Lo Howler,

Eleven years. What? Eh? Somehow it’s true. This is Earth. We have gravity to spare. So I have no need to pull your legs. Hard as it is to believe, its been eleven bloodydamn years since Red Rising came out. 

Holy anxiety goblin, Reaper. That’s longer than most Solar Wars! Cars drive themselves now. Newspapers have fallen. Streamers have conquered. AI is after our jobs. Yet despite all predictions to the contrary, books hold strong and the Howlers remain, indomitable, reading, spreading, redditing, fostering new converts, founding new chapters, and proselytizing the bombastic bedlam of archBroodimus Darrow of Lykos like a virulent virus upon the unsuspecting nervous system of humanity. 

Muahahaha. Yes. Excellent. Atlas would be proud. It all goes according to plan. 

For real though, what a blessing y’all have bestowed upon me. To get paid to write is a privilege in and of itself. To have a group whose love and support of my series impacts not just the passion I can put onto the page but the shape and health of the fanbase as a whole is as rare and special as a joke from a Raa. 

It’s a manic thought to look back at those early days when I was scribbling those first lines of Red Rising. If I had known how long the story would stretch, how deep and broad the Howler legion would grow, the only way I’d have been able to plunge on would be under a double dose of zoladone. 

Six books in twelve years feels like a lot, and yet not enough. As you know, I’m knife fighting demons in the office trenches to bring you Red God. It isn’t done yet because I don’t love it yet. When I love it, it will be done, and when it is done I will bathe in awesome waves of relief. But only when it is cradled in your noble paws will I feel a sense of absolution. My sins of delay washed clean. The contract between reader and writer will be met. The vision will be complete. The story will be set in stone. And yet…

In the writing of Red God, and in anticipation of my own pending postpartum grief, I have come to the inevitable conclusion that I am not yet ready to stow my gravBoots, check my razor, and depart the Red Rising universe in full.  

I long to explore more of its arctic spires, asteroid crypts, and forlorn landscapes. I yearn to plunge headlong into the mists of its fraudulent myths, the venom of its  ancient grudges, and the shadows of its dastardly coups. If I don’t dance on the graves of felled tyrants, cheer ringside to the clash of masters in the Bleeding Place, and hurl shining armadas and star-crossed lovers together off the shoulder of Titan, I simply will combust.

That is why I would like to announce that I will be expanding the story of the Red Rising world with a fresh tale featuring a familiar face, told in a new format. 

For clarity, RED GOD will be the final novel in the seven volume series. 

But, if you’re like me and champing at the bit to explore more of the Red Rising world, stay tuned. 

We will be announcing the new adventure this August in true Shit Escalates format as a part of our annual game of Hazard Bedlam.

Again and against, my thanks to you for coming on this journey with me. I love you like the Minotaur loves Darrow. 

Xoxo,

Pierce Brown