The series is filled with so many references that few people can recognize them all on their first read through.
In General
- Beyond specific pop-culture references, the trilogy is filled to the brim with reference to Greek, Roman, and Norse mythology, with a few biblical references thrown in for good measure.
- And that's not even counting the sheer number of references to real-world historical figures or classic works of literature.
- On a more specific note, the first part of Antonia's last name (Gold children born from extramarital affairs are given hyphenated surnames) is Severus.
Red Rising
- On his way to meet Mickey for the first time, Darrow walks past two Greens advertising a VR simulation of Osgiliath
- During the course of his education, Darrow mentions listening to audiobooks of The Great Gatsby, Nineteen Eighty-Four, Lord of the Flies, The Iliad, Ulysses, The Count of Monte Cristo, Metamorphosis, and Anabasis.
- Vlad Dracula gets a mention.
- Upon being told about the ArchGovernor's son, Darrow asks if the Jackal is supposed to be a predestined Alexander, Caesar, Genghis, or Wiggin
Golden Son
- While escaping from Luna, Darrow's response to a Blue telling him their odds of survival is "Never tell me the odds."
- While he and Darrow take The Pax a few chapters later, Darrow says "They can't stop the signal"
- When discissing the potential existence of aliens, Victra refers to a Drake-Roddenberry equation.
- During the Iron Rain, Darrow describes the sight of a Gold shedding their thermal armor as looking like a Miltonian angel.
Morning Star
- At the start of the book, Victra is imprisoned in cell 2187, the same cell number as Princess Leia.
- On page 64:
- When listing the notable creations of Gold technology and Carvers, Quicksilver references Mirkwood
- Ragnar shoots down Cassius and Aja's ship with a Sarissa missile.
- Mustang's flagship is named Dejah Thoris
- After killing a Gold named Felica, Victra remarks "Bye Felicia"
- When Darrow and Victra confront Roque on the bridge of the Colossus, Victra says "You're in a corner, poet," referencing the famous Poet's Corner in Westminster Abbey where most of England's greatest writers are buried.
- "We'll always have Luna."