothing and almost abandoned half way through the first book as it seemed like a Hunger Games / Divergent rip off (and I didn't even like either of those…
on “Ask HN: Books you read in 2016?” ↗…of my favorites this year: - Vengeful and Vicious by VE Schwab - Collapsing Empire by Scalazi (late 2017, but close enough to 2018) Not released in 2018, but still fun and new to me this year. - The Red Rising series by Pierce Brown
on “Ask HN: Favorite fiction books of 2018?” ↗…reading, put it down. Life is too short for bad books. 2. Leave a general impression on you. For example, some books just change your outlook on life. Margaret Atwood's MaddAddam trilogy, or Pierce Brown's Red Rising trilogy, or Scott Lynch's Gentlemen Bastard's trilogy are all great series that take you on emotional roller-coasters, make you change you perspective on life, etc. Reading makes people more empathic,…
on “Books I've read in the third quarter of 2017” ↗Three Body Problem (this one's probably going to get mentioned a lot, and it absolutely deserves it). The Collapsing Empire by John Scalzi. Red Rising (series) by Pierce Brown. I almost gave up on Three Body Problem because it starts off a little slowly and it's difficult to see where the book is going. Absolutely worth it in the end, though. The second…
on “Ask HN: Favorite fiction books of 2018?” ↗The final red rising book was published this year: https://www.amazon.com/Red-Rising-Trilogy-Book/dp/B0159URANK I really enjoyed the first 15 lives of Harry August (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00ECE9OD4/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?...)…
on “Ask HN: What is the best sci-fi you read this year?” ↗Hillbilly Elegy by JD Vance Red Rising and sequels by Pierce Brown The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion (I read Three Body Problem + sequels in 2016. The first book I thought was ok. I really liked the second book - The Dark Forest - the…
on “Ask HN: Best books you read in 2017?” ↗Under the wealthy genetic adonis's will be a caste system of people engineered for specific job roles also of course. If this sounds like an interesting novel I would recommend Red Rising by Pierce Brown. It explores some of these issues.
on “New U.S. Experiments Aim to Create Gene-Edited Human Embryos” ↗That would be either 'Red Rising' by Pierce Brown, or 'All Systems Red' by Martha Wells. Though I have to add a cautionary remark: I found the books in Wells' "Murderbot Diaries" to be short enough and gripping enough that it is very…
on “Ask HN: What's the best book you read in 2021?” ↗I love recommending books. Here is one: Red Rising by Pierce Brown. http://www.amazon.com/Red-Rising-The-Trilogy-Book-ebook/dp/B...
on “Ask HN: What products do you love and recommend to others?” ↗Red Rising and Golden Son by Pierce Brown (fiction) http://www.amazon.com/Red-Rising-The-Trilogy-Book-ebook/dp/B...
on “Ask HN: Best books you've read in 2015” ↗…up to "Daemon". https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7132363-freedom Old Man's War - John Scalzi - My first Scalzi book and won't be the last. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/51964.Old_Man_s_War Red Rising / Golden Son - Pierce Brown - I'm a sucker for these YA SF series. Lots of fun. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15839976-red-rising
on “Ask HN: Books you read in 2015?” ↗Usually a book every 2-3 weeks. If you are looking for a new book and want to ruin your standards for fiction, read the Red Rising trilogy. I can't help use it as a measuring stick for evaluating new books as I read them :/
on “YC’s Summer Reading” ↗…very complex. It's interesting in that it's from an A.I.'s perspective involving many simultaneous inputs (multiple sensors, people, etc). Also, I have to give the obligatory fiction recommendation for Red Rising. That trilogy is like the roman empire in space, but the characters are what really make it.
on “Summer Reading List” ↗…Planetwalker, by John Francis. Inspired me to walk and put myself into things more. * Pure enjoyment: Snow Crash (Neal Stephenson), Ready Player One (Ernest Cline), Watchmen (Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons), Red Rising trilogy (Pierce Brown). Honorable mention: The Water Knife (Paolo Bacigalupi).
on “Ask HN: What are your favorite books of all time, and why?” ↗Not really 2017, but Iron Gold comes out in four days. It's the follow up to the Red Rising series, a Roman dystopian on Mars type story, which I highly recommend.
on “Ask HN: Best scifi of 2017? (Vernor Vinge/Larry Niven style)” ↗