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My Perfect Console with Simon Parkin · July 28 · 1 hr 32 min

Pierce Brown, science fiction novelist (Red Rising series).

Pierce Brown is an American novelist whose work has made him one of the defining voices in modern science fiction. After a restless childhood that saw his family move repeatedly and left him passing through more than ten schools, he began writing in earnest just after high school. After years of rejection, he found his breakthrough with Red Rising, the first instalment in an epic saga that fused classical tragedy, Roman myth, and space opera into an international bestseller. Since then, the series has grown into a global phenomenon, winning a devoted readership for its high-stakes politics and fierce emotional intensity. Alongside his work as a novelist, he has embraced gaming culture—contributing to the Red Rising board game and speaking openly about his love of everything from StarCraft II to Mass Effect and Cyberpunk. Now, as the series is being reissued in special tenth-anniversary editions, a new generation of readers is discovering the world that made his name. LINKS Pierce Brown – website & books Pierce Brown – official website Red Rising – the complete saga Red Rising: Sons of Ares – prequel comic series Pierce Brown – Instagram (@piercebrownofficial) Red Rising board game Red Rising – Stonemaier Games (designed by Jamey Stegmaier) Pierce's Perfect Console Command & Conquer (1995) – Wikipedia Command & Conquer: Red Alert – Wikipedia Command & Conquer: Tiberian Sun – Wikipedia Shogun: Total War (2000) – Wikipedia Total War series – official site Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn – Wikipedia Black & White (2001) – Wikipedia The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind – Wikipedia Books and other references mentioned Plato's Republic – Wikipedia Antigone by Sophocles – Wikipedia The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas – Wikipedia Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card – Wikipedia The First Law trilogy by Joe Abercrombie Gattaca (1997 film) – Wikipedia Gustave Doré – illustrator, Wikipedia Support the show My Perfect Console – episode archive Support My Perfect Console on Patreon Become a My Perfect Console supporter and receive a range of benefits at www.patreon.com/myperfectconsole Take the Acast listener survey to help shape the show: My Perfect Console with Simon Parkin Survey 2025 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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transcript

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show notes

Pierce Brown is an American novelist whose work has made him one of the defining voices in modern science fiction. After a restless childhood that saw his family move repeatedly and left him passing through more than ten schools, he began writing in earnest just after high school. After years of rejection, he found his breakthrough with Red Rising, the first instalment in an epic saga that fused classical tragedy, Roman myth, and space opera into an international bestseller.


Since then, the series has grown into a global phenomenon, winning a devoted readership for its high-stakes politics and fierce emotional intensity. Alongside his work as a novelist, he has embraced gaming culture—contributing to the Red Rising board game and speaking openly about his love of everything from StarCraft II to Mass Effect and Cyberpunk. Now, as the series is being reissued in special tenth-anniversary editions, a new generation of readers is discovering the world that made his name.


LINKS


Pierce Brown – website & books

Pierce Brown – official website

Red Rising – the complete saga

Red Rising: Sons of Ares – prequel comic series

Pierce Brown – Instagram (@piercebrownofficial)


Red Rising board game

Red Rising – Stonemaier Games (designed by Jamey Stegmaier)


Pierce's Perfect Console

Command & Conquer (1995) – Wikipedia

Command & Conquer: Red Alert – Wikipedia

Command & Conquer: Tiberian Sun – Wikipedia

Shogun: Total War (2000) – Wikipedia

Total War series – official site

Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn – Wikipedia

Black & White (2001) – Wikipedia

The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind – Wikipedia


Books and other references mentioned

Plato's Republic – Wikipedia

Antigone by Sophocles – Wikipedia

The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas – Wikipedia

Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card – Wikipedia

The First Law trilogy by Joe Abercrombie

Gattaca (1997 film) – Wikipedia

Gustave Doré – illustrator, Wikipedia


Support the show

My Perfect Console – episode archive

Support My Perfect Console on Patreon

Become a My Perfect Console supporter and receive a range of benefits at www.patreon.com/myperfectconsole


Take the Acast listener survey to help shape the show: My Perfect Console with Simon Parkin Survey 2025


Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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