Percy Jackson and the Olympians


 * This article is about the book series, Percy Jackson and the Olympians. You may be looking for the character, video game, the film adaptation, or the film soundtrack.



Percy Jackson and the Olympians is the first series written by Rick Riordan, and the predecessor of The Heroes of Olympus series. The series focuses on Greek mythology.

Every book follows Percy Jackson's adventures in his point of view. Each book is loosely based on a different Greek hero's adventures. The first is based on Perseus' heroics. The second is based on Odysseus' story, The Odyssey. The third, on Hercules', the fourth, on Theseus', and the last, on Achilles'.

The series follows the completion of the first Great Prophecy. The second Great Prophecy, later called the Prophecy of Seven is revealed in The Last Olympian. The Heroes of Olympus is the sequel series.

The Great Prophecy
A half-blood of the eldest gods

Shall reach sixteen against all odds

And see the world in endless sleep

The hero's soul, cursed blade shall reap

A single choice shall end his days

Olympus to preserve or raze

This prophecy unravels throughout the series:
 * Percy Jackson was a half-blood child of Poseidon, one of the eldest gods, otherwise known as the Big Three.
 * Percy reaches sixteen despite all of the numerous times he was almost killed by Luke/Kronos and his monsters.
 * Percy finds the whole city of Manhattan asleep from Olympus, so the war can go on without any of the humans interfering.
 * Luke used Annabeth's knife to kill himself to stop Kronos. This is the same knife that he gave her when she was little. He promised that they would be there for her and that they (including Thalia) would be a family. When Luke broke his promise to Annabeth, her knife became a cursed blade.
 * Percy had to choose between giving Annabeth's knife to Luke and allow him to destroy himself or trying to destroy Luke himself. Either choice would have resulted in Luke's death however.
 * Percy's choice would result in the either the destruction of Olympus or its preservation.

Main Series

 * The Lightning Thief - June 28, 2005
 * The Sea of Monsters - May 3, 2006
 * The Titan's Curse - April 1, 2007
 * The Battle of the Labyrinth - May 6, 2008
 * The Last Olympian - May 5, 2009

Companion Books

 * Demigods and Monsters - February 10, 2009
 * The Demigod Files - February 10, 2009
 * The Ultimate Guide - January 19, 2010

Audiobook
The Percy Jackson and the Olympians series is also available in unabridged audiobook form, read by Jesse Bernstein.