Rick Riordan on His New Book, What He’s Reading Now and 21 Years of ‘Percy Jackson’ (Exclusive)
Plus, learn which character Rick thinks he’s most like!
Key Takeaways
- Rick Riordan reflects on 21 years of 'Percy Jackson and the readers who grew up with his books.
- A new adventure begins in ‘The Wild Zone.' It was co-written by Rick Riordan and Annabelle Oh.
- Riordan shares his current reads, including ‘Little Women’ and an Italian mystery.
It’s been 21 years since the release of The Lightning Thief and Rick Riordan still isn’t ready to close the door on Percy Jackson’s world. Just a few days ago, Rick teamed up with author Annabelle Oh to release The Wild Zone, a new book in the Percy Jackson universe. Woman’s World recently caught up with the authors to discuss this new adventure and learn what’s on their bookshelves this fall. Read on for more.
Rick Riordan looks back at his time in ‘Percy Jackson’ universe
In 2005, The Lightning Thief first hit shelves. It followed a 12-year-old kid named Percy Jackson who discovers that he’s actually a demigod. The book was an instant New York Times bestseller and has since been turned into a movie and a TV show and has led to three follow-up book series and several spinoffs.
“I can’t believe I’ve been writing about this character for over 20 years now, and it’s also surreal to think how many people have now read the books and have grown up, and somehow I’m still here, and that doesn’t make me feel old at all,” Rick tells Woman’s World, laughing. “It’s a great honor, and to know how many people have sort of made this world their own is really cool.”
During that 20-year period Rick has created a number of characters, but when we asked Rick which character is most like him, he had a ready answer: “I relate most to Chiron the centaur because he and I are both teachers, so I feel like I get him. I know where he’s coming from,” the author explains.
Annabelle Oh reveals what it was like to join the ‘Percy Jackson’ universe
In recent years, Rick has teamed up with a number of authors to co-write new books in the Percy Jackson world. His most recent collaborator is Annabeth Oh. They co-wrote The Wild Zone, which follows Katie Kim, a newcomer at Camp Half-Blood whose brother goes missing after they venture into the Wild Zone, a dangerous place demigods are told not to visit.
“It was so fun. It was like it was not even work. I just got to play all day, every day and have so much fun,” Annabelle says. “Rick was so fun to talk to because we would bounce ideas off each other, and we could just go as wild as we wanted, because the sky’s the limit. It’s fantastical and it’s mythological and so fun to work on.”
Rick is excited for readers to read The Wild Zone because it allows them to see that Camp Half-Blood still exists after Percy Jackson leaves. He’s also excited for readers to revisit some of the characters that have died or disappeared over the years.
“I love the characters from the original Percy Jackson series, and I love the opportunity to bring them back. The one I’ve been the most excited to see again is Charles Beckendorf [who died in The Last Olympian],” the author said. “He is not on screen a lot when it comes to that original Percy Jackson series, but all of the coauthors have sort of adopted him as a mentor figure for their characters, and I love that. It’s been really neat to see the different ways that he’s put to use.”
Rick Riordan reveals what’s on his bookshelf
When he’s not creating characters swinging swords or spending time on Mount Olympus, Rick can be found reading. Here’s what’s on his bookshelf.
‘Little Women’ by Louisa May Alcott
Originally published in 1868, this classic tale follows Meg, Amy, Beth and Jo March, sisters living in Concord, Massachusetts, during the Civil War. Each sister has an idea of who they are and what they want, and their goals are similar—except for Jo. Jo wants to make her own way in the world and plans to do so by becoming a writer. But when she befriends Theodore “Laurie” Lawrence next door, she begins to question everything.
What Rick says: “Right now I’m reading Little Women by Louisa May Alcott for the first time. I’ve never read it before, and it’s very interesting to go back and read something that in its time was considered seminal children’s literature. So I’ve really enjoyed that.”
What other readers are saying: “This book is so well written, the characters are so real and I always cry over parts of this book. I have never seen a movie based on this book that even came close to the written word. Louisa May Alcott takes you into the world during the Civil War and shows the reality of family life during that time. The time frame, the settings, the actions and behaviors of the characters in this book are very well portrayed. This is a book for the ages and for all ages.”
‘L’isola Delle Anime’ by Piergiorgio Pulixi
This novel, written in Italian, follows Mara Rais and Eva Croce, two police inspectors investigating a series of cold cases in Sardinia, an Italian island in the Mediterranean Sea. While investigating, the killer begins to strike again and Mara and Eva realize that they need to crack the case before it’s too late.
What Rick says: “Usually, I’m reading one book in Italian at a time just to keep my skills up. So I’m reading a mystery called L’Isola delle Anime. It’s set in Sardinia, which is very interesting. It’s got a lot of Sardinian dialect, which I don’t understand very well, but it’s a great story.”
What other readers are saying: “This book is wonderful—An unmissable read for fans of Italian thrillers, set in Sardinia amidst ancient myths.” [Editor’s note: This quote was translated from Italian.]
You can pick up your copy of The Wild Zone by Rick Riordan and Annabelle Oh now wherever books are sold.
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