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Questing through the Riordanverse

Studying Religion with the Works of Rick Riordan

Edited by Nathan E. Fleeson and Carolyn M. Jones Medine - Contributions by Meredith Camp Bennett; Claire D'Agostino; Jake Doberenz; Nathan E. Fleeson; Michael Head; Julie Heinisch; Cassandra Krome; Molly Maupin; Carolyn M. Jones Medine; Raegan Reinking; Sissel Undheim; Judith C. Vogt and Grace Wills

Questing through the Riordanverse: Studying Religion with the Works of Rick Riordan examines the works of Rick Riordan and explores how these works relate to Religion and Theology. Despite the success and popularity of the works, scholars have not given the Riordanverse as much attention as other Young Adult and Middle Grade fantasy books published during the first part of the Twenty-First Century. This volume begins to address that vacuum, drawing from a number of fields, including Psychology, Media Studies, Queer Theory, and African American Studies, to offer an interdisciplinary interpretation of Riordan’s works and their impact on Religion and Theology. Contributors represent a diverse background, including perspectives from young scholars and students who grew up with the series to senior scholars considering where the series fits in the tradition of fantasy, religion, and literature.

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Lexington Books / Fortress Academic
Pages: 194 • Trim: 6⅜ x 9½
978-1-9787-1386-4 • Hardback • June 2024 • $105.00 • (£81.00)
978-1-9787-1387-1 • eBook • June 2024 • $45.00 • (£35.00)
Series: Theology, Religion, and Pop Culture
Subjects: Religion / Theology, Religion / General, Social Science / Popular Culture

Nathan E. Fleeson is an independent scholar and high school English teacher in Gwinnett County, Georgia.

Carolyn M. Jones Medine is the inaugural All Shall Be Well Professor of Religion and a professor in and director of the Institute for African American Studies at the University of Georgia.

List of Abbreviations

Introduction by Nathan E. Fleeson and Carolyn M. Jones Medine

Part I: A Philosophical, Theological Ethics Approach to Arts, Literature, and Religion

Chapter 1: Good, Bad, and Ugly Monsters: Characterizing Monsters in Percy Jackson and the Olympians by Jake Doberenz

Chapter 2: Percy Jackson: The Representations of Female Roles of Greek Mythical Women in Modern Literature and Film by Julie Heinish

Chapter 3: The Role of Mythology in Prosocial Behavior in the Percy Jackson and the Olympians Series by Rick Riordan by Cassandra Krome

Chapter 4: Gender-Queerness and the Concept of Argr in Norse Mythology and Magnus Chase by Judith C. Vogt

Part II: An Interdisciplinary Approach to Arts, Literature, and Religion

Chapter 5: “Remember What It’s Like to Be Human”: Finding Humanity in Fantasy Grief by Nathan E. Fleeson

Chapter 6: Rick Riordan’s Percy Jackson Novels: Fantasy and the Problem of Heroic Excellence in/and the West by Carolyn M. Jones Medine

Chapter 7: The Demigods Amongst Us: Rick Riordan’s Heroes of Olympus and Contemporary Religious Change by Sissel Undheim

Conclusion: The Future of the Riordanverse by Nathan E. Fleeson and Carolyn M. Jones Medine

Appendix I: Reflections on Percy Jackson and Religion as Pedagogy by Nathan E. Fleeson, Grace Wills, Michael Head, Molly Maupin, Raegan Reinking, Claire D’Agostino, and Meredith Camp Bennett

About the Contributors

A valuable collection of essays, not only because of its analysis of Religion and the Riordanverse, but also for its insights into classroom pedagogy and the ways in which fans interact with texts. Fleeson and Medine set a scholarly but engaging and inclusive tone in their introduction, conclusion, and individual chapters, and this tone is maintained throughout by the other chapter authors. It is particularly refreshing to see Tumblr posts discussed alongside Aristotle and Judith Butler, and student reflections included in an appendix: sources often overlooked in academic work but important to consider and include. The result of this approach is an excellent book that is both academic and accessible; focused and inclusive.


— Gabriel Schenk, Signum University


Questing through the Riordanverse

Studying Religion with the Works of Rick Riordan

Cover Image
Hardback
eBook
Summary
Summary
  • Questing through the Riordanverse: Studying Religion with the Works of Rick Riordan examines the works of Rick Riordan and explores how these works relate to Religion and Theology. Despite the success and popularity of the works, scholars have not given the Riordanverse as much attention as other Young Adult and Middle Grade fantasy books published during the first part of the Twenty-First Century. This volume begins to address that vacuum, drawing from a number of fields, including Psychology, Media Studies, Queer Theory, and African American Studies, to offer an interdisciplinary interpretation of Riordan’s works and their impact on Religion and Theology. Contributors represent a diverse background, including perspectives from young scholars and students who grew up with the series to senior scholars considering where the series fits in the tradition of fantasy, religion, and literature.

Details
Details
  • Lexington Books / Fortress Academic
    Pages: 194 • Trim: 6⅜ x 9½
    978-1-9787-1386-4 • Hardback • June 2024 • $105.00 • (£81.00)
    978-1-9787-1387-1 • eBook • June 2024 • $45.00 • (£35.00)
    Series: Theology, Religion, and Pop Culture
    Subjects: Religion / Theology, Religion / General, Social Science / Popular Culture
Author
Author
  • Nathan E. Fleeson is an independent scholar and high school English teacher in Gwinnett County, Georgia.

    Carolyn M. Jones Medine is the inaugural All Shall Be Well Professor of Religion and a professor in and director of the Institute for African American Studies at the University of Georgia.

Table of Contents
Table of Contents
  • List of Abbreviations

    Introduction by Nathan E. Fleeson and Carolyn M. Jones Medine

    Part I: A Philosophical, Theological Ethics Approach to Arts, Literature, and Religion

    Chapter 1: Good, Bad, and Ugly Monsters: Characterizing Monsters in Percy Jackson and the Olympians by Jake Doberenz

    Chapter 2: Percy Jackson: The Representations of Female Roles of Greek Mythical Women in Modern Literature and Film by Julie Heinish

    Chapter 3: The Role of Mythology in Prosocial Behavior in the Percy Jackson and the Olympians Series by Rick Riordan by Cassandra Krome

    Chapter 4: Gender-Queerness and the Concept of Argr in Norse Mythology and Magnus Chase by Judith C. Vogt

    Part II: An Interdisciplinary Approach to Arts, Literature, and Religion

    Chapter 5: “Remember What It’s Like to Be Human”: Finding Humanity in Fantasy Grief by Nathan E. Fleeson

    Chapter 6: Rick Riordan’s Percy Jackson Novels: Fantasy and the Problem of Heroic Excellence in/and the West by Carolyn M. Jones Medine

    Chapter 7: The Demigods Amongst Us: Rick Riordan’s Heroes of Olympus and Contemporary Religious Change by Sissel Undheim

    Conclusion: The Future of the Riordanverse by Nathan E. Fleeson and Carolyn M. Jones Medine

    Appendix I: Reflections on Percy Jackson and Religion as Pedagogy by Nathan E. Fleeson, Grace Wills, Michael Head, Molly Maupin, Raegan Reinking, Claire D’Agostino, and Meredith Camp Bennett

    About the Contributors

Reviews
Reviews
  • A valuable collection of essays, not only because of its analysis of Religion and the Riordanverse, but also for its insights into classroom pedagogy and the ways in which fans interact with texts. Fleeson and Medine set a scholarly but engaging and inclusive tone in their introduction, conclusion, and individual chapters, and this tone is maintained throughout by the other chapter authors. It is particularly refreshing to see Tumblr posts discussed alongside Aristotle and Judith Butler, and student reflections included in an appendix: sources often overlooked in academic work but important to consider and include. The result of this approach is an excellent book that is both academic and accessible; focused and inclusive.


    — Gabriel Schenk, Signum University


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