§Author· 5 books
Rick Riordan
Also known as Richard Russell Riordan Jr.
Blending classical mythology with modern middle-grade fiction, the Percy Jackson & the Olympians series introduced young readers to ancient pantheons surviving in contemporary America. Author Rick Riordan first developed the concept when he created The Lightning Thief as a bedtime story for his eldest son, launching an extensive universe of mythological adventures.
His books have sold over 190 million copies worldwide and have been translated into more than 37 languages, expanding into multiple interconnected series and television adaptations produced alongside his wife, Becky Riordan.
Career & Background
Born Richard Russell Riordan Jr. on June 5, 1964, in San Antonio, Texas, he attended Alamo Heights High School before completing his degree and teaching credentials. For fifteen years, Riordan taught English and history at public and private middle schools in the San Francisco Bay Area and San Antonio. During his time at Saint Mary's Hall in San Antonio, he was honored with the school's first Master Teacher Award.
While working full-time as a teacher, Riordan began writing adult mystery fiction. His Tres Navarre series went on to win the top three national awards in the mystery genre: the Edgar, Anthony, and Shamus awards. After selling the Percy Jackson series to Disney Book Group, Riordan transitioned to full-time writing to manage the demands of authoring multiple books a year. He resides in Boston, Massachusetts, and serves as an executive producer on screen adaptations of his work, including Percy Jackson, The Kane Chronicles, and Daughter of the Deep.
Writing Style & Themes
Riordan's writing features fast-paced adventure, humorous dialogue, and young protagonists who balance everyday adolescent challenges with mythological quests. By translating Greek, Roman, Egyptian, and Norse mythologies into modern settings, his narratives explore themes of loyalty, identity, heroism, and family dynamics. Drawing on his background as a teacher and father, he frames traits like dyslexia and ADHD as indicators of demigod heritage, normalizing neurodivergence for middle-grade readers.
Major Works
- The Lightning Thief — The debut novel in the Percy Jackson & the Olympians series introduces twelve-year-old Percy Jackson as he learns he is the demigod son of Poseidon and must retrieve Zeus's stolen master bolt.
- The Titan's Curse — The third entry in the Percy Jackson series follows Percy and his companions on a cross-country mission to rescue the goddess Artemis and his friend Annabeth Chase.
- The Chalice of the Gods — This novel follows Percy Jackson during his senior year of high school as he embarks on quests for ancient gods to earn college recommendation letters.
- Wrath of the Triple Goddess — A continuation of Percy's high school quest line, where he agrees to pet-sit for the goddess Hecate in exchange for a crucial recommendation letter.
- The Sun and the Star — Co-authored with Mark Oshiro, this adventure centers on demigods Nico di Angelo and Will Solace as they undertake a perilous journey into the underworld of Tartarus.
§All Books
The Lightning Thief
Rick Riordan, 2000
2,442 ratings
The Titan's Curse
Rick Riordan, 2007
1,438 ratings
The Chalice of the Gods
Rick Riordan, 2022
197 ratings
Wrath of the Triple Goddess
Rick Riordan, 2024
70 ratings
The Sun and the Star
Mark Oshiro, 2023
62 ratings