Unless you’ve had your memories wiped by the River Lethe, you surely remember Bob, beloved Titan Lord of the West and dear friend to demigods such as Nico di Angelo, Will Solace, Annabeth Chase, and Percy Jackson.

After his major personality makeover, Bob turned his back on the Titan lifestyle of violence and conquest to pursue a more peaceful existence. He served as a janitor for the Underworld and a tour guide in Tartarus, and he was a houseguest at the Mansion of Night, but none of that suited him perfectly.

Bob was finally rescued from the darkest depths of Tartarus (and reunited with his feline companion, Small Bob), leaving him free to live life on his own terms.

Now that some time has passed since Bob gained his freedom, we decided to venture out West and catch up with everyone’s favorite reformed Titan and see what the big guy is up to these days . . .

Read Riordan: Hi, Bob! Thank you for taking the time out to speak with us today.

Bob: Pleasure is mine! This is really no trouble at all. Schedule has been wide open for months.

Read Riordan: Does that mean we can assume you’ve been enjoying your long, extended vacation out here?

Bob: Oh, yes. After our recent experience in Tartarus, Small Bob and I decided that we would like to take some time to explore the world of mortals. Further develop my vocabulary. Enjoy the fresh air. Make new friends. Try the local cuisine. Did you know that they make M&M’s without peanuts in them? Oh, will wonders never cease?

Small Bob: Meow!

Bob: Small Bob likes the freedom, too. Although I do need to find some way to tell him that he is very scary to demigods when he turns into a saber-toothed tiger.

Can you tell him? Do you speak cat?

Read Riordan: Uh, no. But we’re glad to hear that you’ve taking it easy after all that you two have been through. Any plans to return to the Underworld one day?

Bob: Oh, no, no, no. At least, not anytime soon. Don’t get me wrong. I valued my time with Hades and Persephone, but I’m focused on the future these days. Want to do what’s best for Bob.

And if I’m being honest, I am still processing to process the um . . . What was that word that Nico and Will taught me? It’s like a big “owie” but for your soul?

Read Riordan: Trauma?

Bob: That’s the one! I need time to process the trauma from my imprisonment in Tartarus. I was in a very dark place before my sun and star bravely came to my rescue.

Small Bob: Meow!

Bob: Along with Small Bob, of course.

Read Riordan: We can change the subject if you would like . . .

Bob: Yes, I love to change the subject! But if you need references from Hades and Persephone, I can happily show them to you!

Read Riordan: Uh, thanks? But we’re good.

Now, after you returned to the surface with Nico and Will, we heard that you were offered the opportunity to stay at Camp Half-Blood . . .

Bob: That’s right. Chiron, the activities director, was eager to have me stay for a while. But I didn’t think it was the right fit for us.

Read Riordan: So you declined his invitation?

Bob: Well, as ancient mortal saying goes, West Coast is Best Coast. And as much as I love our dear demigod friends, I don’t want to get in their way. Also, I think it’s good for them to learn how to clean up their own messes.

However, if we were given the right opportunity to relocate . . .

Read Riordan: Wait, wait, wait. “References?” “Right fit?” “Opportunity to relocate?” . . . Do you think this is a job interview?

Bob: Isn’t it?

Small Bob: Meow?

Read Riordan: Oh, no. Sorry for the confusion. This is just a Q&A for our website.

Bob: What is a “website?”

Read Riordan: A place people visit on the internet . . .

Bob: Gasp! Percy once told me of this awful place, the internet. A dark realm of anger, hostility, and outrage. A non-physical space where time has no meaning and the landscape is forever shifting.

Read Riordan: Well, that’s one way to describe it. But it’s not all bad . . .

Bob: I have heard that the internet is where humans transform into monsters and attempt to destroy one another!

The internet must be filled with arai, those evil creatures that spawn from bitter thoughts. Had plenty of experience with them in Tartarus. Tried to confuse me, turn me against my friends, and return to old ways . . . as Iapetus.

I hope that you aren’t trying to do the same . . .

Read Riordan: O-of course not!

Bob: It would be a very, very bad idea for you to try to force me to change back . . . I’ve worked hard to better myself . . . Learned about friendship, acceptance, understanding . . . Won’t go back. Will never go back! I will sweep you into oblivion!

Small Bob: Grrrr

Read Riordan: P-Put down the broom, Bob! No one is trying to change you back into Iapetus. Just relax. You don’t have to go on the internet!

Bob: Oh. Okay! That’s all you had to say. Didn’t mean to give you such a fright. I simply thought I would have to destroy you in self-defense.

Another ancient mortal saying: Old habits die hard. Haha!

Small Bob: Meow!

Read Riordan: Uh, no worries. (Wow, Small Bob really is terrifying when he transforms into a saber-tooth.)

Bob: You must understand. I swore to myself that I would never return to Tartarus, or any place that even resembles Tartarus. I am sorry, but I have no interest in sweeping for your “website.”

So, I must ask you—respectfully, but sternly—to leave at once and don’t look back.

Read Riordan: Oh, yeah! Uh, no problem at all . . .

Bob: But you will keep my file for reference in case another opportunity comes up, correct?

Read Riordan: Sure, Bob! Whatever you say! Bye now!

Bob: Goodbye! And good luck with the arai!

Want to see more of Bob? You can read his whole story in The Demigod Files, The House of Hades, and The Sun and the Star: A Nico di Angelo Adventure!