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Author Rick Riordan Takes On Norse Mythology And Boston In New Book
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Rick Riordan is the author behind the wildly popular "Percy Jackson and the Olympians" series of books, which sold millions of copies and sparked two Hollywood films.
He wrote that series to inspire his son, who has ADHD and dyslexia. Now, Riordan lives with his family in Boston and he's written the first book in a new series, based in this city.
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Rick Riordan, author of "Percy Jackson and the Olympians," "The Kane Chronicles," "The Heroes of Olympus" and his latest, "Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard." He tweets @camphalfblood.
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The New York Times: Rick Riordan’s ‘Magnus Chase And The Gods Of Asgard’
- "In the new book, Norse myths are given the same carefully detailed exposition. The magic craft of dwarves, the mission of the Valkyries, the surprisingly variable sizes of giants, even the division between the godlike orders of Aesir and Vanir — all are made beautifully clear. Magnus, our hero, is the son of Frey, the god of plenty, where Percy was the son of Poseidon, and so his sword is the summer sword. His quest is more episodically comic in tone than the Percy series often was (we learn that Magnus has watched William Goldman’s “The Princess Bride” 26 times, and some of that tale’s facetious humor has slipped into this one). It pits him against giant eagles and sea serpents, with a diverse coalition that includes a young Muslim Valkyrie, in a desperate struggle to put off the day of Ragnarok, the apocalyptic battle the forces of good are doomed to lose."
This segment aired on November 24, 2015.