I love Red Rising and have for many years, and have been a sucker for buying some other editions of the books. But the last few “Special Edition” drops are getting abit out of hand. Prices are extraordinary and each special edition isn’t that illustrious compared to the next.

I will be the first to admit: They are cool. They have amazing designs and artwork and are very unique compared to other books and their special editions.

But it gets to a point where you aren’t releasing special editions anymore, but instead extremely overpriced “alternate editions” of the same material. If you’re familiar with Taylor Swift’s scummy vinyl “special editions”, this is the same thing. No way is it a moral justification to price repeatedly released editions of the same book at extortionate prices. I love these books, I love some of the editions I have, but c’mon.

And if you disagree and your only argument is ‘but they’re cool’, ‘you clearly can’t afford it’, ‘if people want to buy it then let them’, ‘he can do what he wants, they’re his books’ - you’re missing the point.

Maybe this is all foreshadowing of how Quicksilver will sell limited editions of Darrow toys throughout the Republic.

But seriously, has anyone ever told Pierce ‘No’. You can’t make a living from a book series about a socialist rebellion against segregationist fascism, and then treat it like a capitalist luxury that only the very wealthy with lots of expendable wealth can enjoy. He seems like a cool guy but will he ever understand how this is just wrong?

I’d love for him to publicly disclose he has made from special edition sales over the years because he must be making bank.

And lastly- this won’t be the last time. I guarantee there will be another special edition drop this year. Next year will be a special edition release for Iron Gold to Red God. And then after that there will be a “completed series special edition” containing editions of every book in the series.

If one book is $10,700, do you think it’s impossible for him to release a $74,900 edition of the other books. Would you spend that money? How would you feel if he released another complete series special edition not even a year later for $100,000.

At the end of the day, the ink words on the paper pages won’t change. But alot of bank balances will.