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Rick Riordan Presents

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The logo for the imprint.

Rick Riordan Presents is an imprint series within Disney Publishing Worldwide. The imprint features books that are connected to ancient myths in the modern day, much like Rick Riordan's books, with a few exceptions. The editor of Rick Riordan Presents, sometimes abbreviated to RRP, is Stephanie Owens Lurie. The first book published is Aru Shah and the End of Time by Roshani “Rosh” Chokshi (The name is pronounced ROSH-uh-nee).

Riordan had confirmed that the books were set in a distinct universe from his and he merely edited the books and wrote the introduction, for which he was paid a nominal fee by Disney. The imprint allows other authors to explore their cultural myths in the modern day and aims to bring them to the attention of Riordan's audience by being associated with his name.

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This article is written from a real world point of view.


Development

Rick Riordan was initially approached by Disney to create his own imprint series, which would be an extension of his Percy Jackson universe.[1] The author, who was writing on a deadline at the time, was too busy to consider the idea and did not respond.[1]

After giving thought to the matter, he later reported that he agreed with the creation of an imprint series, however, it would not be an extension of his world, instead, the imprint's primary purpose would be to bring other aspiring writers to the attention of Riordan's audience by using his brand name.[1]

Selection Criteria

All the books in the imprint series are children's books that focus on mythology in the modern age, with a few exceptions. All submissions to Rick Riordan Presents are made through literary agents and sent to the attention of Stephanie Lurie, Riordan's editor. The final decision will be taken by Riordan, who will review proposals and manuscripts and also serve as editor for the acquired projects. The books and the authors will also be promoted by Riordan through his social media accounts and appearances.

Books by different authors can focus on the same mythology, e.g. Yoon Ha Lee's Dragon Pearl and Graci Kim's The Gifted Clans series, which are both centered on Korean mythology.

The imprint hopes to publish four books per year. Two books were released in 2018, five were published in 2019, six in 2020 have been published, five have been released in 2021, and six are planned for 2022, with one being released already. Currently, five books are planned for 2023, and one for 2024.

Series and Stand-Alone Novels

Pandava Quintet by Roshani Chokshi (Hindu Mythology)

Storm Runner Trilogy by Jennifer C. Cervantes (Maya and Aztec Mythology)

Shadow Bruja Duology by Jennifer C. Cervantes (Aztec Mythology, spin-off of Storm Runner Trilogy)

Thousand Worlds series by Yoon Ha Lee (Korean mythology)

Sal & Gabi Duology by Carlos Hernandez (sci-fi and Cuban culture)

Tristan Strong Trilogy by Kwame Mbalia (West African/African American Mythology)

Paola Santiago series by Tehlor Kay Mejia (Mexican Mythology) 

The Gifted Clans series by Graci Kim (Korean Mythology)

Pahua Moua series by Lori M. Lee (Hmong mythology)

Serwa Boateng series by Roseanne A. Brown (Ghanaian Mythology)

Outlaw Saints by Daniel José Older (Santeria Mythology)

Winston Chu Duology by Stacey Lee (Chinese Mythology)

Moko Magic Duology by Tracey Baptiste (Caribbean Mythology)

Stand-alone Novels

Others

References and Similarities to Rick Riordan's Work

Pandava Quintet

Aru Shah and the End of Time

Aru Shah and the Song of Death

  • Agni told the Pandavas that good things happen to bad people. An example of this is Minos who became a judge of the dead despite all the bad things he had done.
  • The plot of the book is similar to the plot of The Lightning Thief.

Aru Shah and the Tree of Wishes

Aru Shah and the City of Gold

  • Aru Shah mentions seeing a copy of a book she doesn't recognize called Sal & Gabi Break the Universe on a shelf. This is a reference to a real-world book by Carlos Hernandez, which also happens to be a Rick Riordan Presents book. (Interestingly, there is also a reference to the Aru Shah books in Sal & Gabi.)
  • When the Pandavas encounter the Demon King Ravana, Aru said she thought he was dead. Mini responds by saying a lot of Hindu mythological figures who are supposed to be dead are still alive. This is a common theme with many of the antagonists in Rick Riordan’s books.
  • While not a reference to Riordan’s books, the Pandavas at one point enter the House of the Sun. Nizhoni Begay also has to reach the House of the Sun in the book “Race to the Sun”.
  • While not a reference to Riordan’s work, the god Kubera mentions the multiverse multiple times in the book. The multiverse is a common theme in the Sal and Gabi duology.

Storm Runner Trilogy

The Storm Runner

The Fire Keeper

  • When Hondo Obispo mentioned Midas, Quinn said that the Greeks had nothing on the Maya. The latter were the first engineers, architects, and astronomers and they developed one of the most accurate calendar systems in human history. Zane awkwardly decided not to mention the Greeks anymore.
  • Ixtab explained that the Mexica Gods went extinct after Hernán Cortés conquered the Mexica Empire. This is similar to what Apollo said about Emperor Theodosius evicting the Olympian gods by closing all the temples. Coincidentally, both Cortés and Theodosius converted the people to Christianity.

The Shadow Crosser

  • Zane mentions that he can find other godborns with what he calls his “GPS”, or Godborn Positioning System, similar to Apollo’s remark about his Godly Positioning System.
    • In the same passing, he mentions how Iktan can track godborns, similar to how satyrs and monsters can track demigods in the main literary universe.
  • When Zane reveals to the godborns that their parents are trapped in 1987, one of them suggests they overthrow the remaining gods and rule the universe in their place, this is similar to the ideology of Luke Castellan and the other demigods in the Titan Army.
  • Though not a reference to Rick Riordan's work, Zane compared Quinn's crow shriek to La Llorona's.

Thousand Worlds series

Dragon Pearl

Sal & Gabi Duology

Sal & Gabi Break the Universe

  • During Adam Hoag's wedgie documentary, Sal Vidón described one types of Wedgie as "the Perseus wedgie", a wedgie mimicking the son of Zeus' decapitation of Medusa. This could refer to both Perseus and Percy Jackson, who both decapitated Medusa.
  • When Sal and Principal Torres were playing around the cafeteria with bauta masks, they refer to each other as demigods.

Sal & Gabi Fix the Universe

  • Although not a reference to Rick Riordan's work, Sal mentions having read Aru Shah and the End of Time.
  • When in the newly renovated bathroom, Sal mentions Hephaestus.

Tristan Strong Trilogy

Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky

  • The Thicket's ability to adapt to fit a growing number of occupations is similar to the way the Waystation works.
  • The way the African American Gods became gods is similar to how Nero, Commodus, and Caligula became gods.
  • At one point, Brer Rabbit warns Tristian that it's bad luck to insult a god when Tristian calls Anansi a 'glutton for stories.' This is similar to how the residents in Camp Half Blood are prohibited to call Zeus' Fist, Poop Pile as it would insult Zeus himself.
  • High John's axe has the ability to fight on its own, similar to Sumarbrander.

Tristan Strong Destroys the World

  • It's shown that gods like John Henry can slowly fade from the world when their Symbols of Power are stolen, much like how older gods and monsters in the PJO universe do when they're forgotten.
  • Jollof Rice smelling different to everyone who smells it is similar to the different taste of who ever is eating or drinking Ambrosia and Nectar.

Tristan Strong Keeps Punching

  • After Tristan is framed for starting a riot at the French Quarter, Memphis Jones tells him that "certain people" are only able to see what makes the most sense to them. This is similar to the mist.

Paola Santiago series

Paola Santiago and the River of Tears

Paola Santiago and the Forest of Nightmares

The Gifted Clans Series

The Last Fallen Star

  • Riley mentions her mother gets her tonic from "some old Greek dudes who work out of the Empire State Building" and that it smells "warm and sweet and cinnamon-y that reminds me of the hotteok rice pancakes Appa makes on Saturday mornings (hands down my favorite meal)." And that it's incredibly effective. In Percy Jackson, nectar and ambrosia smell like your favorite food and is very effective at curing cuts and scrapes. Also, "old Greek dudes" could refer to the Greek gods.
  • When talking to Cosette, Emmett mention "Cadet PJO4Eva" PJO is a common way to refer to Percy Jackson and the Olympians.
  • The Cave Bear Goddess had to possess a Gom host body in order to be in the Mortalrealm. This is similar to the Egyptian gods in the Kane Chronicles series.

Pahua Moua series

Pahua and the Soul Stealer

Stand-alone novels

Race to the Sun

City of the Plague God

  • When Ishtar is showing Sikander Aziz her past, Achilles, Hector, and Helen of Troy are seen.
  • When Belet Amari and Sikander go and look for Nergal, Sikander suggests that Belet disguise Kasusu as a pen since Kasusu can shape-shift. This is a reference to Percy Jackson's Riptide.
    • Kasusu is also capable of verbal communication, much like Sumarbrander.
  • The Mesopotamian Gods, much like the Greco-Roman gods, can fade if they are starved at attention to prayer.
  • Belet mentions Thor when she, Ishtar, and Sikander are discussing whether the Mesopotamian Gods are actual divinity.
  • Sikander references Thor’s Hammer, Mjolnir, when using a wok as a weapon.
  • Sikander said Gilgamesh is a combination of King Arthur, Heracles, and Thor.
  • When Sikander mocks Belet’s unicorn pajamas, she informs him that unicorns are deadly, fierce and bloodthirsty. This is also show with Camp Jupiter’s unicorns that Meg befriended in the fourth Trials of Apollo book “The Tyrant’s Tomb.”.

Gallery

Pandava Quintet

Storm Runner Trilogy

Shadow Bruja Duology

Thousand Worlds series

Sal & Gabi Duology

Tristan Strong Trilogy

Paola Santiago series

The Gifted Clans series

Pahua Moua series

Outlaw Saints

Serwa Boateng series

Winston Chu Duology

Stand-alone novels

Trivia

  • Rick Riordan Presents titles cover genres outside the Urban Fantasy of the Rick Riordan's main series: Dragon Pearl is a Space Opera and the Sal & Gabi Duology is Sci-Fi.
  • Riordan had once joked that he chose the first three authors of the series for three different reasons: Roshani Chokshi for his fans, who always asked him about stories based on Hindu mythology; Jennifer Cervantes, because her children loved his books; and Yoon Ha Lee because Riordan found a kindred spirit in him.[3]
  • For each release of a book under the imprint, ReadRiordan usually releases artwork for three or four of the main and/or major characters, but it can sometimes be more.
  • Despite saying that Rick Riordan Presents will focus on other mythologies, some titles use the myths, folklore and culture more as backgrounds for the main story.
    • The Thousand Worlds series is set in a world where there is presumably no Earth, and never mentions any specific Korean myths. Instead, it transplants traditional Korean creatures and concepts into space, taking into consideration how that would affect them.
    • The Sal & Gabi Duology doesn't talk much about Cuban folklore besides the giant Sal mentions seeing when he relaxes, who granted him his wish. Instead, the duology mainly focuses on Cuban culture.
    • While the Tristan Strong Trilogy has characters from African and African-American folklore, it also has creatures and places made in an allegorical manner. For example, the bone ships represent slave ships and King Cotton represents how cotton led to a rise of importation of African slaves.
  • Rick Riordan writes an introduction at the start of every stand-alone book and the first book in a new series.

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Disney announces new Rick Riordan Imprint Publishers Weekly. Retrieved 6 November 2017
  2. ↑ https://www.gracikim.com/books
  3. ↑ Rick Riordan - the author. Friday Magazine. May 2017.
Rick Riordan Presents
Pandava Quintet: Aru Shah and the End of Time | Aru Shah and the Song of Death | Aru Shah and the Tree of Wishes | Aru Shah and the City of Gold
Storm Runner Trilogy: The Storm Runner | The Fire Keeper | The Shadow Crosser
Shadow Bruja Duology: Lords of Night
Thousand Worlds series: Dragon Pearl | Tiger Honor
Sal & Gabi Duology: Sal & Gabi Break the Universe | Sal & Gabi Fix the Universe
Tristan Strong Trilogy: Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky | Tristan Strong Destroys the World | Tristan Strong Keeps Punching
Paola Santiago series: Paola Santiago and the River of Tears | Paola Santiago and the Forest of Nightmares | Paola Santiago and the Sanctuary of Shadows
The Gifted Clans series: The Last Fallen Star | The Last Fallen Moon | The Last Fallen Realm
Pahua Moua series: Pahua and the Soul Stealer | Pahua and the Dragon's Secret
Serwa Boateng series: Serwa Boateng's Guide to Vampire Hunting
Outlaw Saints: Ballad & Dagger
Winston Chu Duology: Winston Chu Versus the Whimsies
Moko Magic Duology: Moko Magic
Stand Alone Novels: Race to the Sun | City of the Plague God
Others: The Cursed Carnival and Other Calamities: New Stories About Mythic Heroes
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