Ahead of the release of the first book in his new series, Steve Bennett at the San Antonio Express-news ran an interview with Rick Riordan Sunday. This series, the follow-up to his wildly popular Percy Jackson and the Olympians books, has an Egyptian theme and is aimed at readers from 9 to 12 years old. The first book, The Kane Chronicles, Book One: The Red Pyramid, will be out Tuesday and Riordan will be at a book signing at Barnes & Noble La Cantera (15900 La Cantera Parkway, 210.558.2078), at 2 p.m. May 15. There will be Egyptian-themed activities and crafts about an hour before the signing.
Bennett asked Riordan about the switch from the Greek mythology in Percy Jackson to the Egyptian themes in the new series. Riordan says:
“The Egyptians had a very interesting attitude toward their gods. They believed gods could be bribed, threatened, even fought in order to get what you wanted from them. That’s why magicians were so important, and why Egypt was renowned in the ancient world for their magicians. Magicians actually controlled the gods and channeled their power. It was very different from modern concepts of the divine, which is why that scene in the Old Testament when Moses battled the magicians of pharaoh is so striking. Ancient readers would’ve been truly impressed by that story, because everyone knew Egypt’s magic was the most powerful. In ‘The Red Pyramid,’ Carter and Sadie find out they are descendants of Egyptian magicians, and when the gods escape into the modern world, the Kane siblings are the only ones who can put things right.”
You can read the full article on MySanAntonio.com.
