Bryan McAllister’s personal reference notebook
September 12, 2026Short & citedBlog
Civic Viewpoint.
A quiet encyclopedia with a personal desk
Kept by Bryan McAllister — short guides, clear facts, and the Canadian angle when it matters.
Screen & Stage • Book

Red Rising

Red Rising is a 2014 dystopian science fiction novel by American author Pierce Brown and the first book in the Red Rising Saga.

Updated September 12, 20261 min readCited sources

Red Rising is a 2014 dystopian science fiction novel by American author Pierce Brown. It follows Darrow, a lowborn Red miner on Mars who infiltrates the ruling Gold elite in a colour-coded caste society.

Plot premise

The novel follows Darrow, a miner from Mars who learns that his world is built on deception and inequality. He enters the ranks of the Gold elite to undermine the ruling system from within.

Series context

Red Rising began as the first book in a trilogy, later expanded into a larger saga. Published follow-ups include Golden Son, Morning Star, Iron Gold, Dark Age, and Light Bringer, with Red God announced as a later instalment.

Themes

The book deals with class hierarchy, rebellion, sacrifice, and political power. Its society is structured around a rigid caste system that shapes identity and opportunity.

In short

  • First novel in the Red Rising Saga.
  • Centers on Darrow, a Red from the lowest caste.
  • Set in a future caste society on Mars.
  • Published in 2014.
Canadian angle

The novel has a substantial readership in Canada through mainstream English-language book retail, libraries, and science fiction fandom, but it is not specifically set in Canada or centered on Canadian history.

Quick questions

What is Red Rising?
Red Rising is a dystopian science fiction novel by Pierce Brown, published in 2014 and set on Mars in a future caste society.
Who is the main character?
The main character is Darrow, a lowborn Red miner from Mars who infiltrates the ruling Gold class.
Is Red Rising part of a series?
Yes. It is the first book in the Red Rising Saga, which began as a trilogy and later expanded into additional novels.

Sources

  1. Pierce Brown — https://www.piercebrown.com/redrisingsaga
    Supports: Identifies Red Rising Saga and describes Darrow as the central rebel figure.
  2. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_Rising
    Supports: States that Red Rising is a 2014 dystopian science fiction novel by Pierce Brown and the first book in the series.
  3. Goodreads — https://www.goodreads.com/series/117100-red-rising-saga
    Supports: Lists the Red Rising Saga as a multi-book series and notes the original trilogy and later continuation.
  4. Barnes & Noble — https://www.barnesandnoble.com/series/red-rising-series
    Supports: Describes the series as a dystopian science fiction saga set in a future society with class divisions and Mars as a major setting.
  5. IGN — https://www.ign.com/articles/red-rising-books-in-order
    Supports: Summarizes the plot premise, series structure, and publication order of the books.