Red Rising

By: Pierce Brown

Narrated by: Tim Gerard Reynolds

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. But Darrow and his kind have been betrayed. Soon he discovers that humanity reached the surface generations ago. Vast cities and sprawling parks spread across the planet.

Darrow - and Reds like him - are nothing more than slaves to a decadent ruling class. Inspired by a longing for justice, and driven by the memory of lost love, Darrow sacrifices everything to infiltrate the legendary Institute, a proving ground for the dominant Gold caste, where the next generation of humanity's overlords struggle for power. He will be forced to compete for his life and the very future of civilization against the best and most brutal of Society's ruling class. There, he will stop at nothing to bring down his enemies...even if it means he has to become one of them to do so.

©2013 Pierce Brown (P)2014 Recorded Books

Fantastic...

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes. Already have. This book has everything a fantasy/sci-fi/dystopian lover could ever want.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Red Rising?

There were so many! I don't want to spoil anything. Suffice it to say, there are many ups and downs, lots of twists and plenty of tension to go around. The rise and fall of allegiances and friendships, betrayals and unswerving loyalties, is always surprising. Other than that, I guess I'm always a sucker for a good makeover...

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

A red son rises.

Any additional comments?

The only reason I didn't give Red Rising five stars (and maybe this isn't fair) but many elements of this novel seem cliche... like Hunger Games, Ender's Game, Sparticus and various classic mythologies thrown in a blender. Makes a very delicious smoothie though... Plenty in there to distinguish it from other dystopian works but enough similarities that it was a touch... banal? Still enjoyable. Still a thrill-ride.

Unmistakable brilliance

This is, by far, the best YA book I've encountered. I've seen it compared to Divergent, a society with stratified classes each serving a specific purpose, but the similarities end there. Divergent is as far from Red Rising as Plan 9 from Outerspace is from 2001: A Space Odyssey.

The complexity of story and characters that Brown has created makes it difficult to pigeon-hole Red Rising as a YA fiction. It is simply a great novel that can be appreciated by anyone of any age. It avoids the angst filled love story, ever present in YA fiction, and instead focuses on the inner turmoil of a young man born into near slavery who has a chance to save his class and his society from the tyrannic rule of a master race.

Brown has penned a novel that transcends genre and should be read by all.

Visionary Recapitulation of the Human Story

This brilliant new author manages a great story set in a technologically advanced future, while nonetheless recapitulating the whole of human history in one action packed novel.

Starting from a place of repression, murder and slavery (the reader's Irish accent reminding one of the class wars of Great Britain's empire stage), the protagonist is transformed and becomes a member of the ruling class, while going through a brutal rite of passage. He emerges triumphant but within himself still torn and tragic, the paradox of his birthright painfully intact.

The story is completely absorbing and draws the listener onto a stage of high drama and classic tragedy. A compelling classical theme of Roman flavor, complete with the mythic implications of its various houses and gods, supports the whole plot.

Altogether a most promising first novel, and the next in the series promises further excellence. I am a fan and hope we have more from Mr. Brown at the earliest opportunity.

Fantastic details, Good character depth

Where does Red Rising rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

This book is great. I would say one of my favorites for sure.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Mag the seamstress I find to be very amusing for here old lady nagging and solid advice.

Which character – as performed by Tim Gerard Reynolds – was your favorite?

The reader did a great job of making you feel as if they are very differentiated.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

Abbess's Sell sword.

Any additional comments?

The book has great detail in small thing but its not overdone like in some books where they describe a sunset for a page.

Great book

Mix hunger games, Star wars,Braveheart, with a little Gladiator and you get this book. Awesome.