Percy Jackson & the Olympians is a fantasy novel series by American author Rick Riordan. It is the first of four book series in the Camp Half-Blood Chronicles, preceding The Heroes of Olympus, The Trials of Apollo, and The Nico di Angelo Adventures. The novels are set in a world with the Greek gods in the 21st century. The series follows the protagonist, Percy Jackson, a young demigod who must prevent the Titans, led by Kronos, from destroying the world.
The first three books were published in the United States by Miramax Books before they were folded into Hyperion Books; that house published the remaining books. All the books were published in the United Kingdom by Penguin Books. Four supplementary books, along with graphic novel versions of the first five books, have also been released. By January 2022, the books had sold more than 180 million copies worldwide, making the series one of the best-selling of all time. A follow-up trilogy in the series, The Senior Year Adventures, takes place after the events of The Heroes of Olympus and began in 2023 with The Chalice of the Gods. Three sequel series, The Heroes of Olympus, The Trials of Apollo, and The Nico di Angelo Adventures, follow.
The first book was adapted as a film titled Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief (2010). It was commercially successful but received mixed reviews from critics and the audience for its departure from the book. The first book was also adapted into a musical. The second book was adapted as a film titled Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters (2013), which also received mixed reviews. A television series based on the novels premiered on Disney+ in 2023 to positive reviews.
Origins
Rick Riordan has said that the idea for the Percy Jackson series began when he was telling bedtime stories to his son, Haley Riordan. Haley had been diagnosed with ADHD and dyslexia, inspiring Riordan to make the titular protagonist, Percy Jackson, hyperactive and dyslexic.
Riordan created the fictional character of Percy Jackson and a story about his traveling across the United States to recover Zeus's lightning bolt. Haley suggested his dad should make it a book, and Riordan wrote what became known as The Lightning Thief over the next year.
After submitting his manuscript to his agent and editor, Riordan presented the book to a group of sixth, seventh, and eighth graders for their reactions. He gained their approval and, with their help, came up with the book title and the way Percy's sword works. In 2004, the book was sold to Miramax Books for enough money that Riordan could quit his job and focus on writing full-time. After it was published in 2005, it sold more than 1.2 million copies. The book was released in multiple editions, including hardcover, paperback, and audio editions. It has been translated into multiple languages and published internationally.
Plot The original series is set in the mid-2000s and follows Perseus "Percy" Jackson, a 12-year-old boy who learns he is the son of the Greek god Poseidon. Zeus, Poseidon, and Hades had sworn not to father any more children after World War II, and as such, Poseidon did not interact with him as a child. The gods took that pledge because their children were too powerful and had the potential to cause immense slaughter (in the universe's continuity, World War II was a conflict among their offspring). When Percy learns that he is at risk of being found by ferocious monsters because of his demigod status and strength, he also learns that Camp Half-Blood, a training facility on Long Island, New York, houses more demigods like him. He journeys with a new friend, Annabeth Chase, a daughter of Athena, and his best friend and traveling companion, Grover Underwood, a satyr who is his guardian. As the threat posed by the Titans grows, Percy begins to complete remarkable tasks, fulfill predictions, and engage in combat with and for the gods. He realizes that he can either contribute to the world's destruction or preservation.
Books Original series The Lightning Thief
The Lightning Thief is the first book in the series and was released on June 28, 2005.
When Percy Jackson comes home for the summer, he and his mother, Sally Jackson, travel to their cabin in Montauk just like every other year. However, the trip halts after multiple incidents, including an attack by the Minotaur, resulting in Sally's disappearance. Percy reaches Camp Half-Blood, a demigod training camp, and discovers he is son of Poseidon. He also learns his best friend, Grover Underwood, is a satyr, and Zeus suspects Percy has stolen his Master Bolt. Percy sets out with Grover, and Annabeth Chase, daughter of Athena, to save his mother and retrieve the lightning bolt from Hades, the suspected thief. As they journey to the underworld, they face numerous monsters. After confronting Hades, they learn their friend Luke Castellan, son of Hermes, is the thief. Luke stole the lightning bolt to allow Kronos, the defeated King of the Titans, to rise again and Ares was manipulated by Kronos and helped cover up Luke's crime to instigate a war between the Olympians. Percy confronts Luke at Camp Half Blood, which ends with Luke attacking him; Percy narrowly survives and Luke escapes. At summer's end, Percy returns home to his mother back from Hades' realm as an expression of gratitude.
The book was adapted into a film by 20th Century Fox under the title Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief (2010), which was directed by Chris Columbus. Riordan did not endorse the film.
The Sea of Monsters
The Sea of Monsters is the second novel in the series and was released on April 1, 2006.
Camp Half-Blood falls under attack when Thalia's tree, which guards the borders of camp against monsters, is poisoned and begins to die. To save the tree and the camp, someone must recover the Golden Fleece, located somewhere in the Sea of Monsters (the Bermuda Triangle). Percy then learns Grover, who was on a quest to find Pan, has been captured by the Cyclops Polyphemus, and is on the Cyclops's island, where the Fleece resides. Percy goes to rescue Grover with Annabeth and his Cyclops half-brother Tyson, even though Tantalus, the new camp activities director, has prohibited him from doing so. Meanwhile, Ares' daughter Clarisse La Rue is sent on an official quest by Camp Half-Blood to retrieve the Fleece. The trip to the Sea of Monsters is long and hazardous, and along the way, the heroes encounter several dangers. Percy also learns of a prophecy from the Oracle of Delphi: A child of one of "the Big Three" gods (Zeus, Poseidon, and Hades) will play a vital part in the success or failure of resurrecting Kronos the Titan-King and saving Olympus. Following a reencounter with Luke, the heroes retrieve the Fleece and restore Thalia's tree, resurrecting Thalia, daughter of Zeus.
The book was adapted into a film by 20th Century Fox under the title Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters (2013), which was directed by Thor Freudenthal. Riordan did not approve of the film's screenplay, which differed from the book's plot.
The Titan's Curse
The Titan's Curse is the third novel in the series, released on May 1, 2007.
On a mission to rescue Bianca and Nico di Angelo; Percy, Annabeth, Thalia and Grover are attacked by a Manticore. Although they are rescued by the goddess Artemis, Annabeth is captured. Later, while hunting for the Ophiotaurus, Artemis is also taken. Artemis's lieutenant Zoë Nightshade, daughter of Atlas, leads Bianca (now a Hunter of Artemis), Thalia, and Grover on a quest to save her. Percy follows and joins them on behalf of Nico di Angelo, to protect Nico's sister, Bianca, and find Annabeth. The group encounters multiple monsters and challenges. While they fight Talos, a giant automaton guarding the junkyard, Bianca sacrifices herself to save the others and dies. They find Artemis holding the sky after taking the burden from a deeply-exhausted Annabeth. Percy then takes it from Artemis, and they trick Atlas into taking it back. When Zoë dies saving Artemis, Thalia takes her place as Artemis' lieutenant. Thalia becomes immortal, escaping the Great Prophecy, leaving Percy to fulfill it. Back at camp, Percy informs Nico about Bianca's death. Nico blames Percy for failing and runs away, after causing skeletal warriors invading the camp to fall into the dark void of the Underworld, alerting Percy that Hades is Nico and Bianca's father.
The Battle of the Labyrinth
The Battle of the Labyrinth, the fourth installment in the series, was released on May 6, 2008.
At Camp Half-Blood, the swordsman Quintus is subbing for Mr. D while Mr. D is away recruiting minor gods to join the war against the Titan Kronos. Percy, Annabeth, Grover, and Tyson venture on a quest to find Daedalus's workshop in the Labyrinth, while Luke Castellan and his army look for it too with the help of Ariadne's string. The group goes into the labyrinth, and face many monsters. They discover a forge belonging to the god Hephaestus being used by Kronos' smiths. To escape, Percy triggers a volcanic eruption that puts him in a coma. He awakens on the island Ogygia, being tended by Calypso. He eventually returns to his friends and recruits Rachel Elizabeth Dare, to navigate the Labyrinth. With her help, the group finds Daedalus's workshop, where they discover that Quintus is Daedalus. He betrays them and sells them out to Luke, forcing the group to flee back to camp. Luke's army follows them and a battle arises. The demigods win but suffer many casualties including Daedalus, Castor, and Lee Fletcher. Afterwards, they prepare for the oncoming war against Lord Kronos, who has possessed the body of Luke and has risen to obliterate Olympus.
The Last Olympian
The Last Olympian, the fifth in the series, was released on May 5, 2009.
Percy learns that Kronos' forces are preparing to attack Olympus. Poseidon tells Percy the meaning of the Great Prophecy. Percy bathes in the River Styx, making his body invulnerable except for one chosen part (his Achilles' heel). Kronos seizes New York City, putting its mortal citizens to sleep. Percy leads a group to protect Mount Olympus. At Olympus, the gods battle Typhon, who's making his way to New York. Kronos, possessing Luke's body, forces his way into Olympus and battles Percy in Olympus' throne room. Typhon reaches New York but is defeated by Poseidon's forces, led by Tyson. Annabeth helps Luke overcome Kronos, and Percy gives Annabeth's cursed knife to Luke. Luke, who also bathed in the River Styx to host Kronos, dies after stabbing himself in his own "Achilles' heel," destroying Kronos and saving Mount Olympus. Percy rejects the gods' offer of immortality, requesting instead that the gods each claim all their children and have cabins for each god. Rachel becomes Apollo's next Oracle, breaking Hades' curse, and recites the next Great Prophecy. Percy and Annabeth become a couple, amid ominous clouds looming over Rachel. The story continues in The Heroes of Olympus, The Trials of Apollo, and The Nico di Angelo Adventures.
The Senior Year Adventures The Chalice of the Gods
The Chalice of the Gods, the sixth installment in the series, was released on September 26, 2023. In the book, Percy Jackson is informed by his father Poseidon that, because he was never supposed to exist due to the pact, he is ineligible to attend New Rome University. However, Zeus has agreed to allow Percy to attend on the condition that he complete three new quests for the gods and get letters of recommendation from each god. Poseidon helps Percy by putting an ad out for his services while assigning Eudora, a nereid, to be Percy's school guidance counselor. Annabeth and Grover volunteer to help Percy complete the quests.