Rutabaga's Reads 2013: Part 10

It’s been on the back burner of my mind to re-read for awhile. I’m happy to note that I not only got around to re-reading the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series (trade paperback editions) by Rick Riordan, but I also put this compilation together!

            Prophecies are a big part of these books, so I have included the prophecy poems (with the exception of the very last one, the next Great Prophecy). Some might consider them spoiler-ish, so I’m giving you fair warning now. Ignore them if you want to; read them if you’re not worried.

            Look for the film version of “The Sea of Monsters” coming August 7!

The Lightning Thief (July 20, 2005).

Would you walk a mile in Perseus “Percy” Jackson’s shoes? He’s about to be kicked out of boarding school – his sixth one in six years – and monsters are after him. He makes his way, at great personal cost, to Camp Half-Blood, a safe haven where demigods go to train, learn, and, if they’re “lucky,” get sent on a quest. Percy’s on Greek mythology overload, because that’s exactly what he thought that all was: myth. But suddenly the reason he’s never known his father is because – surprise! – Daddy is a Greek god. There’s no time for Percy to really process this, for Zeus has accused him of stealing his master lightning bolt. He has until the summer solstice to return the bolt, otherwise the gods will be at war, and that’s not good for anybody. But who would pin such a crime on an inexperienced newbie who’s just learning who he is? Why? He’s about to find out with new friends Grover Underwood and Annabeth Chase, but before he goes, he needs to see the Oracle about a quest …

“You shall go west and face the god who has turned.

You shall find what was stolen, and see it safely returned.

You shall be betrayed by one who calls you a friend.

And you shall fail to save what matters most, in the end.” (p. 141)

            I love these books because they’re humorous and craftily-written and are full of action and adventure. I even enjoy the chapter titles. For example, Chapter 1’s title is: I Accidentally Vaporize My Pre-Algebra Teacher. While classified as upper middle-grade fantasy, they are a delight to any age group. Riordan is terrific at building Percy’s world: it’s an outrageous mix of the real and the mythical that works wonderfully. It’s a world that I want to be a part of. And it’s not all about slaying monsters or getting into trouble. It’s also about saving and protecting those we care about.

The Sea of Monsters (April 1, 2006).

It’s been a pretty good year, as Percy Jackson hasn’t been attacked by monsters. But on the final day of school, a dodgeball game turns deadly – at least, if you consider being attacked by ugly cannibal giants (Laistrygonians a.k.a. “Canadians”) deadly. Percy’s made a new friend, Tyson, and is worried about his best friend, Grover, who’s in danger. When Annabeth shows up unexpectedly, she only shares more bad news: Camp Half-Blood’s magical borders are poisoned and are therefore failing. There’s only one thing that can save them, but it’s been lost for centuries. Percy’s raring to save Grover, but the new activities director gives the quest to his arch-rival Clarisse. No matter, for Grover’s his best friend, and best friends will do crazy things to save each other. The usual things, you know, like sail through the Sea of Monsters (a.k.a. the Bermuda Triangle) and narrowly miss death a dozen times, get turned into a rodent, battle a huge Cyclops -- yep, usual things like that!

“You shall sail the iron ship with warriors of bone,

You shall find what you seek and make it your own,

But despair for your life entombed within stone,

And fail without friends, to fly home alone.” (p. 234)

            One of the best things about Riordan’s writing is that, no matter how bleak or dangerous a situation seems, he keeps it funny, easy-to-read and action-packed. There is never a dull moment in Percy’s life, which means there is never a dull moment when reading this book.

The Titan’s Curse (May 1, 2007).

The winter holidays are approaching, and Percy Jackson is going to aid Grover after Grover alerts him that he’s found two new sibling half-bloods. Their parentage is unknown, but they are potentially powerful. Early on, a fellow demigod goes missing, along with a major goddess. Percy’s nightmares suggest his old enemy has upped his level of no-goodness. He wants to go on the rescue mission, the quest, but he’s not chosen. Fortunately, he has help from a helpful winged horse (a pegasus) named Blackjack, the occasional god or goddess and the Hunters of Artemis, who, by the way, don’t like him because he’s a boy. But that’s the least of his worries, because the missing demigod will be killed on the winter solstice, and they have to find some unknown beast before the enemy does. In just five days.

“Five shall go west to the goddess in chains,

One shall be lost in the land without rain,

The bane of Olympus shows the trail,

Campers and Hunters combined prevail,

The Titan’s curse must one withstand,

And one shall perish by a parent’s hand.” (p. 89)

            I feel I should mention that these books would be good choices for reluctant readers, male or female. I think these books would fit especially well with the male set, as they’re full of humor, action and adventure, fantasy, swordplay and, of course, the slaying of monsters. The books are a thrill ride that don’t stop until the last page.

The Battle of the Labyrinth (May 6, 2008).

Ancient monsters long-forgotten are rising as the Titan lord gathers form. The enemy army is looking for a way into Camp Half-Blood without going up against its protected borders by wending their way through a very large, ever-shifting labyrinth that offers dangers around almost every corner. Percy and company want to find the maze’s creator, Daedalus, and retrieve the string before the enemy does. Percy’s a powerful demigod, but it will still take plenty of ingenuity on his part and that of his friends to survive and make their way back to Camp Half-Blood in time to defend their camp, their only safe haven.

“You shall delve in the darkness of the endless maze,

The dead, the traitor, and the lost one raise.

You shall rise or fall by the ghost king’s hand,

The child of Athena’s final stand.

Destroy with a hero’s final breath.

And lose a love to worse than death.” (pp. 348-349)

            This book especially focuses on alignment, as in, our allies and our enemies. Sometimes those lines are not as black and white as we’d think them to be. Sometimes those lines are gray and blurry. A nemesis may become a friend, while a friend may turn enemy. Even those we expect to be our allies because we do something as major as, say, save them from painful death, may become traitorous in the end. These books are highly entertaining to read, and they are thought-provoking as well, if you care for them to be.

The Last Olympian (May 5, 2009).

The demigods have spent the past year preparing for the culminating battle with the Titan lord and his large army of dangerous monsters, titan brothers and rogue demigods. Percy and his friends struggle to strategize with a limited number of demigods, as too many have disappeared, perished or turned foe. They can’t even expect help from their godly parents, not that they’re ever openly helpful anyway, for they are battling Typhon, the most horrible monster of all, and the daddy of all monsters. The gods are trying to overcome Typhon so he doesn’t reach New York, but even they, with all their immortal and godly powers, are struggling. It appears that no one’s guarding Olympus, so it’s up to Percy and his friends to keep it safe. Because if Olympus falls, the gods will fade, and the world as they know it will end. Percy makes a choice with the help of a friend to, er, strengthen himself. Surely they will be heroes at the end of it all, but what will it cost to get there?

“A half-blood of the eldest gods

Shall reach sixteen against all odds,

And see the world in endless sleep,

The hero’s soul, cursed blade shall reap.

A single choice shall end his days.

Olympus to preserve or raze.” (p. 55)

            This book is a strong and powerful conclusion to the series. It is riveting, exciting and compelling all at the same time. Just as there are moments of triumph, there are also moments of sadness, desolation and fear. The book is as witty as Riordan’s other books, so even amidst chaos and desperation, humor is never far behind. This concluding story ties up the series quite well, and I got through it all without any satyrs attempting to eat the furniture.

            To me, the Percy Jackson & the Olympians series is a must-read and a must-own. This magical series is a winner! Celebratory laurel wreaths for everyone!