The Lightning Thief

Nothing beats a good adventure story. Whether it’s the adventure of discovery like in Ringworld, the adventure of slaying a dragon in The Hero and The Crown, or a hybrid like Brave Story, you can get into these journeys so long as they are done well. Which is why, though the Percy Jackson series is not particularly deep, I still have fun reading it. It is a “slay the dragon” story that knows exactly how to do this sort of thing.

The first book in this series, The Lighting Thief, does exactly what I would want from the first in an epic adventure. It sets-up the general world and story expectations while introducing us to characters and the plot to come.

Character-wise, the main cast is fine. Percy is a good lead who is a mix of flaws show more and capabilities. He does fail and is not always right, leaving room for the characters surrounding him to show-off their own strengths. This dynamic of character interaction is where the book is at its best. Though none of the characters are brilliant, they play-off each other well and are amusing to follow. This interplay of personalities is pivotal to the longevity of any series like this and is a clear strength, akin to what Rowling did in her series. The character interplay will be what keeps you reading, even if some of the other aspect of this book rust with age.

The set-up is fun, though the world-building is generic at this point. In this world the gods of the Greek pantheon are still alive and living in the West. Along with them comes the whole of Greek mythology and their predilection to make demi-gods. Percy finds himself thrust into this unknown world but soon finds he fits better here than in the mundane world us mortals live in. Again, nothing special, but the mix of the familiar and foreign is as good as any other example I could think of. It is fun to read each chapter waiting for the mythology to sneak in and subvert our expectations. The details are built up constantly though they are never overwhelming, and for any fan of Greek mythology will seem appropriately crafted within the realm of those myths. Rick Riordan does a good job of using these ideas to the fullest while also (usually) knowing how far to take them.

The writing is aimed at a younger audience. It is never challenging, but flows at a steady pace. The tone is similar to Marvel’s Cinematic Universe (even though this came first). Even while dire things are happening, the characters make jokes or sarcastic comments and the interplay of Greek mythology and our world can be tongue-in-cheek. The whole book reads fast and kinetically. If you’re wanting a deep plot story this is not for you.

The over-arching story is also well done. It has the right amount of twists and turns to keep you engaged in the unfolding adventure but never feels like its talking down to you or did not set-up a twist. It foreshadows its sequels well. It does not end on a cliff hanger per-se but definitely hints at how this will end and how epic that ending will be.

Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lighting Thief was more novel of an idea when it first came out. Now it feels more generic, surrounded by a sea of copy-cats. What makes it last is that the adventure and the character who experiences it are memorable and a blast to read. Any fans of adventure or Greek mythology should give this a try. If you don’t like a semi- constant goofy tone that never takes itself too seriously, stay away. This is Neil Gaiman for a younger audience , but I would argue that most adults can enjoy what it has to offer. show less

Life is about to get very interesting for Percy Jackson. Slightly unusual things have been happening to him his whole life - but when he accidentally vaporises his maths teacher during a school trip, it becomes apparent that something much bigger is afoot. Within a matter of days he has arrived at Camp Half-Blood, met a god, discovered that his best friend is a satyr and his father is Poseidon, and been accused of stealing Zeus's master lightning bolt. Can he find the bolt and return it to Olympus before the gods turn on each other and ignite a cataclysmic world war?

It's really a very clever premise, and one that would have completely swept me away as a younger teenager. I'd have been in the library poring over books on the Ancient show more Greek gods before you could say Apollo. Now, in my mid-twenties, it was a really fun way to brush up on some of the myths and legends I used to know - and I'm probably more likely to remember who's who on Olympus after reading Percy Jackson than if I'd read a textbook instead!

The story roars along at a cracking pace, with lots of exciting action and adventure and some hilarious little touches - Cerberus, the three-headed canine guardian of Hell, playing catch with a red rubber ball being one of the highlights! Riordan mixes the modern world with the mythology of the Greek gods beautifully, bringing them right up to date while maintaining their dignity and all-powerful other-worldliness. I loved it - and needless to say, I'll be ordering more of the series very soon! show less

THE LIGHTNING THIEF by Rick Riordan is a reread for me. In this case, I listened to it rather than read it. I wanted to do so because I never finished the series. With the new Disney+ television show, and because it is among both of my kids' favorite stories they read when younger, I wanted to finally get around to see what happens after we discover who the Lightning Thief was.

THE LIGHTNING THIEF is just as much fun listening to it as a reread as it was the first time. The narrator, Jesse Bernstein, is a little TOO good at voicing preteen Percy. He does NOT sound like he is a grown adult. The fact that he sounds like an adolescent is a boon for his performance. I will be curious to see whether he changes his voice as Percy ages.

In my show more first review, I said that the myths Mr. Riordan mentions may be too obscure for the target audience. I noticed on the reread that Mr. Riordan gives just enough backstory to provide context for Percy's adventures. Knowing how popular the series continues to be among its target demographic, obviously not knowing the myths of Medusa, Kronos, Haephestus, the Fates, Persephone, etc., in detail does not detract from kids and adults enjoying the story.

Percy Jackson is an incredible character. For younger kids reading the story for the first time, he is a fantastic example of persevering despite the difficulties - whether with a learning disability, a difficult home situation, or fighting the Greek gods. That he favors friendship above all else is another great lesson to learn. For adult readers, Percy is young but not too young. He is self-aware enough to be sarcastic without being a brat. Best of all, he isn't afraid to share his weaknesses.

If my kids were much younger, THE LIGHTNING THIEF is the kind of book I would want to read with them. It is a fun story that educates without being obvious. The action is dangerous enough for kids to get a thrill from it. Plus, the author hasn't gone off the deep end and started spewing hate messages about one group or another. It's a win for everyone! show less

Very much fun. This was escapist for me but it was a combination of the adventure and the wonderful narrative voice. The fantasy and the whole child-of-a-god aspect was, if not restrained, portrayed in a way that kept the story very real seeming and kept the characters very real and very much their age. There were plenty of fantastical incidents and there was plenty of action but the personalities and the relationships, hopes and problems of the characters remained real and key. Suspension of disbelief was very easy for me and the way that's portrayed that the human witnesses deal with these incidents was so true to my experience that I laughed out loud.

The Greek mythology was a great plus. I had a strong interest and learned a lot in show more my middle grade years and kept a couple browser tabs open to sites on the subject for reference for the duration. If you don't have an interest though, a lack of familiarity does not interfere with the story at all.

I've already picked up the next two in the series and will probably get back to it within the next week or so. I've been told they get even better and am looking forward to what kind of adventure is next and curious as to how Mr. Riordan develops the characters. I hope Percy's two fellow questers remain central. It was a great combination. show less

I think I might be the only person in the world who hasn’t yet read a single Harry Potter book. I have nothing against J.K. Rowling – I’ve just never had the opportunity to sit down and read a few thousand pages of her writing. Because of this, the whole world of Muggles and Hogwarts is foreign territory for me, and I have no idea of what it feels like to belong inside the cult of Harry Potter.

However, after reading Rick Riordan’s first book in the Percy Jackson series, The Lightning Thief, I think I now understand the appeal of the Harry Potter genre: these kinds of books tap into an archetypal tradition of the supernatural while lovingly reaching out to today’s youth with an open hand. The Lightning Thief clearly aims for show more the same target audience as the Harry Potter books: middle-school readers who appreciate older fantasy stories of the supernatural. However, like the Harry Potter series, the Percy Jackson books simultaneously have an appeal for older readers, who will appreciate Riordan’s clever incorporation of classical Greek mythology.

The Lightning Thief introduces its protagonist, Percy Jackson, as a kindhearted screw-up – a seventh-grader with special needs (he’s dyslexic and has ADD) who slightly resembles the Joey Pigza character from Jack Gantos. However, unlike Joey Pigza, Percy soon discovers that he is of nobler heritage: he is the “half-blood” son of Poseidon and a human mother. Over the course of the novel, Percy must track down Zeus’s missing lightning bolt (hence the book’s title) and restore peace to Mt. Olympus before a war amongst the gods breaks out and destroys the planet. As Percy makes his way through America on a cross-country quest from New York to Los Angeles, he encounters a variety of gods and monsters from Greek mythology (my personal favorite being Medusa’s appearance in “Aunty Em’s Garden Gnome Emporium”) and goes through an archetypal “coming of age” experience.

While Riordan’s novel is not perfect by any means, it provides a unique gateway for young readers to access the fantasy realm of Greek mythology. The Lightning Thief lacks the literary depth of more sophisticated novels, but the engaging narrative keeps its audience hooked throughout the entirety of the novel with all of its twists and turns. This isn’t fluff (like Diary of a Wimpy Kid), but it definitely falls into the “light reading” category. That being said, The Lightning Thief is a rewarding novel that will please readers of all ages.

God, how I wish Rick Riordan had published The Lightning Thief twenty years ago! As a kid who loved mythology and who was fascinated by fantasy novels, I would have greatly benefitted from reading Riordan’s novels… I only hope that I can track down that inner child and sit him down for the remaining four books in the Percy Jackson series. show less

This was a fun book based on an interesting premise: namely, the ancient gods move from place to place depending on where the centre of Western civilization is. They're currently based in America, (specifically New York City, on the six hundredth floor of the Empire State Building), and have continued to beget lots of bastard children who congregate each year at a summer camp for young demigods.

I got a kick out of this book; it was a very quick read, and there was always something going on. While there's a lot of surface action, Riordan also introduces a goodly number of larger issues that readers will likely be able to relate to: adolescent isolation, family issues, doing poorly in school, coping with things like dyslexia, dealing show more with bullies, etc. Admittedly, he doesn't delve too deeply into any of these things, but they're there nonetheless and could provide food for thought.

As a Classicist, I also really liked all the mythological stuff. As another reviewer mentioned, it is rather obvious at times, but it's still fun. And often, when Riordan came right out and announced what mythological role something fulfilled, he simply confirmed what I'd worked out for myself.

But despite how enjoyable it was, the book did have its faults. I initially found Percy's voice slightly off-putting, and it took me a while to really get into the story. Even then, I'd sometimes find that there wasn't quite enough going on beneath the surface. Some of the solutions felt a bit forced and seemed to come up a little too suddenly.

Overall, though, the book was good. It looks like the beginning of what could become a very good series. show less

When I was about halfway through this book, I started making a list of its similarities to Harry Potter. Here is a sampling from that list:

1. There are three young heroes: a brainy girl (Annabeth/Hermione), a funny screw-up type (Grover/Ron), and a somewhat troubled but very brave lead (Harry/Percy).

2. People freak when the Harry/Percy character says the name of a powerful character.

3. The main bad guy (Kronos/Voldemort) is seeking to return to his former power, but most people are totally in denial of that happening.

4. The heroes train at a school that divides its students according to their character. (Chiron, the head trainer of the camp, equals Dumbledore.)

5. Chiron/Dumbledore knows a prophecy about Percy/Harry but won't tell show more Percy/Harry what it is exactly.

6. Percy/Harry has a gross stepfather named Smelly Gabe who protects him during his childhood, so Smelly Gabe obviously equals the Dursleys.

7. Harry/Percy can talk to a certain animal because of his special gifts (Harry could talk to snakes, Percy can talk to horses).

8. Riordan's three young heroes face down a three-headed dog at the end of their big quest, which if I'm not mistaken is exactly what happens in HP1 (granted, the three-headed dog is straight out of Greek mythology, so I should cut Riordan some slack on this one).

I could go on (and on and on) which would be fun for me, but I won't. Instead, I'll shock you by saying that I totally loved this completely derivative book. It's super fun and fast-moving and the fact that it's kind of a HP rip-off actually makes me like it more. God, I loved Harry Potter. The Lighting Thief is like methadone. That might be what I said about the [b:The Amulet of Samarkand|334123|The Amulet of Samarkand (Bartimaeus Trilogy, #1)|Jonathan Stroud|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1266527188s/334123.jpg|1121748] but it's more true here. I can't wait to read the second one! show less