Have any comrades read the Red Rising series? I need to vent with leftists lol
Sorry mods, I know this isn’t a typical post for r/leftist, but I’ll get flamed if I post this in the r/redrising sub (because apparently everyone there is incapable of handling a book critique or thinking critically about a fictional work). I’m curious to hear other leftists’ thoughts on this series. I’m in the middle of Lightbringer now, so no spoilers for the last book please!
While the first trilogy felt like a proletarian uprising, the sequel series has calcified into a defense of neoliberal capitalism. The Republic is failing, yet the narrative consistently frames its warlords and billionaire financiers (like Quicksilver) as the only rational option. At the same time, any actual socialist interventions are portrayed as inherently evil or extremist.
Darrow has effectively become corrupted by power. He’s devolved into the very type of warlord he fought to get rid of. In a sense, he treats low-color lives as disposable capital to further his agenda, yet the narrative continues to frame his war crimes as the tragic burden of leadership. He’s the "Great Man" archetype used to justify a semi-authoritarian regime that hasn’t actually liberated the people it claims to represent. His behavior kind of reminds me of the one meme where liberals have the LGBTQ sticker slapped over a military fighter jet lol.
Another thing that annoys me is that Lyria is hated by the fandom because her perspective exposes the truth, that under Virginia and Darrow’s rule, the Reds went from chattel slaves to starving refugees. Her justified anger was the perfect setup for a genuine socialist movement, but the author instead pivots her story away from systemic critique, effectively domesticating her narrative. Her plot was so incredibly unfair, and after the children were stolen, it felt like the author was genuinely trying to frame her in a negative light for unknowingly wearing a necklace? Like she was a victim too.
Back to the political critique, the clearest example of anti-leftist rhetoric came from Publius’s monologue:
“‘Before you do—die, that is—I wanted you to understand that I am different from you. What remains of the Syndicate is already being destroyed. I do not abide criminality. Quicksilver has deserted Luna, but he will be hunted down and put to the Obelisk like your spymaster. I do not allow allies to escape justice when they are villains just because they have utility. I am going to remake the world, Virginia. It will be as it should. One without hierarchy. Without economic class distinctions. One in which it will be criminal to own excess wealth. Where the loftiest goal of a human being is to serve the people. No corporations. No private citizens. All serve one another for dignity and protection of the common good. All men were created equal, and I will make them so.’ He claps his hands together. ‘Now, are you ready for the justice of the meek?’”
So, he’s framed as a villain for wanting to abolish economic class distinctions, criminalize excess wealth, and remove corporations in favor of the common good. By putting these foundational socialist goals in the mouth of a bad guy, the author utilizes a classic reactionary trope, admitting the system is broken, but insisting that any attempt to dismantle the class hierarchy is a path to terror. Instead, we are meant to side with the so-called benevolent elites. It’s absolutely hilarious to me that the fandom will argue so hard that this series isn’t political and isn’t trying to shove a political viewpoint down your throat. Like did you guys even read the fucking books???
Ugh. It’s a shame because I think the writing improved significantly after the first book, and I genuinely loved the characters, action scenes, and general plot. The politics just suck major ass, especially in Iron Gold and Dark Age.