Books

Percy Jackson & the Olympians

Percy Jackson & the Olympians is a pentalogy of adventure and fiction books written by Rick Riordan. The Lightning Thief is about a twelve-year-old dyslexic boy, Percy Jackson. Once when after returning home from his boarding school, Percy and his mother Sally Jackson, decide to go to the beach in Montauk. After a series of tragedies at Montauk beach, including loss of his mother, Percy finds out that he is a demigod, and son of Poseidon, the God of Sea. He also discovers that he is accused of stealing the weapon of God Zeus, the lightning bolt. Now, to clear his name off this thievery, and to save the world of World War III, he must find the real thief and return the lightning bolt to Zeus. Thus Percy Jackson, along with two companions, Grover Underwood, a satyr and Annabeth Chase, daughter of Athena, start on a journey to the Underworld and the God of death, Hades.More than 20 million copies of the books have been sold in more than 35 countries.As of October 28, 2011, the series has been on the New York Times best seller list for children's book series for 223 weeks. The first book was adapted into a film titled Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief in 2010, which was commercially successful, but received mixed reviews. An adaptation of The Sea of Monsters, titled Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters, is due to be released in 2013.

Origins

Development for both The Lightning Thief and the Percy Jackson series as a whole, commenced when Riordan first began making stories for his son Haley, who had (at the time) recently been diagnosed with ADHD and dyslexia. His son had been studying Greek mythology in second grade and requested that his father come up with bedtime stories based on Greek myths. Riordan had been a Greek mythology teacher in middle school for many years, and was able to remember enough stories to please his son. Soon Riordan ran out of myths and his son then requested that he make new ones using the same characters from Greek myths and add new ones. Thus, Riordan created the fictional character Percy Jackson and made the story of how he would travel across the United States to recover Zeus's thunderbolt.In June 1994, Riordan had completed his manuscript for The Big Red Tequila and began looking for agents. During that time, he visited multiple local colleges looking for good editors until he eventually found an agent. While he left his manuscript to his agent and editor to review, Riordan took his book to a group of 6th, 7th, and 8th graders to read and give their critique. Ultimately he gained their approval, and with their help, came up with the name of the book and created the way Percy's sword worked. In June 1997, Riordan signed with Bantam Books to prepare the book for publishing. In 2004, the book was sold to Miramax Books for enough money for Riordan to quit his job to focus on writing. After it was released on 28 July 2005, it sold over 1.2 million copies. The book was released in multiple versions including hardcover, paperback and audio editions. It has been translated into multiple languages and published all over the world.Books

The Lightning Thief

The Lightning Thief is the first book in the series. It was released on June 28, 2005.A 12 year old demigod named Percy Jackson lives in New York with his mother, Sally Jackson. During a field trip to a museum, Percy is attacked by a "Fury" disguised as his Pre-Algebra teacher, Mrs. Dodds, and he vaporises her with a sword given to him by Mr. Brunner, his Latin teacher. After Mrs. Dodds is killed, no one in his school remembers knowing her. The rest of the school year passes with strange weather. When Percy gets frustrated from studying for his Latin exam (Percy, as a demigod, has both ADHD and dyslexia), he goes to Mr. Brunner for help, and overhears a conversation between Mr. Brunner and his best friend, Grover. The two are discussing Percy's safety at the school, and when Percy accidentally drops his book and retreats into an empty classroom, he notices that the shadow of the creature searching for him is much larger than either his teacher or his friend. At the end of the school year, Percy attempts to leave for his home when Grover insists on seeing him to his destination. During the bus ride, the bus breaks down, and as the passengers get off the bus while the driver attempts to fix it, Percy notices three old ladies across the highway that cut a strand of electric blue yarn. The duo board the bus once more, and after Grover starts acting weird from witnessing the cutting of the string, Percy ditches him at the bus station and takes a taxi up to his mother's apartment. His mother, Sally, reveals that the two of them are going to spend time at a cabin in Montauk, a beach Percy went to when he was a little boy. The two leave for the cabin, and that night Percy has a strange dream of a horse and an eagle attempting to kill each other while a dark voice from underneath him urges them on. Percy is awoken by the arrival of Grover, who reveals himself to be a satyr (half goat, half man), and a hurricane. Percy tells Grover and his mother about Mrs. Dodds while his mom races them to Camp Half-Blood, a safe haven for demigods like Percy. While heading to the camp, the storm continues to rampage, and they are attacked by the Minotaur, also known as "Pasiphae's son." While the Minotaur is, at first, unable to catch up to the trio, a blast of lightning knocks the car they are travelling off the road, knocking out Grover in the process. Percy's mother and Percy make it out of the car and start carrying Grover to the border of Camp Half-Blood as the Minotaur destroys the car. Eventually they reach the border, but Sally is unable to cross and is taken by the Minotaur. She turns into a shimmer of gold and is believed to be dead. Fueled by his anger, Percy manages to break one of the Minotaur's horns off and kill the beast with it just before passing out from exhaustion. When he wakes, he finds himself at Camp Half-Blood. He sees his former Latin teacher, Mr. Brunner, who turns out to be Chiron (a centaur), along with Annabeth Chase (Daughter of Athena). Percy is soon claimed by his Olympian parent, Poseidon (God of the Sea). Later on, he is accused of stealing Zeus' master lighting bolt. Although Percy insists that he didn't do it, Zeus (King Of The Gods and Lord of the Sky) doesn't believe him. If Percy doesn't prove Zeus wrong, there will be a massive war between the gods. Percy, Annabeth, and Grover are given a quest to retrieve Zeus' stolen lightning bolt as Zeus believes Percy stole it. After they get the quest, the trio initially believes Hades (God Of The Underworld) to be the thief, and they travel across the United States to Los Angeles, the entrance to the Underworld, while facing numerous mythological monsters, including Medusa, Echidna, and the Furies. The trio come face to face with Hades, who accidentally reveals that his Helm of Darkness has also been stolen. The three then escape the Underworld, and Percy fights Ares (God Of War) and retrieves the stolen items. In the end, they learn the real thief was Luke Castellan (Son of Hermes), a camper who'd befriended Percy when he first arrived at Camp Half-Blood. Luke stole the bolt to allow Kronos (the king of the Titans, the Titan Lord, or the Lord of Time) the chance to rise again.The book was adapted into a film by Chris Columbus and 20th Century Fox, under the title Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief on February 12, 2010.

The Sea of Monsters

The Sea of Monsters is the second installment in the series, released on April 1, 2006.If Thalia's tree (Thalia was a daughter of Zeus about to die, but he turned her into a tree to protect Camp Half-Blood) fully dies, then the camp borders will no longer be protected and more Monsters will start attacking the camp. In the book, all you hear from Percy is what he dreams. Then Percy has a dream about Grover in a wedding dress because Polyphemus wishes to marry him, thinking he is a female cyclops. Later in the dream, Grover warns Percy,"Sweet dreams! Don't let me die!" This will continue unless they find another way to protect the camp borders or the camp will be overrun by monsters. Percy then finds out that Tyson is his half-brother and a cyclops. To save the tree, a quest is given to find the Golden Fleece. Clarisse La Rue, a daughter of Ares, will lead the quest to find the Golden Fleece. Percy, Annabeth, and Tyson sneak off, not just for the Golden Fleece, but to find Grover Underwood. They meet Luke on his ship, the Princess Andromeda, but are able to escape. They soon join with Clarisse on her quest. Her ship is destroyed passing through the Sea of Monsters and Annabeth and Percy continue their search for Grover after becoming separated from the others. After encountering the Sirens and Circe, Annabeth and Percy reach the Polyphemus' cave. They are able to rescue Grover and Clarisse and Tyson helps defeats Polyphemus. They recover the Fleece and head to Miami. Clarisse heads to camp and the others are captured by Luke. They are about to be killed before Chiron and the Party Ponies (other centaurs) rescue them and take them back to camp. The Fleece is able to save the tree, but it also revives Thalia, whose spirit was in the tree. After this book is being adapted into a film by 20th Century Fox, under the title Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters which is slated to be released on the 16th of August 2013The Titan's Curse
The Titan's Curse is the third installment in the series. It was released on May 1, 2007.Percy, Annabeth, and Thalia are sent to rescue two half-bloods, Bianca and Nico Di-Angelo. While on this mission, they are attacked by a manticore, but are saved by the Hunters of Artemis. Annabeth is taken captive when the manticore flees. The Hunters, Percy, Thalia, Nico, and Bianca Di-Angelo and Grover are sent to camp by Artemis and Apollo. Artemis is soon taken captive and a quest is issued. Grover, Thalia, Bianca and Zoë Nightshade, Artemis's lieutenant, go to rescue Artemis. Percy follows and soon joins the quest. Bianca is killed while facing an automaton, invented by Hephaestus. They learn that the Titan Atlas has escaped and was behind the kidnapping of Artemis. Atlas is defeated and returned to holding the sky, but Zoe is killed by Atlas who is her father. Thalia replaces Zoë as Artemis' lieutenant during the gods' summit. Thalia's induction as a lieutenant of Artemis ensures that she never reaches 16, thus escaping the prophecy but leaving Percy as the only one who can fulfill it. They return to camp and Percy informs Nico about Bianca's death. He blames Percy, accusing him of failing to protect her and runs away. Percy learns that the underworld god, Hades, is Nico's father.

The Battle of the Labyrinth

The Battle of the Labyrinth is the fourth installment in the series. It was released on May 6, 2008.After being attacked by monsters, Percy returns to Camp Half-Blood and learns about the labyrinth. During a war game, Annabeth and Percy find an entrance into the Labyrinth in camp. Percy soon learns that Luke will use the entrance to lead his army through the Labyrinth straight into the heart of camp. Annabeth is chosen to lead a quest to prevent it, and chooses to bring Tyson,Percy,and Grover, even though it was traditional to bring only 2 companions on a quest, as explained by Chiron. While in the Labyrinth, Percy and Annabeth become separated from Grover and Tyson. They encounter Nico, who begins to forgive Percy. Percy and Annabeth arrive under Mount St. Helens, where Annabeth kisses Percy. Percy accidentally causes St. Helens to erupt and washes ashore on Calypso's Island. He returns, rather than staying with her, stating that she would always be his biggest "what-if". Then he and Annabeth recruit Rachel Dare to be a guide in the Labyrinth, finding her sight and knowledge useful for the quest. Daedalus is shown to be alive and to have given Ariadne's string to Luke. They find Grover and Tyson and discover Pan, and Grover tells him that he must return to the world. But, Pan says that he cannot come and before dying tells Grover to spread the word that Great God Pan has died. Grover does what he is told. Percy also finds Luke's body in Kronos' coffin, saying that there was a hole were Luke's heart should have been. After Pan's warning, they flee to camp, trying to stop the invasion. Kronos' forces attack the camp but are defeated. After the battle, Daedalus sacrifices himself to destroy the Labyrinth, as it's tied to his lifeforce of the time.

The Last Olympian

The Last Olympian, the fifth and final book in the Percy Jackson series, was released on May 5, 2009.Percy Jackson learns Kronos' forces are preparing to attack Olympus. Seeking to defeat Kronos, Percy bathes in the River Styx, making his body invincible except one small area, the only vulnerable part of his body. Kronos leads a siege of New York City and puts its citizens to sleep. Percy leads the campers, Hunters, nature spirits, and centaurs to protect Mount Olympus from Kronos and his forces. While they protect Olympus, the gods are holding down the Typhon monster, as he makes his way to New York. Kronos, possessing Luke's body, forces his way into Olympus and he and Percy battle in Olympus' throne room. Typhon reaches New York but is defeated by Percy's father, Poseidon, and his brother, Tyson. Luke is able to overcome Kronos. Percy gives Luke Annabeth's knife, and Luke stabs himself in his mortal spot (as he also was invulnerable from bathing in the River Styx) to temporarily destroy Kronos and save Mt. Olympus. The gods reward Percy and his friends, offering him immortality. He refuses, but they grant him one request. He requests the gods to claim all their children and have a cabin for all the gods, even the minor ones. Rachel Elizabeth Dare becomes the oracle and reads the next great prophecy although the last oracle was cursed by Hades but the spirit still left her body. At the end Percy and Annabeth earnestly start their relationship. At the final sentence of the book, Percy says, "For once, I didn't look back," and then runs off to meet Annabeth.

The Heroes of Olympus

The Heroes of Olympus is a collection of five novels by American author Rick Riordan, scheduled to be completed in 2014. Riordan is believed to have drawn inspiration from Padraic Colum's The Golden Fleece and The Heroes Who Lived Before Achilles which narrates the story of Jason and his Argonauts in their search for the Golden Fleece. The series chronicles the adventures of seven demigods in their race aginst time to prevent the awakening of the earth goddess, Gaea. The first novel, The Lost Hero, continues the story from where it was left off inThe Last Olympian, which is the last novel of the preceding series, Percy Jackson & the Olympians. Percy Jackson & the Olympians is a series on the succeeding Gigantomachy of Greek mythology. A prophecy given in The Last Olympian outlines the events of The Heroes of Olympus. Demigods, living secretly in the modern era, are featured in both series as they fight against Gods and Titans as they did in the past. The Heroes of Olympus introduces Roman demigods: children produced by the Roman gods, who are separated from their Greek counterparts. These two groups of demigods are enemies due to a stolen statue of Athena and have been forced apart for centuries, but must unite to stop the chief antagonist in the series, Gaea, from gaining control of the earth. Percy Jackson, the protagonist of the previous series, is again one of the main characters.Books

The Lost Hero

Set at least four months after the end of the Percy Jackson series, The Lost Hero introduces the characters Jason Grace, Piper McLean, Coach Hedge, and Leo Valdez. Jason wakes up on a bus from a camp for juvenile delinquents. He has no memory of his identity or how he came to be on the bus, although Leo claims to be his best friend and Piper claims to be his girlfriend. The group is taking a field trip to the Grand Canyon, where a horde of Venti attack the three and their supervising teacher, Coach Gleeson Hedge, who reveals himself to be a Satyr and confronts the Venti. Jason is able to defeat the Venti's helpers, but the Venti capture Coach Hedge and flee. Two strangers arrive in a flying chariot: they are Annabeth and Butch, son of Iris. Annabeth is hostile towards Jason when they meet as she had a vision in which Hera gave her a clue concerning the whereabouts of her missing boyfriend, Percy Jackson, saying to find Percy she had to find the guy with one shoe (as Jason lost one in the fight), but Percy was not there once she arrived.Jason, Piper, and Leo are taken to Camp Half Blood and are informed that they are demigods, children of the ancient Greek gods. Leo and Piper are then claimed by their godly parents, Hephaestus and Aphrodite, respectively. Jason is revealed as a son of Jupiter after he summons his power to call lightning. He is also revealed to be the brother of Thalia, a main character from the Percy Jackson series. Jason remembers Thalia when he sees a picture of her in Zeus's cabin and learns that Hera/Juno has stolen his memories. Less than a day later, the three new demigods are sent on an urgent quest to rescue Hera who has been kidnapped by a giant. The three set off on the back of a giant robotic dragon, Festus (In latin Festus means Happy) that Leo found and fixed. Along the way, Jason, Piper and Leo meet and confront Boreas, three Cyclopes, Medea, King Midas, King Lycaon and his pack of Werewolves, and Aeolus. They discover that Hera's kidnappers are Gaea's underlings and that she seeks to overthrow the Olympians.They save Piper's father, whom Enceladus has held ransom, and Hera. They temporarily stall Gaea's plans, but the newly risen Porphyrion is able to escape. With part of his memory returned, Jason realizes that he is from the Roman counterpart to Camp Half-Blood, called Camp Jupiter, and that Hera switched his place with Percy Jackson, who is now at Camp Jupiter with no memory of his life at Camp Half-Blood.

The Son of Neptune                                                                                              

The Son of Neptune opens with Percy Jackson being chased by two gorgons, Stheno and Euryale, who hate him for killing their sister Medusa. They reveal that they're working for Gaea. While making his escape, he runs into an old woman named June. The old woman reveals herself to be Juno (Hera) and gives him a choice: provide her with a favor or live safely under the sea and everybody and everything destroyed. As a favor, Percy carries her across the Little Tiber, which is a powerful river. In doing so, he loses his invincibility from the River Styx. When he reaches his destination he meets Hazel Levesque, a daughter of Pluto, and Frank Zhang, a son of Mars. Percy saves Frank from the Gorgons by drowning them. Percy is then taken into the camp after Juno introduces him to Camp Jupiter. Reyna seems to recognize him, but refuses to acknowledge him. She sends Percy and Hazel to Octavian, the camp augur, to see whether or not he's fit to join the legion. Along the way, Lares, the camp's ancestral spirits, call him Greggus, or Greek, which makes Hazel act worried. When they reach Jupiter's temple, Octavian is cutting teddy bears open and reading the stuffing. Octavian threatens Hazel by telling her that if she doesn't vote for him, he'll reveal her secret. He declares good omens, and Hazel and Percy go to the temples, where they meet Nico Di Angelo, a main character from the Percy Jackson series. He acts suspiciously and claims not to know Percy, even when he recognises him. Meanwhile, Frank is organizing weaponry when a Lare appears and tells him he knows about his stick and his birthday. Frank then runs off to find Hazel and Percy. He takes Percy to the bathes while Hazel and Nico talk. Hazel reveals that she's from the 40's and has a blackout. She realizes that she's late for the war games, so she and Nico rush to line up.During war games, a Camp Jupiter activity, Percy impresses everyone with his battle skills and instincts, even though they are not Roman tactics and are more Greek-style. After the games, Octavian hurts a girl on purpose and she gets severely injured and dies, only to come back to life a few moments later. Mars, the god of war, then appears and informs the campers that "Death has been chained.". He also claims Frank Zhang as his son. Mars insists that Percy and Frank must go on a quest to free Thanatos, the god of Death. He has been captured in Alaska and is no longer able to keep mortals dead. Frank requests that Hazel also come on the quest, and they set off towards Alaska. While travelling on their quest, Percy struggles to regain his memory. Time and time again, he recalls things but never where from. The only clear memory to him is a girl named Annabeth. Hazel reveals that she had died long ago, but that Nico di Angelo, son of Hades and her half-brother, saved her from the Underworld. Frank informs the other two that he was given a piece of wood that is tied to his life; if the wood burns up completely, he will die. After many events and monsters, such as basilisks, giants, and an unexpected meeting with the Amazons, they finally get to Alaska, where they find Thanatos in chains. His chains can only be broken by the piece of wood tied to Frank's life. Percy defends Frank while he melts Thanatos' chains with his burning stick, losing more and more of his life. Hazel attacks Alcyoneus, the giant born to oppose Pluto. Thanatos is eventually freed and with the help of Hazel's horse, Arion, they drag the giant out of its land (Alaska) to Canada where it is able to be killed.Percy regains his memory as they race back to Camp Jupiter. Knowing that the camp is under attack, Percy takes charge and leads the Romans into battle with the help of some of his old friends from Camp Half-Blood and the Amazons. The morale of the Romans is recharged after discovering that Percy recovered the camp's lost standard, which had been missing for years. Percy then challenges the giant, Polybotes the giant born to oppose Neptune, to a duel and calls to Terminus, the Roman border god, to help him defeat the giant. He has been told that only when gods and demigods work together can the giants be defeated. Percy eventually defeats Polybotes by using the head of Terminus' statue as a weapon. The camp then name him a praetor, a leader of the Roman camp. The Greek demigods from Camp Half-Blood appear in the flying ship Argo II sailing towards the camp. The Romans argue over attacking the ship. As praetor, Percy orders them to hold their fire. If the Greeks attacked, he would be to blame, but he is not worried. Holding hands with Frank and Hazel, he approaches his "other family".

The Mark of Athena

After sending Leo's video to Camp Jupiter, Argo II prepares to land on the Roman camp's border, but Terminus, the god of borders, stops them for no weapons are allowed inside. It is then decided to let the ship stay in the air while Annabeth, Leo, Piper, and Jason meet the Roman campers. Percy Jackson together with Hazel and Frank welcomes the Greek demigods and Coach Hedge. A reunion is held, and during the conversations, Ella, the harpy, speaks about a prophecy that refers to Annabeth's quest of the Mark of Athena. Piper uses her charm speak in order to divert the topic. While Jason gives Piper a tour of the camp, Reyna talks to Annabeth alone. During the conversation, theArgo II, which is controlled by Leo Valdez who was possessed by eidolons, fires at Camp Jupiter. The Romans defend their bases, and Annabeth, Piper, Jason, and Percy rush inside the Argo II to stop Leo from firing on the campaign. They start to leave the camp while Hazel and Frank delay the Roman campers. The Argo II becomes damaged, and Leo lands for repairs, encountering Echo and Narcissus. There they are told that they have to search for the Mark of Athena to bring the Romans and the Greeks together.In their journey, they meet Phorcys and Keto. The seven quickly leave for Charleston. Annabeth, Piper, and Hazel go to Battery Park to find a mysterious ghost, which happened to be Aphrodite. Jason, Leo, and Frank go to a museum in Fort Sumter. Only the girls' story is told. Aphrodite tells them about their love lives and the other Olympians that are suffering from being confused about their Roman or Greek identity. After their talk, the angry Romans come, and war breaks out. Annabeth meets Reyna in Fort Sumter who was there to retrieve a map which will save her friends. Reyna begs Annabeth to come with her and die a painful death to save her camp, but Annabeth tells Reyna that she will only follow the mark. The seven reach the ship and leave safely to go to Chiron's brothers, who live in the sea. During the ride, they get attacked by a shrimp monster. Leo, Frank, and Hazel go underwater and find icthyocentaurs, Chiron's brothers. They find the three's story interesting and speed their way to Rome. They meet Hercules near the pillars, or the entrance to Rome and Piper and Jason get the second horn of Achelous, the bull-headed river god. Even though it was Hercules who ordered them to cut it off, Piper decided that Hercules did not deserve the horn and keeps it for herself. She brings forth a pile of supplies, and Hercules falls. The seven cross the pillars and sail into Rome. Annabeth has to find the Athena Parthenos by following the Mark of Athena and battle its guardian Arachne. Percy, Jason, and Piper travel into an underground area and battle the twin giants, Otis and Ephialtes, the anti-Dionysus. Frank, Hazel, and Leo travel in search of Nico, and find Archimedes' scrolls on spheres. In the end, Annabeth outwits Arachne by tricking her into weaving her own trap. Percy and Jason battle the giants and with (very little) help from Dionysus's roman counterpart, Bacchus, they rescue Nico. Frank, Hazel, and Leo battle the Eidolons and rescue Archimedes' scrolls. They all meet up where Annabeth secures the Athena Parthenos. However, Arachne pulls Annabeth into Tartarus by some spider silk as the statue is lifted onto their ship. Percy follows Annabeth by not releasing the line he was trying to pull her up with. After Percy and Annabeth fall into Tartarus, the remaining six demigods and Coach Hedge are at a meeting. Nico says Percy told him to lead the demigods to the Doors of Death, while he and Annabeth would meet them at the end of Tartarus on the Doors' other side. Nico and Hazel both say they are fairly sure Percy and Annabeth are not dead yet. The book closes with Leo telling Festus the Dragon figurehead to set sails: they have friends to save.

The House of Hades

Scheduled to be released on October 8 2013, The House of Hades is the fourth book in the series. The cover will be revealed on May 31, 2013. Annabeth and Percy attempt to travel through Tartarus to defeat Gaea's forces and close the Doors of Death from Tartarus' side. Jason, Piper, Hazel, Frank, Leo, Coach Hedge and Nico travel with the Athena Parthenos and must close the Doors of Death at The House of Hades, an underground temple in Epirus, Greece, the location of the Doors of Death in the mortal world and save Camp Half-Blood from being attacked by Camp Jupiter. Rick Riordan stated that there will definitely be some scenes from Tartarus. However it is uncertain if this means through the demigod dreams or through Percy or Annabeth's eyes.