Garth Nix

About the Author

Garth Nix was born in Melbourne, Australia on July 19, 1963. He graduated from the University of Canberra in 1986 and worked various jobs within the publishing industry until 1994. After a stint in public relations, he returned to books and took up writing as a career. He is the author of Blood show more Ties, Clariel, Newt's Emerald, the Old Kingdom series, The Seventh Tower series, and The Keys to the Kingdom series. In 1999, he received a Golden Duck Award for Australian Contribution to Children's Science Fiction. To Hold the Bridge was named Best Collection by the 2015 Aurealis Awards. His novella, By Frogsled and Lizardback to Outcast Venusian Lepers, was named Best Science Fiction Novella by the 2015 Aurealis Awards. In 2018, he won the 2017 Aurealis Award for the Best science-fiction short story. (Bowker Author Biography) show less

Includes the names: Garth Nix, Garth Nix, Gareth Nix, Garath Nix, By Garth Nix, Garth; YFH (editor) Nix, Garth Nixon by Garth Nix, Brian (ILT) Garth/ Biggs Nix

Series

Old Kingdom

Keys to the Kingdom

Sir Hereward and Mister Fitz

The Seventh Tower

Troubletwisters

Have Sword, Will Travel

The Left-Handed Booksellers of London

Works by Garth Nix

Popular Recent

Sabriel (1995) — Author — 11,189 copies, 321 reviews

Lirael (2001) — Author — 7,581 copies, 140 reviews

Abhorsen (2003) — Author — 6,911 copies, 128 reviews

Mister Monday (2003) 4,247 copies, 88 reviews

Grim Tuesday (2004) 2,945 copies, 49 reviews

Drowned Wednesday (2005) 2,690 copies, 46 reviews

Sir Thursday (2006) 2,330 copies, 41 reviews

Across the Wall (2005) 2,305 copies, 45 reviews

Lady Friday (2007) 2,104 copies, 36 reviews

Clariel (2014) 1,786 copies, 60 reviews

Shade's Children (1995) 1,772 copies, 30 reviews

Superior Saturday (2008) 1,655 copies, 37 reviews

The Fall (2000) 1,432 copies, 24 reviews

The Left-Handed Booksellers of London (2020) 1,413 copies, 62 reviews

Lord Sunday (2010) 1,304 copies, 38 reviews

The Abhorsen Trilogy Box Set (2003) 1,297 copies, 18 reviews

Goldenhand (2016) — Author — 1,100 copies, 24 reviews

The Ragwitch (1990) 853 copies, 16 reviews

Castle (2000) 827 copies, 12 reviews

Frogkisser! (2017) 792 copies, 19 reviews

Aenir (2000) 775 copies, 8 reviews

A Confusion of Princes (2012) 696 copies, 40 reviews

Above the Veil (2000) 651 copies, 6 reviews

Into Battle (2001) 642 copies, 5 reviews

Blood Ties (2014) 628 copies, 6 reviews

The Violet Keystone (2001) 621 copies, 6 reviews

Troubletwisters (2011) 587 copies, 10 reviews

Angel Mage (2019) 548 copies, 15 reviews

Newt's Emerald (2013) 532 copies, 32 reviews

The Seventh Tower: Volumes 1-3 (2000) 495 copies, 8 reviews

The Creature in the Case (2005) 467 copies, 4 reviews

Terciel and Elinor (2021) 453 copies, 11 reviews

To Hold the Bridge: Tales from the Old Kingdom and Beyond (2015) 425 copies, 14 reviews

The Sinister Booksellers of Bath (2023) 424 copies, 21 reviews

The Seventh Tower: Volumes 4-6 (2001) 264 copies, 4 reviews

Have Sword, Will Travel (2017) 208 copies, 9 reviews

Sir Hereward and Mister Fitz: Stories of the Witch Knight and the Puppet Sorcerer (2023) 151 copies, 1 review

The Monster (2012) 135 copies, 1 review

To Hold the Bridge [short fiction] (2016) 118 copies, 1 review

One Beastly Beast: Two Aliens, Three Inventors, Four Fantastic Tales (2007) 117 copies, 5 reviews

Christmas and Other Horrors: A Winter Solstice Anthology (2023) — Contributor — 111 copies, 1 review

The Calusari (1997) 91 copies

The Mystery of the Golden Card (2013) 90 copies, 2 reviews

Sir Hereward and Mister Fitz: Three Adventures (2011) 86 copies, 5 reviews

The Keys to the Kingdom 1-7 (2006) 58 copies, 1 review

Missing, Presumed Evil (2014) 51 copies, 1 review

Let Sleeping Dragons Lie (2018) 43 copies

Fire Above, Fire Below (2013) 43 copies, 2 reviews

The Seventh Tower (1-6) (2006) 42 copies, 1 review

Out of the Mirror, Darkness (2022) 34 copies, 4 reviews

We Do Not Welcome Our Ten-Year-Old Overlord (2024) 31 copies, 1 review

The Old Kingdom Collection: Sabriel, Lirael, Abhorsen, Clariel (2014) 29 copies

The Case of the Somewhat Mythic Sword (2020) 28 copies, 1 review

Spirit Animals, Books 1-5 (2014) 24 copies

Serena and the Sea Serpent (2000) 23 copies

Second Round: A Return to the Ur-Bar (2018) — Contributor — 22 copies

The Old Kingdom Five Book Box Set (slipcase) (2021) 20 copies

The Sisters of Saint Nicola of the Almost Perpetual Motion vs the Lurch (2022) 19 copies, 3 reviews

The Keys to the Kingdom (1-4) (2003) 19 copies

Dislocation Space (2019) 18 copies

The Necessary Arthur: A Tor.com Original (2020) 17 copies, 1 review

Bad Luck, Trouble, Death, and Vampire Sex 13 copies, 1 review

Sir Hereward and Mister Fitz Go to War Again 7 copies, 1 review

Very clever baby's first reader : a simple reader for your child featuring Freddy the Fish and easy words (1997) 7 copies

2009 6 copies

Very Clever Baby's Ben Hur (1989) 6 copies

Old Friends 6 copies

Doctor Crake Crosses the Wall 5 copies

Clariel | To Hold the Bridge (2015) 5 copies

Beyond the Sea Gate of the Scholar-Pirates of Sarsköe 5 copies, 1 review

Spirit Animals, Books 1-7 (2014) 5 copies

Infestation 5 copies, 1 review

Holly and Iron [short fiction] 5 copies

Heart's Desire 3 copies

Endings 3 copies

Bill the inventor (1998) 3 copies

Hope Chest 3 copies

The Even-Handed Booksellers of Edinburgh 3 copies

A Suitable Present for a Sorcerous Puppet 3 copies, 1 review

Aux frontieres du reel 11 - les calusari (1999) 3 copies

Very Clever Baby's First Christmas (1998) 3 copies

Under the Lake 3 copies

Read it in the Headlines! 3 copies

An Essay on Free Magic 3 copies

The Nine Gates of Death - An Extract of the Journal of Idrach the Lesser Necromancer 3 copies

Der Sturm beginnt (Troubletwisters, #1) (2014) 3 copies

From the Lighthouse 2 copies

Autograph, (S.F. Writer), S. Collector Card (Mine) 2 copies

Das Böse erhebt sich (2016) 2 copies

Andělský mág 2 copies

A Guide to the Necromancer Bells 2 copies

Three Roses (1997) 2 copies, 1 review

Peace In Our Time 2 copies

Dog Soldier 2 copies

Punctuality 2 copies

The Highest Justice [Short Story] 2 copies

The Heart of the City 2 copies

Sir Hereward and Master Fitz: Three Adventures 1 copy

Garth Nix 4 Books Collection Set (Abhorsen 1-3) 1 copy

Very clever baby's guide to the greenhouse effect (1992) 1 copy

Der siebte Turm 1 - Sturz in die Dunkelheit 1 copy

Nix YA Sci-Fi #2 1 copy

Der siebte Turm 2 - Mauern des Todes 1 copy

La principessa Baciarospi (2022) 1 copy

Drowned Wednesday (The Keys to the Kingdom, Book 3) by Garth Nix (2005-06-06) 1 copy

ABHORSEN - VOL3 DIN TRILOGIA ULTIMUL REGAT 1 copy

SEVENTH TOWERS ABOVE THE VEIL 1 copy

Book 9781913603441 1 copy

Sir Hereward and Mister Fitz 1-3 1 copy

a sétima torre: a queda 1 copy

Stop! 1 copy

World of Warcraft: Folk & Fairy Tales of Azeroth 1 copy

Garth Nix ( Set of 4 Books) Abhorsen, Across the Wall, Sabriel, Lirael. (1999) 1 copy

Charlie Rabbit 1 copy

Lightning Bringer 1 copy

Hansel's Eyes 1 copy

The Hill 1 copy

Strange Fishing in the Western Highlands 1 copy

Blackbread the Pirate (1999) 1 copy

The Keys to the Kingdom (1-5) 1 copy

Vampire Weather 1 copy

Showdown On Planetoid Pencrux 1 copy

An Unwelcome Guest [Short Story] 1 copy

The Curious Case of the Moondawn Daffodils Murder as Experienced by Sir Magnus Holmes and Almost-Doctor Susan Shrike 1 copy

A Sidekick of Mars 1 copy

A Cargo of Ivories 1 copy

By Frogsled and Lizardback to Outcast Venusian Lepers (novelette) 1 copy

A Handful of Ashes (2015) 1 copy

Conversations with an Armory 1 copy

TroubleTwisters / The Monster / The Mystery of the Golden Card / Missing, Presumed Evil (2011) 1 copy

The keys to the Kingdom 1 copy

Work Explorer

Associated Works

Oliver Twist (1837) — Introduction, some editions — 25,509 copies, 245 reviews

Fire and Hemlock (1985) — Introduction, some editions — 2,208 copies, 60 reviews

Rogues (2014) — Contributor — 1,346 copies, 51 reviews

Zombies vs. Unicorns (2010) — Contributor — 1,345 copies, 93 reviews

Geektastic: Stories from the Nerd Herd (2009) — Contributor — 1,165 copies, 65 reviews

A Wolf at the Door and Other Retold Fairy Tales (2000) — Contributor — 846 copies, 21 reviews

Firebirds: An Anthology of Original Fantasy and Science Fiction (2003) — Contributor — 823 copies, 29 reviews

Wizards: Magical Tales From the Masters of Modern Fantasy (2007) — Contributor — 810 copies, 25 reviews

Guys Write for Guys Read (2005) — Contributor — 788 copies, 13 reviews

Steampunk! An Anthology of Fantastically Rich and Strange Stories (2011) — Contributor — 709 copies, 26 reviews

Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde and Other Stories of the Supernatural (1886) — Introduction, some editions — 638 copies, 3 reviews

The Thackery T. Lambshead Cabinet of Curiosities: Exhibits, Oddities, Images, and Stories from Top Authors and Artists (2011) — Contributor — 445 copies, 16 reviews

The Dragon Book: Magical Tales from the Masters of Modern Fantasy (2009) — Contributor — 429 copies, 13 reviews

The Year's Best Science Fiction: Twenty-Sixth Annual Collection (2009) — Contributor — 399 copies, 2 reviews

Rags & Bones (2013) — Contributor — 398 copies, 11 reviews

Gothic: Ten Original Dark Tales (2004) — Contributor — 358 copies, 13 reviews

After (2012) — Contributor — 356 copies, 13 reviews

Troll's Eye View: A Book of Villainous Tales (2009) — Contributor — 351 copies, 17 reviews

The Starlit Wood: New Fairy Tales (2016) — Contributor — 343 copies, 15 reviews

The New Space Opera 2 (2009) — Contributor — 342 copies, 11 reviews

The Serial Garden: The Complete Armitage Family Stories (2008) — Introduction, some editions — 337 copies, 9 reviews

Fast Ships, Black Sails (2008) — Contributor — 323 copies, 10 reviews

Under My Hat: Tales from the Cauldron (2012) — Contributor — 320 copies, 17 reviews

Teeth: Vampire Tales (2011) — Contributor — 309 copies, 15 reviews

Swords & Dark Magic: The New Sword and Sorcery (2010) — Contributor — 307 copies, 7 reviews

Happily Ever After (2011) — Contributor — 307 copies, 3 reviews

By Blood We Live (2009) — Contributor — 307 copies, 7 reviews

The Starry Rift (2008) — Contributor — 286 copies, 10 reviews

The Book of Swords (2017) — Contributor — 286 copies, 9 reviews

The Book of Dragons: An Anthology (2020) — Contributor — 244 copies, 9 reviews

The Wand in the Word: Conversations with Writers of Fantasy (2006) — Contributor — 244 copies, 9 reviews

Ghosts by Gaslight: Stories of Steampunk and Supernatural Suspense (2011) — Contributor — 212 copies, 6 reviews

Haunted Nights (2017) — Contributor — 200 copies, 15 reviews

Old Venus (2015) — Contributor — 180 copies, 7 reviews

The Book of Magic: A Collection of Stories (2018) — Contributor — 175 copies, 2 reviews

The Year's Best Fantasy and Horror 2008: 21st Annual Collection (2008) — Contributor — 170 copies, 5 reviews

Steampunk III: Steampunk Revolution (2012) — Contributor — 159 copies, 3 reviews

Eclipse 1: New Science Fiction and Fantasy (2007) — Contributor — 155 copies, 7 reviews

Fearful Symmetries (2014) — Contributor — 144 copies, 5 reviews

The Best Science Fiction and Fantasy of the Year Volume Three (2009) — Contributor — 144 copies, 2 reviews

The Big Book of Modern Fantasy (2020) — Contributor — 122 copies, 1 review

Kaleidoscope: Diverse YA Science Fiction and Fantasy Stories (2014) — Contributor — 120 copies, 6 reviews

Nightmares: A New Decade of Modern Horror (2016) — Contributor — 114 copies, 10 reviews

Hellboy: Oddest Jobs (2008) — Contributor — 114 copies, 2 reviews

Fearie Tales (2013) — Contributor — 111 copies, 3 reviews

Echoes: The Saga Anthology of Ghost Stories (2019) — Contributor — 110 copies, 4 reviews

Under the Moons of Mars: New Adventures on Barsoom (2012) — Contributor — 109 copies, 4 reviews

Three Sides of a Heart: Stories About Love Triangles (2017) — Contributor — 106 copies, 6 reviews

Dreaming Again: Thirty-five New Stories Celebrating the Wild Side of Australian Fiction (2008) — Contributor — 96 copies, 6 reviews

The Best Horror of the Year Volume Seven (2015) — Contributor — 94 copies, 5 reviews

The Dark of the Woods: Fairy Tales for Modern Times (2006) — Contributor — 92 copies, 1 review

Cranky Ladies of History (2015) — Contributor — 87 copies, 1 review

The Book of Witches: An Anthology (2023) — Contributor — 86 copies, 2 reviews

The Year's Best Science Fiction and Fantasy for Teens: First Annual Collection (Year's Best Science Fiction & Fantasy… (2005) — Contributor — 83 copies, 2 reviews

Infinity Wars (2017) — Contributor — 79 copies, 5 reviews

The Best of Jim Baen's Universe (2007) — Contributor — 77 copies, 2 reviews

Year's Best Fantasy 6 (2006) — Contributor — 72 copies, 2 reviews

Love & Sex (2001) — Contributor — 69 copies, 3 reviews

The Year's Best Science Fiction & Fantasy, 2009 Edition (2010) — Contributor — 69 copies

The Best Science Fiction and Fantasy of the Year Volume Nine (2015) — Contributor — 66 copies, 3 reviews

Fantasy: The Best of the Year, 2008 Edition (2008) — Contributor — 66 copies, 2 reviews

Legends of Australian Fantasy (2010) — Contributor — 62 copies, 1 review

The Best Science Fiction and Fantasy of the Year Volume Thirteen (2019) — Contributor — 57 copies, 3 reviews

The Unicorn Anthology (2017) — Contributor — 52 copies, 4 reviews

Year's Best Fantasy 8 (2008) — Contributor — 51 copies, 1 review

Fearsome Magics (2014) — Contributor — 50 copies, 4 reviews

Final Cuts: New Tales of Hollywood Horror and Other Spectacles (Blumhouse Books) (2020) — Contributor — 44 copies, 2 reviews

World of Warcraft: Folk & Fairy Tales of Azeroth (2021) — Contributor — 43 copies

The Road to Camelot: Tales of the Young Merlin, Arthur, Lancelot and More (2002) — Contributor — 40 copies

Edited By (2020) — Contributor — 39 copies, 3 reviews

The Stories: Five Years of Original Fiction on tor.com (2013) — Contributor — 38 copies

The Complete Uncle (2013) — Contributor, some editions — 32 copies, 1 review

The Year's Best Australian Science Fiction & Fantasy: Volume 4 (2008) — Contributor — 30 copies

Daikaiju! Giant Monster Tales (2005) — Contributor — 27 copies

The Best of Jim Baen's Universe II (2008) — Contributor — 19 copies, 1 review

Troy (2006) — Introduction — 16 copies

Clarkesworld: Issue 115 (April 2016) (2016) — Contributor — 14 copies, 3 reviews

The Grimm Future (2016) — Contributor — 14 copies

Midnight Feast (2007) — Contributor — 11 copies

The Year's Best Australian Fantasy and Horror 2015 (2015) — Contributor — 10 copies

Fantastic Worlds (1999) — Contributor — 10 copies

Dreaming in the Dark (2016) — Contributor — 10 copies

Relics, Wrecks and Ruins (2021) — Contributor — 9 copies, 1 review

Tor.com Short Fiction: July/Aug 2020 (2020) — Contributor — 8 copies

Asimov's Science Fiction: Vol. 47, No. 7 & 8 [July/August 2023] — Contributor — 8 copies

Tor.com Short Fiction: Winter 2020 (2020) — Contributor — 7 copies

Shapers of Worlds Volume II: Science fiction and fantasy by authors featured on The Worldshapers podcast (2021) — Contributor — 7 copies

Tagged

19th century (574) Abhorsen (641) adventure (778) anthology (2,007) British literature (339) children (312) children's (624) classic (919) classics (1,019) death (375) Dickens (279) ebook (734) England (385) English literature (358) fairy tales (344) fantasy (12,292) fiction (7,370) Garth Nix (349) horror (519) keys to the kingdom (563) Kindle (427) literature (611) magic (1,549) necromancy (599) novel (716) Old Kingdom (289) own (505) read (1,002) science fiction (1,544) series (1,095) sf (321) sff (459) short stories (2,155) teen (320) to-read (5,442) unread (566) Victorian (292) YA (2,201) young adult (3,154) young adult fiction (312)

Common Knowledge

Birthdate: 1963-07-19
Gender: male
Nationality: Australia
Birthplace: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Places of residence: Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
Education: University of Canberra (BA - Professional Writing)
Occupations: Writer
Army Reservist
Relationships: MacFarlane, Anna (spouse)
Awards and honors: Golden Duck Award (Australian Contribution to Children's Science Fiction, 1999)
Agent: Jill Grinberg
Fiona Inglis (Curtis Brown Australia)
Matthew Snyder [film/TV] (CAA)

Members

Discussions

Found: Young Adult Fantasy trilogy from 2000's in Name that Book (July 2021)

Fantasy/Fiction in Name that Book (April 2016)

Troubletwisters by Garth Nix (reviewed by readafew) in Reviews reviewed (May 2011)

Reviews

Sabriel (Old Kingdom, 1) by Garth Nix

Sabriel by Garth Nix
is an engaging fantasy novel that delves into a realm filled with magic and necromancy. The protagonist, Sabriel, is a young woman thrust into a role for which she is unprepared. She embraces this destiny to locate her father and rescue the Old Kingdom. This book marks my introduction to Garth Nix's work.

Flagged

Arinna79 | 320 other reviews | Jan 4, 2025 |

The Keys to the Kingdom #7: Lord Sunday (7) by Garth Nix

One of the most unique YA fantasy endings I've read. I was not expecting what happened!

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pinkbookscoffee | 37 other reviews | Jan 3, 2025 |

Grim Tuesday (Keys to the Kingdom, Book 2) by Garth Nix

Another good book in this series. I've realized that not only does each book have a day of the week, each day is afflicted with one of the seven deadly sins. I kind of like this theme thing. I'm also beginning to think that this whole series might take place over the course of a week of "our time". This was an enjoyable book with interesting characters and I think it's shaping up to be a good series as a whole.

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pinkbookscoffee | 48 other reviews | Jan 3, 2025 |