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{{Short description|Novel by Pierce Brown}}
{{Short description|2018 novel by Pierce Brown}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2017}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2017}}
{{Infobox book
{{Infobox book
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|isbn = 978-0-425-28591-6
|isbn = 978-0-425-28591-6
|preceded_by = [[Morning Star (Brown novel)|Morning Star]]
|preceded_by = [[Morning Star (Brown novel)|Morning Star]]
|followed_by = [[Dark Age (Brown novel)|Dark Age]]
|followed_by = [[Dark Age (novel)|Dark Age]]
}}
}}


'''''Iron Gold''''' is a 2018 science fiction novel by American author [[Pierce Brown]], the first of a trilogy which continues the story of his ''[[Red Rising]]'' trilogy (2014–2016). ''Iron Gold'' takes place ten years after the events of ''[[Morning Star (Brown novel)|Morning Star]]'' (2016), with Darrow "The Reaper" of Lykos and Virginia "Mustang" au Augustus leading the new Solar Republic. It is followed by ''[[Dark Age (novel)|Dark Age]]'' (2019).
'''''Iron Gold''''' is a 2018 science fiction novel by American author [[Pierce Brown]]; it is the first of a tetralogy which continues the story of his ''[[Red Rising]]'' trilogy (2014–2016). ''Iron Gold'' takes place ten years after the events of ''[[Morning Star (Brown novel)|Morning Star]]'' (2016), with Darrow "The Reaper" of Lykos and Virginia "Mustang" au Augustus leading the new Solar Republic. It is followed by ''[[Dark Age (novel)|Dark Age]]'' (2019).


==Plot summary==
==Plot summary==
<!-- KEEP PLOT TO 700 WORDS PER MOS:PLOTSUM -->
Ten years after their victory over the Golds of the Core Worlds, a new Solar Republic has replaced the tyrannical Society. Darrow of Lykos serves as ArchImperator of the Republic's forces, which are still at war with the Ash Lord, Magnus au Grimmus, and his allies. Darrow's wife Virginia au Augustus governs as the elected Sovereign, but a faction called Vox Populi, led by Dancer, has risen to power in the Senate. Ignoring the Senate's orders, Darrow launches a massive assault on [[Mercury (planet)|Mercury]], wresting the planet from the Ash Lord but with great casualties. When the Senate learns from Darrow's enemy, Julia au Bellona, that he rejected an overture of peace from the Ash Lord, they issue a warrant for Darrow's arrest. Darrow, knowing that the potential truce is a ploy by the Ash Lord that will never come to fruition, escapes with his closest allies on a dangerous mission to assassinate Magnus. Darrow and the Howlers set off to Earth, where they free Apollonius au Valii-Rath after a stealth assault on Deepgate Prison and set off to [[Venus (planet)|Venus]] to kill the Ash Lord. They invade his fortress, but find him bedridden. He reveals that his daughter Atalantia is heading to retake Mercury, which is not fully protected, and that Darrow and Servo's children have been captured. Enraged, Servo and Apollonius then burn the Ash Lord to death. Stricken by grief and his failure as a father, Darrow sets course to Mercury to reinforce his army while Servo heads back to Luna.
Ten years after the events of ''Morning Star'', the Republic's war against the Society continues. Virginia and Romulus are the respective Sovereigns of the Republic and Rim Dominion. Darrow leads the Republic's military as ArchImperator. Dancer becomes the opposition leader of the Republic's multi-Colour Senate. Magnus apparently leads the Society.


Darrow disobeys the Senate by assaulting [[Mercury (planet)|Mercury]], liberating Mercury from the Society. When Darrow returns to [[Moon|Luna]], Dancer lets Julia reveal that Darrow secretly rejected Magnus' ceasefire offer. The Senate turns against Darrow, who conspires with the Howlers to escape and assassinate Magnus. Before Darrow leaves, Virginia has the Wardens arrest Darrow, but two Wardens free him. Darrow accidentally kills ArchWarden Wulfgar when Sevro interferes. Darrow escapes with the Howlers to [[Earth]], where they jailbreak Apollonius with guard Tongueless' help. They implant a bomb on Apollonius for his cooperation.
Meanwhile, Cassius au Bellona and his ward Lysander au Lune recuse a female Gold from a drifting ship in the asteroid belt. After making a narrow escape from Obsidian pirates, they are rescued by Golds from House Raa of the Rim, learning that the Gold they rescued was Serphania au Raa, daughter of the Rim Sovereign. Cassius and Lysander, initially disguising themselves as merchants, become embroiled in the political upheaval happening in the Outer Rim, as Dido au Raa deposes her husband, Romulus, the Sovereign of the Rim Dominion. When he identity is revealed, Cassius is challenged by multiple Golds for his past "crimes" against the Raa; he kills one after the other but is gravely wounded, and ultimately dies. Dido shows the Moon Lords evidence that their Ganymede shipyards were destroyed by Darrow and not by Roque au Fabii as they had been led to believe. While initially prosecuted for negligence, Romulus admits to charges of treason, as he knew about Darrow's destruction of the shipyards but covered up the evidence to avoid war. Before he dies, Romulus warns Lysander to keep the peace lest the numerically fewer Golds of the Rim are destroyed by Darrow. Nevertheless, the Rim Lords decide to go to war against the Republic, and Lysander joins them.


Living as a vigilante in the [[Asteroid Belt]], Lysander (with his mentor Cassius and their pilot Pytha) rescues Seraphina from an Ascomanni attack on her ship. At her mother Dido's command, Seraphina has retrieved footage of Darrow and Victra's destruction of Ganymede's dockyards. Seraphina hides the video. Pursued by Ascomanni, Lysander follows Seraphina's coordinates, allowing her father Romulus' forces to rescue them to [[Io (moon)|Io]]. Romulus orders Seraphina's imprisonment and Cassius and Lysander's execution. Dido thwarts this with a coup of Romulus, whom their son Diomedes defends. Romulus surrenders. Lysander has himself and Cassius reject Pink Aurae's sexual services. Seraphina informs Dido of Cassius' identity despite his disguise. Dido demands Cassius open his safe for the video, but he refuses. House Raa swears revenge on Cassius for Revus and Thesalia's deaths, though Diomedes recuses. Cassius defeats Bellerephon, who chooses death. Dido orders more Raa to fight Cassius, who kills them until Seraphina defeats him. Lysander reveals his own identity and opens the safe, saving Cassius. Diomedes has Cassius medically treated. Dido plays the video; the Dominion declares war on the Republic. Diomedes has Aurae inform Lysander that Cassius died from his wounds.
Lyria is a Red who lives in Camp 121 on [[Mars]] after her people are freed from the mines. The terrorist organization known as the Red Hand attacks the camp, killing nearly everyone, and Lyria and her nephew Liam are the only members of her family to survive. Republic forces eventually arrive to intervene, and Lyria saves Kavax au Telemanus from drowning. He takes her into his household. On Luna, Lyria befriends a veteran named Philippe, who is actually the criminal Ephraim ti Horn in disguise. He uses her in his plan to bring down a Telemanus transport ship and kidnap Pax, the son of Darrow and Virginia, and Electra, the daughter of Sevro and Victra, at the request of the crime lord known as the Duke of Hands. Caught after the fact, Ephraim agrees to help his former sister-in-law, Darrow's deputy Holiday ti Nakamura, retrieve the children. Ephraim flees the Duke's compound with Pax and Electra, but the Duke's boss, the Syndicate Queen, remotely seizes control of his stolen ship when they are 20 minutes from Republic ships. Ephraim destroys the ship's engines to prevent recapture, crashing himself and the two children to the surface, with fates currently unknown.

Gaia frees Lysander and Pytha, intending them to free Romulus. Lysander wounds Gaia's Obsidian Goroth and betrays Gaia to Dido. Intending to co-rule with Romulus, Dido puts him on trial regarding Ganymede's dockyards; he pleads guilty to negligence. To Dido's horror, the Whites and Olympic Knights charge Romulus with treason, and he admits guilt, as the video was earlier offered to him, and he had the video's brokers killed. Romulus commits ceremonial suicide, accepting death to unite the Dominion. Lysander proposes to negotiate an alliance between the Dominion and the Society against the Republic; Dido accepts.

Harmony's Red Hand attacks [[Mars]]' Gammas, killing most of the family of 18-year-old Lyria. Kavax mounts a defense, and Lyria saves him from drowning; he employs her as a valet. Ephraim, Volga, Cyra, and Dano are mercenary thieves. The Syndicate's Duke of Hands recruits Ephraim to kidnap Darrow's son, Pax, and Sevro's daughter, Electra. Ephraim befriends Lyria and secretly plants a device that disables Kavax's ship on her. Kavax kills Dano. Ephraim tries to kill Lyria, then relents and takes her. Ephraim and Volga bring Pax and Electra to the Duke, who has Cyra killed for disloyalty. Lyria escapes from the Duke and surrenders to the Republic. Niobe stops Victra from capturing Lyria. Virginia stops Niobe, Daxo, Theodora, and Holiday from torturing Lyria, who helps identify Ephraim. Virginia has Volga kidnapped to coerce Ephraim. He takes the Duke hostage, freeing Pax and Electra. The Syndicate's Queen takes control of Ephraim, Pax, and Electra's fleeing ship, so Ephraim bombs and crashes it. Victra has Lyria kidnapped.

The Howlers infiltrate [[Venus]]; Apollonius retakes House Valii-Rath from Tharsus, gaining 900 soldiers. They and the Howlers attack Magnus' forces. Milia is killed, and Apollonius saves Darrow. They find Magnus withered and bedridden. Apollonius reveals he had Magnus poisoned three years prior. Magnus reveals Atalantia's leadership of his forces, her imminent attack on Mercury, and Pax and Electra's kidnapping. Darrow, Sevro, and Apollonius incinerate Magnus. Darrow deactivates Apollonius' bomb but breaks his promise to give Apollonius the Saud and Carthii hostages to control Venus. Instead, the Howlers use the hostages for safe passage from Venus. The Howlers split up: Sevro's group to Luna, Darrow's group to Mercury.
<!-- KEEP PLOT TO 700 WORDS PER MOS:PLOTSUM -->


==Characters==
==Characters==
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* '''Sevro au Barca''', a.k.a. "'''Goblin'''" and "'''Ares'''" (Gold): Darrow's best friend and second-in-command.
* '''Sevro au Barca''', a.k.a. "'''Goblin'''" and "'''Ares'''" (Gold): Darrow's best friend and second-in-command.
* '''Victra au Barca''' (Gold): Darrow's former lieutenant, Sevro's wife, and daughter of the Julii family.
* '''Victra au Barca''' (Gold): Darrow's former lieutenant, Sevro's wife, and daughter of the Julii family.
* '''Cassius au Bellona''' (Gold): Darrow's close friend-turned-bitter enemy, known as the Morning Knight under the previous Sovereign, Octavia au Lune. Though he and Darrow have reconciled, Cassius remains an independent freedom fighter far-removed from the Republic worlds.
* '''Cassius au Bellona''' (Gold): Darrow's close friend-turned-bitter enemy known as the Morning Knight under the previous Sovereign, Octavia au Lune. Although he and Darrow have reconciled, Cassius remains an independent freedom fighter far removed from the Republic worlds.
* '''Lysander au Lune''' (Gold): grandson and heir to Octavia au Lune. He has been raised and protected by Cassius since the rise of the Republic.
* '''Lysander au Lune''' (Gold): grandson and heir to Octavia au Lune. Cassius has raised and protected him since the rise of the Republic.
* '''Kavax au Telemanus''' (Gold): longtime ally to Virginia and Darrow, father of Daxo and the deceased Pax au Telemanus.
* '''Kavax au Telemanus''' (Gold): longtime ally to Virginia and Darrow, father of Daxo and the deceased Pax au Telemanus.
* '''Niobe au Telemanus''' (Gold): Kavax's wife.
* '''Niobe au Telemanus''' (Gold): Kavax's wife.
* '''Daxo au Telemanus''' (Gold): son and heir to Kavax.
* '''Daxo au Telemanus''' (Gold): son and heir to Kavax.
* '''Thraxa au Telemanus''' (Gold): daughter of Kavax and Niobe.
* '''Thraxa au Telemanus''' (Gold): daughter of Kavax and Niobe.
* '''Magnus au Grimmus''', a.k.a. the "'''Ash Lord'''" (Gold): former ArchImperator and supreme commander of the Sovereign's fleet, he and his allies are the remaining holdouts against the new Republic.
* '''Magnus au Grimmus''', a.k.a. the "'''Ash Lord'''" (Gold): A former ArchImperator and supreme commander of the Sovereign's fleet, he and his allies are the remaining holdouts against the new Republic.
* '''Atalantia au Grimmus''' (Gold): the Ash Lord's daughter, sister to Aja au Grimmus and Moira au Grimmus.
* '''Atalantia au Grimmus''' (Gold): the Ash Lord's daughter, sister to Aja au Grimmus and Moira au Grimmus.
* '''Julia au Bellona''' (Gold): Cassius' estranged mother and Darrow's enemy, a supporter of the Ash Lord, widow of Tiberius au Bellona.
* '''Julia au Bellona''' (Gold): Cassius's estranged mother and Darrow's enemy, a supporter of the Ash Lord, and widow of Tiberius au Bellona.
* '''Romulus au Raa''' (Gold): Sovereign of the Rim Dominion, home of a collection of Gold families who seceded from the Society in the distant past.
* '''Romulus au Raa''' (Gold): Sovereign of the Rim Dominion, home of a collection of Gold families who seceded from the Society in the distant past.
* '''Dido au Raa''' (Gold): Romulus' wife.
* '''Dido au Raa''' (Gold): Romulus's wife.
* '''Seraphina au Raa''' (Gold): daughter of Romulus and Dido.
* '''Seraphina au Raa''' (Gold): daughter of Romulus and Dido.
* '''Diomedes au Raa''', a.k.a. the "'''Storm Knight'''" (Gold): son of Romulus and Dido.
* '''Diomedes au Raa''', a.k.a. the "'''Storm Knight'''" (Gold): son of Romulus and Dido.
* '''Marius au Raa''' (Gold): Quaestor, and son of Romulus and Dido.
* '''Marius au Raa''' (Gold): Quaestor, and son of Romulus and Dido.
* '''Alexandar au Arcos''' (Gold), Howler and eldest grandson of Lorn au Arcos, the former Rage Knight and Darrow's mentor.
* '''Alexandar au Arcos''' (Gold), Howler and the eldest grandson of Lorn au Arcos, the former Rage Knight and Darrow's mentor.
* '''Pax''' (Gold): son of Darrow and Virginia.
* '''Pax''' (Gold): son of Darrow and Virginia.
* '''Electra au Barca''' (Gold): eldest daughter of Sevro and Victra.
* '''Electra au Barca''' (Gold): eldest daughter of Sevro and Victra.
* '''Apollonius au Valii-Rath''' (Gold): imprisoned brother of Tactus.
* '''Apollonius au Valii-Rath''' (Gold): imprisoned brother of Tactus.
* '''Regulus ag Sun''', a.k.a. "'''Quicksilver'''" (Silver): the richest man in the known worlds and co-founder of the Sons of Ares. He has almost singlehandedly rebuilt [[Moon|Luna]] following the fall of the Society.
* '''Regulus ag Sun''', a.k.a. "'''Quicksilver'''" (Silver): the richest man in the known worlds and co-founder of the Sons of Ares. He has almost singlehandedly rebuilt [[Moon|Luna]] following the fall of the Society.
* '''Sefi''' (Obsidian): Queen of the Obsidian Valkyries, and sister to fallen hero Ragnar. She is a longtime ally of Darrow's, but now realizes the toll his war has taken on her people.
* '''Sefi''' (Obsidian): Queen of the Obsidian [[Valkyrie]]s and sister to fallen hero Ragnar. She is a longtime ally of Darrow's but now realizes his war's toll on her people.
* '''Wulfgar the Whitetooth''' (Obsidian): hero of the rising, now ArchWarden of the Republic.
* '''Wulfgar the Whitetooth''' (Obsidian): hero of the rising, now ArchWarden of the Republic.
* '''Holiday ti Nakamura''' (Gray): Legionnaire and Darrow's deputy, formerly a mole for the Sons of Ares.
* '''Holiday ti Nakamura''' (Gray): Legionnaire and Darrow's deputy, formerly a mole for the Sons of Ares.
* '''Ephraim ti Horn''' (Gray): former son of Ares whose fiancé, Holiday's brother Trigg, was killed rescuing Darrow and Victra from imprisonment. Ephraim works as a freelance thief.
* '''Ephraim ti Horn''' (Gray): former son of Ares whose fiancé, Holiday's brother Trigg, was killed rescuing Darrow and Victra from imprisonment. Ephraim works as a freelance thief.
* '''Volga Fjorgan''' (Obsidian): one of Ephraim's associates.
* '''Volga Fjorgan''' (Obsidian): one of Ephraim's associates.
* '''Dano''' (Red): one of Ephraim's associates.
* '''Dano''' (Red): one of Ephraim's associates.
* "'''Dancer'''" (Red): Darrow's mentor in the Sons of Ares, now a powerful senator in the Republic and leader of the Vox Populi faction.
* "'''Dancer'''" (Red): Darrow's mentor in the Sons of Ares, now a powerful senator in the Republic and leader of the Vox Populi faction.
* '''Rhonna''' (Red): daughter of Darrow's brother, and one of his lancers.
* '''Rhonna''' (Red): daughter of Darrow's brother and one of his lancers.
* '''Lyria of Lagalos''' (Red): Gamma Red from Mars who saves the life of Kavax au Telemanus, and joins his household.
* '''Lyria of Lagalos''' (Red): Gamma Red from Mars who saves the life of Kavax au Telemanus and joins his household.
* '''Cyra si Lamensis''' (Green): locksmith and one of Ephraim's associates.
* '''Cyra si Lamensis''' (Green): locksmith and one of Ephraim's associates.
* '''Pytha''' (Blue): pilot and companion of Cassius and Lysander.
* '''Pytha''' (Blue): pilot and companion of Cassius and Lysander.
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==Development and themes==
==Development and themes==
Brown announced a sequel trilogy to ''Red Rising'' in February 2016.<ref name="USA Today IG">{{cite web |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/books/2016/02/17/exclusive-pierce-brown-morning-star-red-rising-usa-today-best-selling-books/80451454/ |title=Pierce Brown lands at No. 1 with ''Morning Star'', plans new series |work=[[USA Today]] |first=Brian |last=Truitt |date=February 17, 2016 |access-date=January 28, 2017}}</ref> He later noted, "I didn't think I would write more but I started seeing so many plots, particularly with the Ash Lord and the chaos that happens when an empire falls."<ref name="DE 2016">{{cite web |url=http://www.express.co.uk/entertainment/books/649984/Pierce-Brown-Morningstar-film-casting-sequels-favourite-characters-fans |work=[[Daily Express]] |title=''Red Rising'' author Pierce Brown on film casting, the ''Irongold'' sequels & fan power |first=Stefan |last=Kyriazis |date=March 6, 2016 |access-date=January 28, 2017}}</ref> Brown said of his inspiration to write the sequel trilogy:
Brown announced a sequel trilogy to ''Red Rising'' in February 2016.<ref name="USA Today IG">{{cite web |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/books/2016/02/17/exclusive-pierce-brown-morning-star-red-rising-usa-today-best-selling-books/80451454/ |title=Pierce Brown lands at No. 1 with ''Morning Star'', plans new series |work=[[USA Today]] |first=Brian |last=Truitt |date=February 17, 2016 |access-date=January 28, 2017 |archive-date=February 6, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170206121836/http://www.usatoday.com/story/life/books/2016/02/17/exclusive-pierce-brown-morning-star-red-rising-usa-today-best-selling-books/80451454/ |url-status=live }}</ref> He later noted, "I didn't think I would write more but I started seeing so many plots, particularly with the Ash Lord and the chaos that happens when an empire falls."<ref name="DE 2016">{{cite web |url=http://www.express.co.uk/entertainment/books/649984/Pierce-Brown-Morningstar-film-casting-sequels-favourite-characters-fans |work=[[Daily Express]] |title=''Red Rising'' author Pierce Brown on film casting, the ''Irongold'' sequels & fan power |first=Stefan |last=Kyriazis |date=March 6, 2016 |access-date=January 28, 2017 |archive-date=January 28, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170128092926/http://www.express.co.uk/entertainment/books/649984/Pierce-Brown-Morningstar-film-casting-sequels-favourite-characters-fans |url-status=live }}</ref> Brown said of his inspiration to write the sequel trilogy:
{{Quote|To be honest, I was curious. Not just about what happens to an empire once it has been broken, but what rises from the ashes. What happens to rebels once they take on the mantle of rule. Authority is a pressure cooker of responsibility that twists and hardens. Darrow and Mustang will learn it was easier to throw proverbial Molotov cocktails than it is to govern ten billion souls.<ref name="EW Iron Gold 2016">{{cite magazine |url=http://ew.com/article/2016/12/15/pierce-brown-iron-gold-cover-plot-new-red-rising-trilogy/ |title=Pierce Brown debuts new ''Red Rising'' trilogy, cover, plot |magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]] |first=Marc |last=Snetiker |date=December 15, 2016 |access-date=January 27, 2017}}</ref>}}
{{Quote|To be honest, I was curious. Not just about what happens to an empire once it has been broken, but what rises from the ashes. What happens to rebels once they take on the mantle of rule. Authority is a pressure cooker of responsibility that twists and hardens. Darrow and Mustang will learn it was easier to throw proverbial Molotov cocktails than it is to govern ten billion souls.<ref name="EW Iron Gold 2016">{{cite magazine |url=http://ew.com/article/2016/12/15/pierce-brown-iron-gold-cover-plot-new-red-rising-trilogy/ |title=Pierce Brown debuts new ''Red Rising'' trilogy, cover, plot |magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]] |first=Marc |last=Snetiker |date=December 15, 2016 |access-date=January 27, 2017 |archive-date=February 5, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170205045543/http://ew.com/article/2016/12/15/pierce-brown-iron-gold-cover-plot-new-red-rising-trilogy/ |url-status=live }}</ref>}}


Brown said that while the first trilogy followed Darrow's quest, the new series explores the consequences of Darrow's rebellion, asking "Have they unleashed dark ages or a renaissance? I think you can pretty much bet it'll be dark ages for a little while."<ref name="USA Today IG"/> He cited the primary theme as "What is better, rule and order or chaos and freedom?",<ref name="DE 2016"/> and later explained, "What this new book is about ... is seeing the people that are affected negatively by the positive actions of Darrow, and seeing the negative repercussions of them."<ref name="DE 2018-02">{{cite web|url=https://www.express.co.uk/entertainment/books/913153/Red-Rising-Pierce-Brown-Iron-Gold-INTERVIEW-TV-Dark-Age-Book-6-Cassius-dead|title=''Red Rising'' author Pierce Brown ''Iron Gold'' Interview: TV show, ''Dark Age'', Book 6 and Cassius|first=Stefan|last=Kyriazis|work=Daily Express|date=February 1, 2018|access-date=March 15, 2018}}</ref> Before publication, Brown noted that both Darrow and Mustang would be "integral characters" in the novel, which would be told from four viewpoints: Darrow, another familiar character, and two new ones.<ref name="EW Iron Gold 2016"/> Though Brown considered several characters, including Mustang and Sevro, he wanted a more even representation of colors,<ref name="DE 2018-02"/> and chose Darrow, the Red-turned-Gold protagonist of the first trilogy; Lysander, a Gold disenfranchised by the events of the previous novels; and two new characters with a grudge against Darrow and the Rebellion: Lyria, a Red freed from slavery in the mines, and Ephraim, a Gray whose husband was killed rescuing Darrow. Brown said, "I want to expand the universe and also see how others perceive Darrow."<ref name="DE 2016"/> Besides introducing new characters, the new trilogy will explore planets and elements only briefly touched on in the previous series.<ref name="USA Today IG"/> Brown called the scope of the new trilogy "huge" and "far more ambitious than ''Red Rising''", noting: "It spans the solar system, weaves in disparate cultures and moons and planets—most of which had to be created from scratch. It has been an exercise not only in world-building but in understanding how the world would affect these diverse characters."<ref name="EW Iron Gold 2016"/> Comparing the new trilogy to the previous, Brown said, "It has the firefights and midnight duels and blood feuds, but many of the characters are not wrecking balls like Darrow. They must use other means to achieve their goals."<ref name="EW Iron Gold 2016"/> He explained that the novel's title "refers to the original Gold conquerors; the founders of Society who were infinitely tougher, smarter, and more brutal than their descendants would become after 700 years of rule. It is an ideal that many of the former ruling class wish to bring back in their fight against the Rising."<ref name="EW Iron Gold 2016"/>
Brown said that while the first trilogy followed Darrow's quest, the new series explores the consequences of Darrow's rebellion, asking, "Have they unleashed dark ages or a renaissance? I think you can pretty much bet it'll be dark ages for a little while."<ref name="USA Today IG"/> He cited the primary theme as "What is better, rule and order or chaos and freedom?",<ref name="DE 2016"/> and later explained, "What this new book is about ... is seeing the people that are affected negatively by the positive actions of Darrow, and seeing the negative repercussions of them."<ref name="DE 2018-02">{{cite web|url=https://www.express.co.uk/entertainment/books/913153/Red-Rising-Pierce-Brown-Iron-Gold-INTERVIEW-TV-Dark-Age-Book-6-Cassius-dead|title=''Red Rising'' author Pierce Brown ''Iron Gold'' Interview: TV show, ''Dark Age'', Book 6 and Cassius|first=Stefan|last=Kyriazis|work=Daily Express|date=February 1, 2018|access-date=March 15, 2018|archive-date=March 16, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180316141248/https://www.express.co.uk/entertainment/books/913153/Red-Rising-Pierce-Brown-Iron-Gold-INTERVIEW-TV-Dark-Age-Book-6-Cassius-dead|url-status=live}}</ref> Before publication, Brown noted that both Darrow and Mustang would be "integral characters" in the novel, which would be told from four viewpoints: Darrow, another familiar character, and two new ones.<ref name="EW Iron Gold 2016"/> Though Brown considered several characters, including Mustang and Sevro, he wanted a more even representation of colors,<ref name="DE 2018-02"/> and chose Darrow, the Red-turned-Gold protagonist of the first trilogy; Lysander, a Gold disenfranchised by the events of the previous novels; and two new characters with a grudge against Darrow and the Rebellion: Lyria, a Red freed from slavery in the mines, and Ephraim, a Gray whose husband was killed rescuing Darrow. Brown said, "I want to expand the universe and also see how others perceive Darrow."<ref name="DE 2016"/> Besides introducing new characters, the new trilogy will explore planets and elements only briefly touched on in the previous series.<ref name="USA Today IG"/> Brown called the scope of the new trilogy "huge" and "far more ambitious than ''Red Rising''", noting: "It spans the solar system, weaves in disparate cultures and moons and planets—most of which had to be created from scratch. It has been an exercise not only in world-building but in understanding how the world would affect these diverse characters."<ref name="EW Iron Gold 2016"/> Comparing the new trilogy to the previous, Brown said, "It has the firefights and midnight duels and blood feuds, but many of the characters are not wrecking balls like Darrow. They must use other means to achieve their goals."<ref name="EW Iron Gold 2016"/> He explained that the novel's title "refers to the original Gold conquerors; the founders of Society who were infinitely tougher, smarter, and more brutal than their descendants would become after 700 years of rule. It is an ideal that many of the former ruling class wish to bring back in their fight against the Rising."<ref name="EW Iron Gold 2016"/>


Brown also noted, "Several of the main characters in the next one will be gay. Darrow's heteronormative outlook has been changing after leaving the mines. He began embracing sexual fluidity and gay characters like Tactus."<ref name="DE 2016"/> He discussed the popularity of his novels among the LGBT community, adding "It's amazing that they have found a home in these books ... All these lost souls in my books have connected with people and I find it incredibly moving."<ref name="DE 2016"/>
Brown also noted, "Several of the main characters in the next one will be gay. Darrow's heteronormative outlook has been changing after leaving the mines. He began embracing sexual fluidity and gay characters like Tactus."<ref name="DE 2016"/> He discussed the popularity of his novels among the LGBT community, adding, "It's amazing that they have found a home in these books ... All these lost souls in my books have connected with people and I find it incredibly moving."<ref name="DE 2016"/>


==Publication==
==Publication==
''Iron Gold'' was released on January 16, 2018, and debuted at #3 on [[The New York Times Best Seller list|''The New York Times'' Best Seller list]].<ref name="DE 2018-02"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/books/best-sellers/2018/02/04/hardcover-fiction/|title=Hardcover Fiction Books – Best Sellers – February 4, 2018 |work=[[The New York Times]]|date=February 4, 2018|access-date=March 15, 2018}}</ref> It is the first novel of a planned trilogy.<ref name="EW Iron Gold 2016"/>
''Iron Gold'' was released on January 16, 2018, and debuted at #3 on [[The New York Times Best Seller list|''The New York Times'' Best Seller list]].<ref name="DE 2018-02"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/books/best-sellers/2018/02/04/hardcover-fiction/|title=Hardcover Fiction Books – Best Sellers – February 4, 2018|work=[[The New York Times]]|date=February 4, 2018|access-date=March 15, 2018|archive-date=March 12, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180312022430/https://www.nytimes.com/books/best-sellers/2018/02/04/hardcover-fiction/|url-status=live}}</ref> It is the first novel of a planned tetralogy.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://howlerlife.com/2022/07/22/red-rising-book-6-title-revealed-and-book-7-announced/|title=''Red Rising'' Book 6 Title Revealed And Book 7 Announced|website=Howler Life|date=July 22, 2022|access-date=April 11, 2024|archive-date=August 4, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230804203851/https://howlerlife.com/2022/07/22/red-rising-book-6-title-revealed-and-book-7-announced/|url-status=live}}</ref>


==References==
==References==
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==External links==
==External links==
* {{Official website|http://www.redrisingbook.com/}}
* {{Official website|https://www.piercebrown.com/redrisingsaga}}
* [https://www.npr.org/2018/01/21/577724779/ten-years-after-the-rising-iron-gold-asks-what-now NPR review]
* [https://www.npr.org/2018/01/21/577724779/ten-years-after-the-rising-iron-gold-asks-what-now NPR review]


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[[Category:Novels about slavery]]
[[Category:Novels about slavery]]
[[Category:Novels by Pierce Brown]]
[[Category:Novels by Pierce Brown]]
[[Category:Fiction set on Phobos (moon)]]
[[Category:Novels set on Phobos (moon)]]
[[Category:Science fantasy novels]]
[[Category:Science fantasy novels]]
[[Category:Works about women in war]]
[[Category:Works about women in war]]

Latest revision as of 05:21, 2 December 2024

Iron Gold
First edition cover
AuthorPierce Brown
Audio read by
LanguageEnglish
GenreScience fiction
PublisherDel Rey Books (US)
Publication date
January 16, 2018
Publication placeUnited States
Media type
Pages596
ISBN978-0-425-28591-6
Preceded byMorning Star 
Followed byDark Age 

Iron Gold is a 2018 science fiction novel by American author Pierce Brown; it is the first of a tetralogy which continues the story of his Red Rising trilogy (2014–2016). Iron Gold takes place ten years after the events of Morning Star (2016), with Darrow "The Reaper" of Lykos and Virginia "Mustang" au Augustus leading the new Solar Republic. It is followed by Dark Age (2019).

Plot summary

[edit]

Ten years after the events of Morning Star, the Republic's war against the Society continues. Virginia and Romulus are the respective Sovereigns of the Republic and Rim Dominion. Darrow leads the Republic's military as ArchImperator. Dancer becomes the opposition leader of the Republic's multi-Colour Senate. Magnus apparently leads the Society.

Darrow disobeys the Senate by assaulting Mercury, liberating Mercury from the Society. When Darrow returns to Luna, Dancer lets Julia reveal that Darrow secretly rejected Magnus' ceasefire offer. The Senate turns against Darrow, who conspires with the Howlers to escape and assassinate Magnus. Before Darrow leaves, Virginia has the Wardens arrest Darrow, but two Wardens free him. Darrow accidentally kills ArchWarden Wulfgar when Sevro interferes. Darrow escapes with the Howlers to Earth, where they jailbreak Apollonius with guard Tongueless' help. They implant a bomb on Apollonius for his cooperation.

Living as a vigilante in the Asteroid Belt, Lysander (with his mentor Cassius and their pilot Pytha) rescues Seraphina from an Ascomanni attack on her ship. At her mother Dido's command, Seraphina has retrieved footage of Darrow and Victra's destruction of Ganymede's dockyards. Seraphina hides the video. Pursued by Ascomanni, Lysander follows Seraphina's coordinates, allowing her father Romulus' forces to rescue them to Io. Romulus orders Seraphina's imprisonment and Cassius and Lysander's execution. Dido thwarts this with a coup of Romulus, whom their son Diomedes defends. Romulus surrenders. Lysander has himself and Cassius reject Pink Aurae's sexual services. Seraphina informs Dido of Cassius' identity despite his disguise. Dido demands Cassius open his safe for the video, but he refuses. House Raa swears revenge on Cassius for Revus and Thesalia's deaths, though Diomedes recuses. Cassius defeats Bellerephon, who chooses death. Dido orders more Raa to fight Cassius, who kills them until Seraphina defeats him. Lysander reveals his own identity and opens the safe, saving Cassius. Diomedes has Cassius medically treated. Dido plays the video; the Dominion declares war on the Republic. Diomedes has Aurae inform Lysander that Cassius died from his wounds.

Gaia frees Lysander and Pytha, intending them to free Romulus. Lysander wounds Gaia's Obsidian Goroth and betrays Gaia to Dido. Intending to co-rule with Romulus, Dido puts him on trial regarding Ganymede's dockyards; he pleads guilty to negligence. To Dido's horror, the Whites and Olympic Knights charge Romulus with treason, and he admits guilt, as the video was earlier offered to him, and he had the video's brokers killed. Romulus commits ceremonial suicide, accepting death to unite the Dominion. Lysander proposes to negotiate an alliance between the Dominion and the Society against the Republic; Dido accepts.

Harmony's Red Hand attacks Mars' Gammas, killing most of the family of 18-year-old Lyria. Kavax mounts a defense, and Lyria saves him from drowning; he employs her as a valet. Ephraim, Volga, Cyra, and Dano are mercenary thieves. The Syndicate's Duke of Hands recruits Ephraim to kidnap Darrow's son, Pax, and Sevro's daughter, Electra. Ephraim befriends Lyria and secretly plants a device that disables Kavax's ship on her. Kavax kills Dano. Ephraim tries to kill Lyria, then relents and takes her. Ephraim and Volga bring Pax and Electra to the Duke, who has Cyra killed for disloyalty. Lyria escapes from the Duke and surrenders to the Republic. Niobe stops Victra from capturing Lyria. Virginia stops Niobe, Daxo, Theodora, and Holiday from torturing Lyria, who helps identify Ephraim. Virginia has Volga kidnapped to coerce Ephraim. He takes the Duke hostage, freeing Pax and Electra. The Syndicate's Queen takes control of Ephraim, Pax, and Electra's fleeing ship, so Ephraim bombs and crashes it. Victra has Lyria kidnapped.

The Howlers infiltrate Venus; Apollonius retakes House Valii-Rath from Tharsus, gaining 900 soldiers. They and the Howlers attack Magnus' forces. Milia is killed, and Apollonius saves Darrow. They find Magnus withered and bedridden. Apollonius reveals he had Magnus poisoned three years prior. Magnus reveals Atalantia's leadership of his forces, her imminent attack on Mercury, and Pax and Electra's kidnapping. Darrow, Sevro, and Apollonius incinerate Magnus. Darrow deactivates Apollonius' bomb but breaks his promise to give Apollonius the Saud and Carthii hostages to control Venus. Instead, the Howlers use the hostages for safe passage from Venus. The Howlers split up: Sevro's group to Luna, Darrow's group to Mercury.

Characters

[edit]
  • Darrow au Andromedus of Lykos, a.k.a. the "Reaper" and the "Morning Star": a Red physically remade into a Gold to infiltrate and destroy the Society. The former leader of the revolution known as "The Rising", Darrow is the ArchImperator of the new Solar Republic.
  • Virginia au Augustus, a.k.a. "Mustang" (Gold): daughter of the former ArchGovernor of Mars, Darrow's wife, and mother of their son Pax. She serves the new Solar Republic as its elected Sovereign.
  • Sevro au Barca, a.k.a. "Goblin" and "Ares" (Gold): Darrow's best friend and second-in-command.
  • Victra au Barca (Gold): Darrow's former lieutenant, Sevro's wife, and daughter of the Julii family.
  • Cassius au Bellona (Gold): Darrow's close friend-turned-bitter enemy known as the Morning Knight under the previous Sovereign, Octavia au Lune. Although he and Darrow have reconciled, Cassius remains an independent freedom fighter far removed from the Republic worlds.
  • Lysander au Lune (Gold): grandson and heir to Octavia au Lune. Cassius has raised and protected him since the rise of the Republic.
  • Kavax au Telemanus (Gold): longtime ally to Virginia and Darrow, father of Daxo and the deceased Pax au Telemanus.
  • Niobe au Telemanus (Gold): Kavax's wife.
  • Daxo au Telemanus (Gold): son and heir to Kavax.
  • Thraxa au Telemanus (Gold): daughter of Kavax and Niobe.
  • Magnus au Grimmus, a.k.a. the "Ash Lord" (Gold): A former ArchImperator and supreme commander of the Sovereign's fleet, he and his allies are the remaining holdouts against the new Republic.
  • Atalantia au Grimmus (Gold): the Ash Lord's daughter, sister to Aja au Grimmus and Moira au Grimmus.
  • Julia au Bellona (Gold): Cassius's estranged mother and Darrow's enemy, a supporter of the Ash Lord, and widow of Tiberius au Bellona.
  • Romulus au Raa (Gold): Sovereign of the Rim Dominion, home of a collection of Gold families who seceded from the Society in the distant past.
  • Dido au Raa (Gold): Romulus's wife.
  • Seraphina au Raa (Gold): daughter of Romulus and Dido.
  • Diomedes au Raa, a.k.a. the "Storm Knight" (Gold): son of Romulus and Dido.
  • Marius au Raa (Gold): Quaestor, and son of Romulus and Dido.
  • Alexandar au Arcos (Gold), Howler and the eldest grandson of Lorn au Arcos, the former Rage Knight and Darrow's mentor.
  • Pax (Gold): son of Darrow and Virginia.
  • Electra au Barca (Gold): eldest daughter of Sevro and Victra.
  • Apollonius au Valii-Rath (Gold): imprisoned brother of Tactus.
  • Regulus ag Sun, a.k.a. "Quicksilver" (Silver): the richest man in the known worlds and co-founder of the Sons of Ares. He has almost singlehandedly rebuilt Luna following the fall of the Society.
  • Sefi (Obsidian): Queen of the Obsidian Valkyries and sister to fallen hero Ragnar. She is a longtime ally of Darrow's but now realizes his war's toll on her people.
  • Wulfgar the Whitetooth (Obsidian): hero of the rising, now ArchWarden of the Republic.
  • Holiday ti Nakamura (Gray): Legionnaire and Darrow's deputy, formerly a mole for the Sons of Ares.
  • Ephraim ti Horn (Gray): former son of Ares whose fiancé, Holiday's brother Trigg, was killed rescuing Darrow and Victra from imprisonment. Ephraim works as a freelance thief.
  • Volga Fjorgan (Obsidian): one of Ephraim's associates.
  • Dano (Red): one of Ephraim's associates.
  • "Dancer" (Red): Darrow's mentor in the Sons of Ares, now a powerful senator in the Republic and leader of the Vox Populi faction.
  • Rhonna (Red): daughter of Darrow's brother and one of his lancers.
  • Lyria of Lagalos (Red): Gamma Red from Mars who saves the life of Kavax au Telemanus and joins his household.
  • Cyra si Lamensis (Green): locksmith and one of Ephraim's associates.
  • Pytha (Blue): pilot and companion of Cassius and Lysander.
  • Mickey (Violet): carver who remade Darrow.

Development and themes

[edit]

Brown announced a sequel trilogy to Red Rising in February 2016.[1] He later noted, "I didn't think I would write more but I started seeing so many plots, particularly with the Ash Lord and the chaos that happens when an empire falls."[2] Brown said of his inspiration to write the sequel trilogy:

To be honest, I was curious. Not just about what happens to an empire once it has been broken, but what rises from the ashes. What happens to rebels once they take on the mantle of rule. Authority is a pressure cooker of responsibility that twists and hardens. Darrow and Mustang will learn it was easier to throw proverbial Molotov cocktails than it is to govern ten billion souls.[3]

Brown said that while the first trilogy followed Darrow's quest, the new series explores the consequences of Darrow's rebellion, asking, "Have they unleashed dark ages or a renaissance? I think you can pretty much bet it'll be dark ages for a little while."[1] He cited the primary theme as "What is better, rule and order or chaos and freedom?",[2] and later explained, "What this new book is about ... is seeing the people that are affected negatively by the positive actions of Darrow, and seeing the negative repercussions of them."[4] Before publication, Brown noted that both Darrow and Mustang would be "integral characters" in the novel, which would be told from four viewpoints: Darrow, another familiar character, and two new ones.[3] Though Brown considered several characters, including Mustang and Sevro, he wanted a more even representation of colors,[4] and chose Darrow, the Red-turned-Gold protagonist of the first trilogy; Lysander, a Gold disenfranchised by the events of the previous novels; and two new characters with a grudge against Darrow and the Rebellion: Lyria, a Red freed from slavery in the mines, and Ephraim, a Gray whose husband was killed rescuing Darrow. Brown said, "I want to expand the universe and also see how others perceive Darrow."[2] Besides introducing new characters, the new trilogy will explore planets and elements only briefly touched on in the previous series.[1] Brown called the scope of the new trilogy "huge" and "far more ambitious than Red Rising", noting: "It spans the solar system, weaves in disparate cultures and moons and planets—most of which had to be created from scratch. It has been an exercise not only in world-building but in understanding how the world would affect these diverse characters."[3] Comparing the new trilogy to the previous, Brown said, "It has the firefights and midnight duels and blood feuds, but many of the characters are not wrecking balls like Darrow. They must use other means to achieve their goals."[3] He explained that the novel's title "refers to the original Gold conquerors; the founders of Society who were infinitely tougher, smarter, and more brutal than their descendants would become after 700 years of rule. It is an ideal that many of the former ruling class wish to bring back in their fight against the Rising."[3]

Brown also noted, "Several of the main characters in the next one will be gay. Darrow's heteronormative outlook has been changing after leaving the mines. He began embracing sexual fluidity and gay characters like Tactus."[2] He discussed the popularity of his novels among the LGBT community, adding, "It's amazing that they have found a home in these books ... All these lost souls in my books have connected with people and I find it incredibly moving."[2]

Publication

[edit]

Iron Gold was released on January 16, 2018, and debuted at #3 on The New York Times Best Seller list.[4][5] It is the first novel of a planned tetralogy.[6]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c Truitt, Brian (February 17, 2016). "Pierce Brown lands at No. 1 with Morning Star, plans new series". USA Today. Archived from the original on February 6, 2017. Retrieved January 28, 2017.
  2. ^ a b c d e Kyriazis, Stefan (March 6, 2016). "Red Rising author Pierce Brown on film casting, the Irongold sequels & fan power". Daily Express. Archived from the original on January 28, 2017. Retrieved January 28, 2017.
  3. ^ a b c d e Snetiker, Marc (December 15, 2016). "Pierce Brown debuts new Red Rising trilogy, cover, plot". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on February 5, 2017. Retrieved January 27, 2017.
  4. ^ a b c Kyriazis, Stefan (February 1, 2018). "Red Rising author Pierce Brown Iron Gold Interview: TV show, Dark Age, Book 6 and Cassius". Daily Express. Archived from the original on March 16, 2018. Retrieved March 15, 2018.
  5. ^ "Hardcover Fiction Books – Best Sellers – February 4, 2018". The New York Times. February 4, 2018. Archived from the original on March 12, 2018. Retrieved March 15, 2018.
  6. ^ "Red Rising Book 6 Title Revealed And Book 7 Announced". Howler Life. July 22, 2022. Archived from the original on August 4, 2023. Retrieved April 11, 2024.
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