The Lightning Thief
Book One in the #1 New York Times bestselling Percy Jackson and the Olympians series gets the graphic novel treatment from three big names in the comic book industry. You've read the book. You've seen the movie. Now submerge yourself in the thrilling, stunning, and action-packed graphic novel. Mythological monsters and the gods of Mount Olympus seem to be walking out of the pages of twelve-year-old Percy Jackson's textbooks and into his life. And worse, he's angered a few of them. Zeus's master lightning bolt has been stolen, and Percy is the prime suspect. Now, he and his friends have just ten days to find and return Zeus's stolen property and bring peace to a warring Mount Olympus. Series creator Rick Riordan joins forces with three of the biggest names in the comic book industry to tell the story of a boy who must unravel a treachery more powerful than the gods themselves. It's the perfect introduction to the series and to Greek mythology.
How can you read this book?
Click these simple buttons to read this book today.
You may like these books... Buy now!
|
|
|
Rick Riordan, Author 
Master Storyteller and Bestselling Author
Early Life and Teaching Career: Rick Riordan, born on June 5, 1964, in San Antonio, Texas, is a renowned American author and former teacher. He attended the University of North Texas and later transferred to the University of Texas at Austin, earning bachelor’s degrees in history and English. Riordan continued his education at the University of Texas at San Antonio, obtaining his teacher's certification. For 15 years, he taught English and history at both public and private middle schools in the San Francisco Bay Area and Texas.
Transition to Writing: While teaching, Riordan ventured into writing mystery novels for adults, creating the Tres Navarre series. This series garnered significant acclaim, winning the top three national awards in the mystery genre—the Edgar, the Anthony, and the Shamus.
Riordan's shift to children's fiction came about when he began crafting bedtime stories for his eldest son, which eventually led to the creation of "The Lightning Thief." This marked the beginning of the immensely popular Percy Jackson and the Olympians series.
Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Percy Jackson series, characterized by its fusion of Greek mythology with contemporary settings and characters, became a literary phenomenon. The series includes five books: "The Lightning Thief," "The Sea of Monsters," "The Titan’s Curse," "The Battle of the Labyrinth," and "The Last Olympian." Riordan's storytelling prowess and unique characters, including Percy Jackson, a demigod with ADHD and dyslexia, resonated with readers.
Expansion into Mythology: Riordan continued to explore various mythologies in subsequent series. The Heroes of Olympus series, a sequel to Percy Jackson, introduced new characters alongside familiar faces. The Kane Chronicles delved into Egyptian mythology, and the Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard trilogy focused on Norse mythology. His ability to weave engaging narratives around diverse mythological traditions showcased his versatility as a writer.
Success and Legacy: With over 190 million copies of his books in print worldwide, Rick Riordan has left an indelible mark on the literary world. His works have been translated into more than 37 languages, attesting to their global popularity. Beyond the written page, Riordan has been involved in TV and film adaptations of his works, including Percy Jackson, the Kane Chronicles, and Daughter of the Deep.
Continued Creativity: Rick Riordan's creative journey extends beyond mythology, as seen in "Daughter of the Deep," a modern reimagining of Jules Verne's "Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea," published in 2021. Additionally, he played a key role in shaping the storyline for the 39 Clues series.
Today, Rick Riordan resides in Boston with his wife and two sons, dedicating himself full-time to writing. His impact on young readers and literature as a whole is immeasurable, making him a master storyteller whose tales of adventure, mythology, and imagination continue to captivate audiences around the world.
I do agree that it's short; yes, it is. But even the original series itself feels short if, like me, you're somebody who really gets into the stories they read. Also, some parts have been left out. Important parts that set up the future books. But This book just gives the reader the incentive (as it should) to then read (or re-read) the novels themselves, and to then fill the missing parts in and for me, it serves that purpose and then some.
The main purpose this companion serves for me is the visual aspect. I love the English language and am actually a linguistics genius, but I have always preferred the visual aspect of media and entertainment. However, while I am one of the few who actually enjoyed the film version (to an extent), I wasn't really pleased with some of the aesthetics, and I did not appreciate some of the casting choices either, Annabeth Chase being one of the bigger ones. With that being said, I was actually ecstatic when I learned that there may possibly be a TV adaptation of the series, and I ordered this set to get an idea of the art style behind the characters, and this novel served that purpose beautifully. I will admit that some of the characters look a little more...developed, for their ages, but it's nice to get an idea of where the TV adaptation can go and, for that, I applaud these graphic novels wholeheartedly.
The story centers on kids who are half human and half Gods. There are sword fights, weird creatures, drama and adventure. I can see how young people would love this series that combines ancient Greek mythology and the actions of modern youths who find themselves in numerous precarious situations.
My only real complaint is with all the talented people involved in creating this unique graphic novel tale, no one thought of putting page numbers in this book? I have seen very few no page number graphic novels and I never fail to be amazed how any publisher could disregard this important part of any book. The only reason I know how many pages there are in this book is I counted the pages.
In any case, I did like this graphic novel even though it is aimed at young people rather than adults. A fun read.
Rating: 4 Stars. Joseph J. Truncale (Author: The Samurai Soul: An old warrior’s poetic tribute).
