Dear Bookworms,
A powerful government. A system that unfairly divides people into castes. A chosen hero(ine) who fights, bleeds and sacrifices in order to overthrow the corrupt regime. Sound familiar? Of course it does. Those are the basic building blocks of the young adult dystopian novel, and we’ve all read one or five within the last couple of years.
The question is, is there room for one more? I think the answer is yes, after all, there is something very powerful about a heroic dystopian fantasy that gets to the heart of real injustice. That said, however, I am not convinced that Red Rising is that book.
Written by new author Pierce Brown, Red Rising includes many of the elements we are familiar with, reimagined in a new world. In this story, mankind has expanded beyond planet Earth and with that shift came a massive shift in power. The strong assumed control and instituted a system whereby people are divided into castes defined by a color which identifies them. The members of each color are restricted to particular occupations and given an equally limited set of rights and liberties. Ultimately, all colors are established and controlled for the purpose of keeping the powerful in power, of supporting the one caste that is above them all: the Golds.
Brown’s hero, Darrow, is a young Red, a member of a mining colony beneath the surface of Mars. As the story progresses, he is pulled out of the harsh but familiar life he has known and forced to face the even harsher realities of the galaxy outside. As a result, he is swept up into a plot to destroy the existing system from the inside out.
In discussing this book, I am forced to be rather vague in my references or risk too many spoilers. Both the structure of the setting and the development of the plot are impressively detailed and complex. I loved the depth provided to the story by the layers and subplots woven in. Brown’s universe is well-crafted, with an intricate political structure, cultural differences between the colors, and his own varied yet understandable set of vocabulary. Clearly, Red Rising is the work of intense effort, but perhaps, a little too much.
There is an overarching plot, but the action is broken into pieces, a series of smaller story arcs each building upon the others. The brunt of the novel takes place in a Hunger-Games-like war arena, during the course of which time numerous battles are fought, and alliances are forged and broken between a dizzying array of characters at an almost overwhelming pace.
My biggest issue, however, was not with the rapid rate of plot change, nor the heavy amounts of gore and violence which can perhaps all be excused as the natural elements of an epic war drama, but rather with the quality of our supposed hero Darrow. Narrated from his perspective, the book begins with, “I would have lived in peace. But my enemies brought me war.” Well…yes, Darrow is dragged into a bloodthirsty situation he did not ask for, but he embraces it with concerning enthusiasm. Unlike similar heroes such as Katniss or Ender, Darrow sets out to destroy, motivated by rage and seems to adopt the philosophy that the ends justify the means.
Ultimately for me, this sabotages the very heart of a dystopian tale, for if our hero is willing to lie, kill, maim and oppress in order to change the system, how is he any better than the existing leaders who are lying, killing, maiming and oppressing in order to keep the system?
On the positive side, Brown does very well at developing the interpersonal relationships between characters, highlighting the bonds of family and brotherhood. Additionally, while threads of romance exist, there is a refreshing lack of teenage love triangle. While I don’t think I’ll be continuing with this series, I do intend to keep an eye out for future works by Pierce Brown. I was still very impressed with his writing style and his ability to craft such a well-layered story.
Keep Reading!
Live, Love, Learn
Elise and The Write Teacher(s)
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