Okay fantasy fans - forget Potter and Twilight. The big series now is Rick Riordan's Percy Jackson books. Riordan's landed on that perfect formula, beloved of Disney and Warner Brothers alike. His books feature a cheeky protagonist (able to make puns while running for his life) who is the child of separated parents (for those tear-jerker scenes), plenty of fantastical events (a cornacopia of special effects - perfect for today's movie preferences), a rocket-paced plot, and a thinly veiled moral message about the importance of family. It's no wonder Chris Columbus (did his parents really name him that?) is directing the movie version of the first book, The Lightening Thief (see the trailer here: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0814255/ ).
Don't get me wrong - the books are a fun, fast read and the integration of Greek mythology into modern life is entertaining. But I'll take a fantasy with rich, complex characters and difficult questions of right and wrong (think Llyod Alexander, Madeline L'Engle, or J.R.R. Tolkein) over fantasy fluff any day.
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