Rick Riordan Reveals He’s Never Seen ‘Percy Jackson’ Films as Books Turn 20 (Exclusive)

As Percy Jackson & the Olympians author Rick Riordan was writing the hit series’ first book, The Lightning Thief, he felt it would be his make-or-break moment.

The success didn’t come right away. He recalls his first book event in San Francisco, at which only one child showed up. By the second installment, The Sea of Monsters, the series had gained traction, and by book three, The Titan’s Curse, he was confident he’d be able to finish the initial five novels.

Now, 20 years after The Lightning Thief was first published, Riordan, 61, has written 17 books within the Percy Jackson universe and two additional spin-off trilogies. One of the best-selling series of all time, the fantasy novels have spawned a generation of Greek mythology fanatics, a Broadway musical and a television adaptation on Disney+.

“Greek mythology, it’s been with us for thousands of years, and there’s a reason that we’re still telling these stories even though they’re so old. They talk about some basic things in human nature that never change,” he explains to PEOPLE, listing ageless themes like vengeance, love, hatred, friendship and morality.

Percy Jackson’s popularity also resulted in a film adaptation starring Logan Lerman and Alexandra Daddario that premiered in 2010, with a sequel in 2013. Riordan confesses that he’s never actually watched either movie.

“My judgment of them is based entirely on the scripts,” he says. “I’m grateful that they brought so many people to the books … I understand that they’re really entertaining if you’re not looking at them as adaptations.”

The Percy Jackson books have retained a loyal fandom akin to the Harry Potter series, and Riordan makes an effort to ensure his diverse audience feels represented in the novels. 

From his portrayal of neurodivergence in his demigod characters to Nico di Angelo’s momentous coming out in 2013’s House of Hades, the Texas-born author says he felt a responsibility to allow every kid to “see themselves as heroes” on the page.

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“My philosophy is everybody should feel welcome and respected,” Riordan says. “The best representation will always come from authors who have lived that experience. I can’t always rise to that level of authenticity for every character.”

He continues, “The very least I can do is be inclusive, and to let everybody know that if you were to come to Camp Half-Blood, you would find people that share your experience, that share your ancestry, that share your worldview and your background.”