Riordan, Rick
At a time when every other book seems to be part of a series featuring supernatural powers and fantastical creatures, it’s nice to have one that is grounded in reality. Though Percy and the Olympians is about a demigod and the various obstacles in his path, Rick Riordan stays true to the world we live in as well. The mythological overtones seem natural in the hands of an expert and Percy’s perils make sense in both the world of Olympians and what we see in the nightly news.
Part of the reason is the character of Percy himself. Percy has both ADHD and dyslexia, diagnoses that are increasingly common among children. Riordan’s son was in the process of being tested for learning differences as Riordan was writing the first Percy Jackson story. Riordan had worked with lots of kids with learning differences during his years of teaching but “it’s different when your child is going through the process.” He read about dyslexia and ADHD and was surprised to learn that ADHD and dyslexia frequently go together. His reading “confirmed something I already knew: that dyslexic/ADHD kids are creative, ‘outside-the-box’ thinkers. They have to be, because they don’t see or solve problems the same way other kids do,” explains the author.
Rick has observed that “In school, unfortunately, they are sometimes written off as lazy, unmotivated, rude, or even stupid. They aren’t. If they can get through their rough school years, they often go on to become very successful adults. Employers love them, because they come up with original, fresh ideas. Making Percy ADHD/dyslexic was my way of honoring the potential of all the kids I’ve known who have those conditions. It’s not a bad thing to be different. Sometimes, it’s the mark of being very, very talented. That’s what Percy discovers about himself in The Lightning Thief.”
To those following the Percy series, it may seem that each book is better than the last. The pressure is on for The Last Olympian, due out this May. “Because this wraps up the series, the plot is top secret. There will be no advance copies and no sales before the release date of May 5.” That said, here is a tip for Stacks Facts readers ” I can tell you that the final prophecy is revealed and readers will find out if and how Percy manages to defeat the Titans. Fans will get to see almost all the characters they’ve met previously in the series and find out each one’s fate.”
It sounds like a satisfying conclusion is in store. Yet how has Riordan managed to maintain his enthusiasm for characters he has created? “I keep it fresh by sticking to the plan and limiting the series to five books. I think it’s important for a series to have a good strong ending.” Rick always knew it would be five books. “I had the broad strokes of the story, though the details often surprise me as I write.” But fans of Percy and the Olympians should not despair. “I have plans for another Camp Half-Blood five book arc in a couple of years, featuring a new generation of demigods, and I’m very excited about that.”
So what comes next? We already know part of the answer. The 39 Clues: The Maze of Bones came out this past summer and already has legions of fans. Scholastic Books came up with the general idea and then went to Riordan because they needed an author to create the story. “As a former social studies teacher,” says Rick, “I was intrigued by the idea of making world history fun for kids. The reaction has been very positive, especially from my younger readers. 39 Clues is intentionally skewed a little younger than the Percy Jackson books. Judging from the school visits I’ve had in the last month, the 8-11 year-old crowd has taken to it with gusto. I designed the series story arc, but each book will be written by a different author.” He adds that One False Note by Gordon Korman just came out in December.”
Riordan notes that The Lightning Thief movie is due to be released July 2, 2010, coming from Fox with Chris Columbus attached to direct. “I have no desire to be involved and certainly not to act in it!,” exclaims the author. “I suppose if I were forced to choose a role, I would be the kindly centaur Chiron. But the book is always better than the movie. Period.”
And now, thanks to Rick Riordan, a generation of children will have a working knowledge of mythology that will deepen their understanding of ancient world history and literature through the ages. And that’s a good thing. Period.
– Interviewed by Ellen Myrick, November 2008
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