The Lightning Thief

[Mr. Atoz]

Maybe this isn't science fiction, but it is a popular series, soon to be in the movies. I was a big Harry Potter fan, so I started reading this series. Percy is even more of misfit than Harry Potter. He has dylexia and attention deficit disorder, which turn out to be symptoms of being a Greek demi-god (or "half-blood").

On the plus side, it's great for someone like me who grew up reading Greek mythology. It's fun to piece together the clues and figure out which figure Percy is meeting before he or she reveals himself. (Hmm... a woman named "Auntie Em" who wears a veil and runs a store that sells very lifelike statues of people. And what's that hissing sound?...)

On the minus side, it's not nearly as well written as the Harry Potter books. There are more fights, but the characters aren't well written. There aren't any adults who come close to Dumbledore or MacGonagal or even the Weasleys -- adults you could trust in other words. In fact, Percy barely spends a chapter or two at the Hero's summer camp before he's off on his own on a quest. There are more fights, but they're not believable (a 12 year old killing the Minotaur with his bare hands? I mean come on!)

[Niemz]

Cool

[Mr. Atoz]

Some of you D&D people would probably love it. As Percy sets off on his quest, Chiron gives him a fountain pen which turns into a full sized sword on command. Named "Riptide", it acts as a Vorpal Blade against immortals and monsters, but doesn't affect mortals at all. So we have the interesting situtation of Percy being able to take on all three of the Furies at once in one chapter, but in a later chapter has to run like a rabbit from a couple of street punks!

[Mr. Atoz]

I've just read book two in the seried, "The Sea of Monsters". At first glance there are things about it that seem copied from the Harry Potter books, but it has a style of its own. Just like when Harry takes the Knight Bus, Percy has to hitch a ride on the underworld taxi. But just imagine the three Grey Sisters driving a taxi at full speed while passing their one eye back and forth between them!

There's even an immortal badguy who is trying to resurrect himself, in this case, Kronos ("You'd think that getting chopped into a million pieces and thrown into the darkest corner of the underworld would have given him a subtle clue that nobody wanted him around.").

[Thallassa]

My son loves these books, and he wants to read more about Greek myths. The problem is that most books about them are dull. Bullfinch is horrible, he says.

[Mr. Atoz]

You've got to remember that Thomas Bullfinch was an accountant, not a writer. He was merely compiling what he thought would be a useful reference work to Greek and Arthurian mythology. I'll have to hunt around my library for some good books and get back to you.

[Mr. Atoz]

One very good book for young readers is "The Everything Classical Mythology Book" by Leslie Bolton. The introduction tells you all about Greek society, so the stories make a little more sense. Then there's a "World Mythology" series, with separate volumes for Greek, Roman, Norse, etc., lavishly illustrated.

But if he likes Greek myths, do you remember "Hercules: The Legendary Journeys"? That should be out on DVD by now.

[Thallassa]

Yes, I remember Hercules, with Kevin Sorbo. I'll have to look for it on DVD.

[Mr. Atoz]

I remember one of the early episodes, where Aphrodite arises from the waves on a giant scallop shell (just like Botticelli's painting) and then proceeds to windsurf on it! That's what hooked me!