The Lightning Thief — Rick Riordan

DEAR MORTAL READER:

I have sworn upon the River Styx that the events in this book are purely fictional.

There is no such twelve-year-old boy as Perseus "Percy" Jackson. The Greek gods are nothing more than old myths. They certainly never have children with mortals in the twenty-first century, nor is there any such place as Camp Half-Blood, a summer camp for demigods on eastern Long Island where I train young heroes to survive against their monstrous enemies. Percy never met a satyr or a daughter of Athena. They most emphatically did not embark upon a quest together across the United States to reach the gates of the Underworld and prevent a catastrophic war between the gods.

Having said this, I must warn you to think carefully before starting this book. If you feel anything stirring within you as you read -- if you begin to suspect that this story may be describing something about your own life STOP READING IMMEDIATELY. I cannot be held responsible for the consequences.

May the gods of Olympus (who of course do not exist) watch over you.

Yours sincerely,
CHI RON KENTAVROS
Immortal Trainer of Heroes
Activities Director, CAMP HALF-BLOOD
Bearer of Laurels, OLYMPIAN COUNCIL