Red Rising
In short
Red Rising is a 2014 dystopian science fiction novel written by American author Pierce Brown. It follows a lowborn miner named Darrow who infiltrates an elite ruling class on Mars to seek revenge and justice.
In plain words
The story is set in a future where humans are divided into strict colour-coded castes. Darrow, a member of the lowest class, must pretend to be a member of the powerful Gold caste to destroy the system from within.
A simple example
Imagine a world where your job and social status are decided entirely by the colour of your skin, and a miner must disguise himself as a king to change the law.
Why it matters
It is the first book in a highly successful series that explores themes of revolution, class warfare, and sacrifice. The book helped popularise modern space opera for younger readers.
Easy to mix up
Do not confuse this book series with the film Red Rising, which is currently in development but not yet released.