This illustrated chapter book series set in Ancient Greece is perfect for young readers interested in mythical creatures and thrilling adventure stories! Eleven–year–old Pandemonius—known as Demon—has been plucked from his quiet, normal life in a small Greek village to become the Beast Keeper for the Stables of the Gods on Olympus. The job, however, soon becomes much more than scooping up after the beasts. The warrior-hero Heracles has been causing havoc among the immortal creatures, and it’s up to Demon to save them. Gr 3–6—Pandemonius, also known as Demon, the 11-year-old son of the Greek god Pan, is unwillingly roped into a messy job as a stable boy caring for the mythical beasts of Olympus. While the story remains mostly true to the original mythology, plenty of humor and some modern slang are inserted, such as when the hapless hero debates how to address his father, "Your Godness? Your Holiness? Your Dadness?" Scatalogical humor abounds as Demon copes with mountains of beast poo and flatulent Cattle of the Sun. Purposeful anachronisms such as robots and a computerlike machine made by Hephaestus, god of the forge, are presented as evidence of the Greek gods' omniscient powers. Hercules is the villain in this tale as Demon works on doctoring up poor animals injured during his Twelve Labors. Demon's ability to speak with animals comes in handy as he soothes cranky creatures, such as a bald Nemean lion, Stymphalian birds in need of new feathers, and a Cretan bull that has lost its fire. His biggest challenge is curing Hera's beheaded pet Hydra. Energetic cartoon illustrations enhance the fast-paced excitement. A glossary and pronunciation guide featuring all the major players in the Greek pantheon are included.—Madigan McGillicuddy, Atlanta-Fulton Public Library, Atlanta, GA *"Rippingly funny."— Publishers Weekly , starred review Lucy Coats studied English and Ancient History at Edinburgh University, then worked in children's publishing and now writes full time. She is a gifted children's poet and has also written several picture book texts. She is widely respected for her lively retellings of myths. Her 12-book series,  Greek Beasts and Heroes , was published by Orion in the U.K.  Beasts of Olympus  will be her first U.S. publication. Lucy's website is at www.lucycoats.com. You can also follow her on Twitter @lucycoats. Chapter 1 Demon was chatting to the chickens about eggs when his dad arrived. He’d never met his dad before, but he knew it was him all right. His dad had:   Thick, hairy, goaty legs.   Big curly horns.   Yellow eyes with black, slitted pupils.   No clothes to speak of.   And a set of silver reed pipes.   Demon’s dad was a god.   “Foxgodfoxgodfoxgodrunrunrunsquawwwwkkkk!”  The chickens scattered across the yard, gabbling and squawking in terror. Demon kneeled in the dirt and bowed his head. He wasn’t too sure if that’s what you did with a dad, but it was certainly what you did with a god. Especially if that god was Pan, ruler of forests and all wild creatures. A god who could call up a pack of hungry bears that could rip you to bits in an instant.   “Pandemonius, my boy!” said his dad. Pan’s voice was like mossy bark on ancient trees. It was deep and velvety with a hint of crumbly roughness at the edges.   Even though it was Demon’s real name, no one ever called him Pandemonius. Even the mountain wolves called him Demon—and they tended to be rather formal in their speech. Demon was about to tell his dad how silly his full name sounded, when he felt a pair of huge hands under his armpits. He was lifted up into a god hug that smelled of pungent green things like goaty musk and old, stale blood.   “Good to meet you at last, my son. C’mon, let’s find your dear mother, Carys, and get your things together. Haven’t seen her in far too long. Not since you arrived in the world, in fact. By Zeus’s beard, how time flies.”   About two minutes later, a confused Demon found himself in the corner of the hut he shared with his mother. As he packed his few possessions into a bundle, he could see his dad whispering in his mom’s ear. When she’d seen Demon and his father walk in together, she dropped her best herb-chopping knife on the hard dirt floor. It nearly cut off her big toe. Now she kept saying, “But, but, but,” in a high-pitched voice. She sounded like Demon’s little black lamb, Barley, did when he wanted milk. She might as well have kept quiet. Pan stomped over her  buts  like a charging centaur.   “Pandemonius is coming with me,” he said at last. “And that’s final. You don’t want to offend the gods by refusing to let him go, now, do you?”   There was nothing much his mom could say to that, really. Mortals who offended gods usually ended up as little piles of scorched ash, or trees, or rocks. In the end, Pan dragged Demon forcibly out the door without more than a quick good-bye kiss and hug. A weeping Carys was left behind them waving a damp hankie.   Demon felt lik