Writing Lessons You Learn From Blunders of Red Rising
Make sure you don’t make the same mistakes in your novel
Every famous book is bound to have some negative reviews as well. Reading Pierce Brown’s bestseller Red Rising, I felt like the lone reader who struggled to like and finish the book.
The novel is set in the future, where humans colonize Mars.
Brown’s focus is on how the society is divided into “Colours” — the Golds, with their Blonde hair, lead, while the Reds slave underground, not made aware of the fact that society is exploiting them.
While the blurb sounded promising, the novel let me down.
As a writer, I appreciated Brown’s efforts, but as a reader, I wanted to bury this book and never come across it again. Even though it had its redeeming qualities, I rated the book 2/5.
Here is an analysis of its mistakes so you don’t repeat them.
1. The info dumps early on gave me a headache
Red Rising is a Sci-Fi.
Its world-building is acclaimed heavily. In the first chapter itself, we come across Darrow, the protagonist, as he is leading a complicated mission to extract some precious metals.
The number of details thrown at you will make your head spin.
Without letting us care for Darrow, Brown introduces words such as frysuit, clawDrill, and Helldiver. Too many details about society’s past and functioning are presented to us. Too many relationships are introduced early on.
All of this overwhelms the reader.
Tip:
Instead of introducing every little detail about your world in the first chapter, take it slow. The reader doesn’t need all the details in one go. In the initial pages, we must develop attachment for the characters.
Take The Drowning Empire series.
In the first chapter, we come across Lin, whose father has termed her broken. She is suffering from a major memory loss. We come to know of her mother’s demise. She has a major purpose of recovering her memories.
We feel sympathy for Lin.
Only in the subsequent chapters more details about the world are given.
2. The protagonist becomes a “Gary Stu” with no real character development
Slight spoilers ahead.
Initially, with our protagonist a Red — significantly weaker and less sharp than the Golds — I got excited at the thought of Darrow trying to fit in with the higher Colours and act like a true Gold. The struggle would be real.
However, the author made him just another infallible hero.
As defined, a Gary Stu is a seemingly perfect character with no flaws, or who always overpowers other characters. Darrow was just that. When he was transformed into a “Gold”, he fit in as if he was one all along.
I yearned for some character development.
Rather, Darrow easily aced the tests the Golds had to go through. He got stronger than most of them despite going through a gut-wrenching surgery. Nowhere were his mortal qualities justified.
Due to this, every fight lost its meaning, since we knew Darrow was going to prevail despite the odds.
Tip:
Your character needs to fall!
We all love our darlings. However, we must make them realistic enough that the reader can relate. Let them make mistakes, let them face the consequences. Let the reader grimace.
It will make the fights more interesting.
3. Due to the terrible pacing, I put down the book quite several times
“In many cases when a reader puts a story aside because it ‘got boring,’ the boredom arose because the writer grew enchanted with his powers of description and lost sight of his priority, which is to keep the ball rolling.” — Stephen King
Red Rising failed to deliver its promise of an engaging Sci-Fi.
Stephen King in the above quote acutely described the problem with the book. Too many times, I had to slog through the paragraphs. The descriptions seemed unnecessary at a point.
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Due to a slightly boring middle, the ending lost its impact.
Reasons for the prolonged chapters include how tedious Darrow’s transformation was, how lengthy his training sessions were, and in the second half, how drawn out the fights between various houses were.
All of them could have been wound up sooner.
Tip:
At times, you need to explain the scenario.
However, you must be careful of doing it in excess.
Most readers prefer action, rising stakes, and death to over-explanation. We would appreciate it if you explained your world by the protagonist coming across the unknown bits and pondering upon it before concluding.
A good example is Green Bone Saga here.
We have characters who reside in Janloon. They know little about other countries, such as Espenia, a country which will play an important role in international relations.
Information about the country’s working isn’t provided in one go
Some information about Espenia is provided by recollections by one character. Other information is granted when another character goes to settle there and gradually learns about its condition and laws.
Redeeming qualities of Red Rising
Even though I do not rate Red Rising high enough, it does have some of its redeeming qualities, which can satiate most readers. The author slipped in some places, but the following were his strong suits.
1. The world-building is well-made and interesting
In the novel, people are divided according to the colour of their hair.
With the people residing on Mars, the technology is pretty advanced. From interplanetary travel to genetic modification, from weaponry to drilling equipment, every tool is notched up.
The government is run by the Golds.
The training school is divided into various factions, based on their Houses, their names derived from Roman mythology. Accordingly, while Minerva’s students are shrewd while the Mars camp displays brutality.
A conquest similar to the Hunger Games takes place between them all.
You can see why the world-building is so intriguing. The author takes a common trope (division based on caste) and adds a twist to it. Further, the rivalry among the Houses draws the reader’s interest.
Tip:
World-building is hard, but it can be one of your novel’s coolest aspects.
Know the idea you are going to build on. Add your flair to it to make it seem fresh. You don’t need to write down everything at once — the details will come to you as you further pen your book.
2. The themes are universal and potent
I adored Pierce Brown’s emphasis on his themes.
Primarily, his focus is on social inequality and class struggle.
Darrow’s pathetic condition draws the reader’s rage over the Golds. His associates start dying due to the Golds’ merciless treatment, which tears our hearts and makes us cry for justice.
Another theme explored in the book is power.
There are plans for a rebellion to overthrow the Golds. When Darrow, during the inter-house fight, acquires power, it makes him realise what a terrible thing it can be, always riddled with corruption and a fear that someone stronger will come along.
Tip:
Themes are the bones of your book.
You don’t need to know them all — they will come to you as you write on. Remember that people move more by emotions than facts. Make the themes potent and relevant. Let them grip the reader by her throat.
To conclude,
“Only a fool learns from his own mistakes. The wise man learns from the mistakes of others.” — Otto von Bismarck
Red Rising’s blunders (as well as virtues) leave us with several takeaways.
Dumping information never goes well with readers. Give the characters some flaws to make them realistic. Be aware of the pacing of your book. Flesh out your themes and leave your readers awe-inspired by your world-building.
Let me know your thoughts!
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