Red Rising

1. General Impressions 

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

• Red Rising combines elements of science fiction, dystopian fiction, and Greek mythology. What did you think of the way these elements interplay in Brown’s story? Which elements interested you the most?
• The novel’s plot contains many intense and dark moments. Were there any specific events that created suspense and intrigue for you or, alternatively, decreased your engagement as a reader?
• Red Rising stands among many dystopian and genre fiction stories with high-stakes games and competitions, such as Ender’s Game, the Hunger Games series, and the Red Queen series. How does Brown’s novel compare to these stories or other similar books and films you’ve encountered? Why is this narrative device so popular? 

2. Personal Reflection and Connection 

Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.

• Revenge plays a pivotal role in Darrow’s inner conflict. How do you tend to respond when you are wronged? Do you think that vengeance is ever fulfilling, or do you agree with Dancer that it is an ultimately futile endeavor? 
• Brown examines the cost of conquest and the ethics of power. Do you think that power inevitably leads to corruption? Why or why not? What precautions can be taken to promote positive leadership?
• In the Society, people’s Colors are believed to determine every aspect of their lives, but Darrow alters his destiny by transforming from a Red into a Gold. Do you believe in fate? Why or why not? To what extent do we determine the course of our lives?
• Eo and Darrow both make tremendous sacrifices for the sake of their ideals. Have you or someone you know ever had to sacrifice for the sake of someone or something you value? What lessons did you take away from the experience? 
• Much of the novel’s plot revolves around the cutthroat war game. Some argue that competition is more innate to human nature than cooperation or compassion. Based on this novel, what stance do you think Brown would take in this debate? What is your personal view on the subject and why?

3. Societal and Cultural Context

Examine the book’s relevance to societal issues, historical events, or cultural themes.

• Brown’s social critique grows more nuanced as Darrow, a member of the oppressed Reds, bonds with some privileged Golds during the Institute’s war game. How might Darrow’s transformation from a Red to a Gold resonate with people seeking to bridge class divisions in contemporary societies? More generally, what insights does this novel offer regarding making societies more equitable? 
• Brown’s novel takes place hundreds of years in the future on a colonized Mars. What role does privilege play in contemporary conversations about creating colonies on Mars, and what insights might Brown’s novel add to this discussion?

4. Literary Analysis 

Dive into the book’s structure, characters, themes, and symbolism.

• How does Darrow’s character arc follow the hero’s journey? Identify specific moments in the story that align with the conventional steps of this classic narrative structure. Does Brown make any choices that subvert conventions or tropes around heroism?
• How does Brown use colors as symbols of systemic oppression? How do the characters’ Colors determine their lot in life, and how does the protagonist challenge the color symbolism his deeply inequitable society is based on?
• Consider the recurring image of the reaper in Red Rising. How does the Song of Persephone develop the symbol’s meaning, and what does Darrow’s assumption of the alias “Reaper” signify for his development and motivation?
• Consider Mustang’s role in the novel. How does she figure into Darrow’s character arc and the story’s social critique? What messages is Brown trying to communicate through the character?

5. Creative Engagement 

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

• Imagine that Eo survived the execution instead of Darrow and that the story was told from her perspective. How might her leadership style differ from Darrow’s, and how might the resistance be different under her guidance? How would changing the protagonist and narrator to Eo impact the story’s overall meaning? Sketch out an alternate timeline for the novel based on this change.
• If Red Rising were adapted into a television series, whom would you cast as the main characters? What moments or elements in the novel do you think would be most exciting for viewers, and how could you translate those to a visual medium?

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