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The Demigod Files Demigods and Monsters The Lightning Thief Percy Jackson & The Olympians: The Lightning Thief
The Demigod Files Demigods and Monsters The Lightning Thief Percy Jackson & The Olympians: The Lightning Thief
The series consists of five books, as well as spin-off titles such as The Demigod Files and Demigods and Monsters. Set in the United States, the books are predominantly based on Greek mythology. The Lightning Thief, the first book, is the basis of a film called Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief, which was released in the United States and Canada on February 12, 2010. All the books are written as though the hero is telling the story. This helps with the suspense of solving the Oracle's mysteries and quests that start the conflict or hero quest particular to each book. Interestingly, the main character gets involved with all the prophecies whether they pertain directly to him or not. This is the recurring plot throughout all of the books. The protagonist of the series is Percy Jackson, who discovers that he is the son of Poseidon, Greek god of the sea, or Neptune, Roman god of the sea. He learns that the legendary beings of Greek mythology still exist, and have always existed, including monsters, cyclopes, empousi, Titans, and the Greek gods, including the Twelve Olympians themselves, who dwell on Olympus; now situated on the mythical 600th floor of the Empire State Building in New York, New York. Percy is frequently attacked by monsters because he is a child of one of the "Big Three" or the three most powerful Greek gods: king of the gods and the god of the sky, Zeus, the god of the sea; Poseidon; and the god of the Underworld, Hades, who made a pact after World War II not to have any more children because they were too powerful and unpredictable. The other reason for the pact was a great prophecy, given by the Oracle, that a child demigod of the "Big Three" would decide the fate of Olympus and the gods, when the demigod child reached the age of 16. The pact was made in an effort to prevent the prophecy from ever happening. Both Zeus and Poseidon break the pact by having demigod children after the war Zeus had Thalia Grace and Poseidon had Percy Jackson. Ironically, Hades, who is meant to be the most untrustworthy god, did not break the pact. However, he had Bianca and Nico di Angelo, who were born before the war, but were trapped in the Lotus Casino for 70 years. This meant they were still able to fulfill the prophecy. Percy meets many other young demigods, both friendly and hostile, who are also in the process of discovering their ancestry and powers. More than 20 million copies of the books have been sold in more than 35 countries.[1] As of December 5, 2010, the series has been on the New York Times best seller list for children's books for 177 weeks.[2] Main article: The Lightning Thief
The Lightning Thief is the first book in the series. It was released on June 28, 2005. Percy Jackson is a 12-year-old with ADHD and dyslexia. Percy goes to a school called Yancy Academy, which is a school for troubled kids. During a field trip, Percy is attacked by Alecto, a mythological creature known as a Fury, who was disguised as his pre-algebra teacher Mrs. Dodds. Percy kills Mrs. Dodds with a pen sword that his Latin teacher threw to him. He is unaware that it is a powerful important sword. After Mrs. Dodds is gone, everybody acts like she was never there and Mrs. Dodds was replaced. Percy Jackson does not know this at this point, but this is because of the Mist (a magical aura that can manipulate thoughts and memory to keep humans from knowing the truth). Now only Grover, Mr. Brunner, and Percy ever knew she existed. After the field trip, Percy is expelled like on any field trip and on the last day and sees three old women cutting yarn, and gets freaked out. He rushes home and abandons his friend to go on a vacation with his mom to Montauk, but terrible weather strikes. Once Percy tells his mom what happened, his mom gets horrified that he didn't tell her. A satyr named Grover Underwood, and his mother Sally Jackson, then bring him to Camp Half-Blood, a camp for demigods: children with an Olympian Greek god for one parent. While avoiding the Minotaur's attacks, his mother is killed (or at least that's what Percy thinks). Percy then finds a strange strength inside of him and kills the Minotaur. He carries Grover down to camp half-blood and faints on the front porch. Once he revives, he realizes he is in Camp Half-Blood. The camp is located off Long Island. There, he meets Annabeth Chase, daughter of Athena. They become good friends by the end of the novel. Not long after his arrival, Poseidon, the sea god, claims Percy as his son during a game of demigod-style capture-the-flag, when he is almost killed by a hellhound. Percy is accused of stealing Zeus' masterbolt and then he, Annabeth, and Grover are given 10 days to return the thunderbolt to Mount Olympus, in order to stop a war between the gods and save his mother, who has been held hostage in the Underworld by Hades, Lord of The Dead after being captured by the Minotaur. They go on a quest across the United States and encounter various monsters on the way, such as Medusa, Echidna, and many others. It is revealed that Luke, a son of Hermes who Percy befriended at camp, stole the bolt for Kronos who is attempting to rise from Tartarus. The book has been adapted into a film by Chris Columbus and 20th Century Fox, under the title Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief.
himself with Annabeth and then eventually Artemis, and is intent on stopping the heroes from success. They defeat him, having lost both Hunters in the quest. At the winter solstice, Thalia replaces Zo as Artemis' lieutenant at a meeting with the gods in which they decide whether they would kill Percy and his friends. Thalia had escaped the prophecy, leaving Perseus alone in it. Fortunately, Percy and his friends remain untouched. The gods, Percy, Annabeth, Grover and Thalia, then celebrate the victory of defeating Atlas and everything else the heroes accomplished. But as soon as they return, Nico is told about Bianca's death. He blames Percy, accusing him of failing to protect her like he had promised. When a crack in the ground appears, and the dead come out, Nico thinks that Percy is now trying to kill him as well. He tells them to leave and they are banished to the Underworld; Nico then runs away. Percy realizes that Hades is Nico's father. At first, Percy, Annabeth and Grover think that this goes against the promise of the Big Three, which is to never have demigod children, but they realize the two siblings had been in the Lotus Hotel and Casino (visited in the first book where time is nonexistent, and you lose complete track of time), before the pact between the Big Three was ever made. But Nico is still a part of the prophecy, so Percy has to hide Nico's parentage, in case Luke tries to recruit him so Nico can destroy the world at the age of 16.
finding out that Luke was the true hero, in the end. A shroud is made for Luke when the gods return to Olympus. The gods reward Percy and his friends, they even offer him immortality but he refuses and they grant him one request. He requests the gods to recognize all their children by claiming them at the age of thirteen or by the time they reach Camp Half-Blood, make a place at Camp Half-Blood for Hades. He also requested that the minor gods and their children are given a regular amnesty. At the end Percy and Annabeth make their relationship official.
Percy Jackson: age 1216, demigod son of Poseidon; he is the protagonist of the series.
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Grover Underwood: age 2832, equivalent to 1416 in human development, Satyr, best friend of Percy. Annabeth Chase: age 1216, demigod daughter of Athena, strong friend, and later, the girlfriend of Percy. Very intelligent, skilled in architecture and strategy. Luke Castellan: age 1923, demigod son of Hermes who is revealed to be working for Kronos. Thalia Grace: age 15 and one day from 16 (permanently), demigod daughter of Zeus, first appears at the end of The Sea of Monsters and becomes lieutenant of Artemis in The Titan's Curse, making her immortal with the exception of death in battle or breaking her vow to never date. Nico di Angelo: age 1012 (75) , demigod son of Hades, holds a grudge against Percy temporarily, because he thinks his older sister Bianca died because of Percy, commands the dead and always wears black clothing. Later it is revealed that he spent time in the Lotus Casino, a place that makes time go very fast in the outside world. Tyson the Cyclops: age 1315 (47 in human years), Percy's half-brother through Poseidon. He first appears at the beginning of The Sea of Monsters, assists Percy frequently throughout series. He is good with machines as he is taught by campers from Hephaestus's cabin. Clarisse La Rue: age 1418, demigod daughter of Ares, does not get along with Percy or Annabeth. She is very fierce. Rachel Elizabeth Dare: age 1416, a "clear-sighted" mortal girl who assists Percy, later becoming the Oracle of Delphi. Bianca di Angelo:age 12, daughter of Hades. She becomes a huntress of Artemis and is killed by one of Hephaestus's creations while on a quest Ethan Nakamura:age 1617, a son of Nemesis. He joins Luke's army and becomes his right hand man. Chiron: Centaur son of Kronos, activites director of Camp Half-Blood. Sally Jackson: Percy's mother.