Garth Nix
An Australian storyteller who built intricate worlds where necromancers wield bells and the first day of the week is a villain, captivating young readers globally.
Born 1963 (age 63)·Australian fantasy writer·Birthday: July 19·Baby Boomers
Biography
Garth Nix crafts fantasy with the meticulous care of a watchmaker and the thrilling pace of a Saturday morning serial. Born in Melbourne in 1963, his path to writing wound through stints as a bookseller, literary agent, and public relations consultant—all jobs that honed his understanding of story and audience. His breakthrough came with 'Sabriel', a novel that introduced the Old Kingdom, a realm where magic is governed by Charter Marks and the dead are kept in check by Abhorsens armed with necromantic bells. This series, continued in 'Lirael' and 'Abhorsen', became a cornerstone of modern young adult fantasy, notable for its unique magic system and strong, capable heroines. Nix's imagination is prolific and varied, spanning the seven-day adventure of 'Mister Monday' in 'The Keys to the Kingdom' to the shadow-light duality of 'The Seventh Tower'. His prose is clean, direct, and immersive, allowing his brilliantly conceived worlds to take center stage. He writes not down to children, but with a respect for their intelligence, creating stories that are complex, dark at times, and ultimately satisfying.
Baby Boomers
1946–1964
The largest generation in history at the time. Shaped by postwar prosperity, the Vietnam War, the sexual revolution, and Watergate. They questioned every institution their parents built — then ran them.
Garth was born in 1963, placing them squarely in the Baby Boomers. The events that shaped this generation — postwar prosperity, civil rights, Vietnam, and the counterculture — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Garth Was Born
The biggest hits of 1963
#1 Movie
Cleopatra
Best Picture
Tom Jones
#1 TV Show
Beverly Hillbillies
Garth's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1963Born
JFK assassinated in Dallas; Martin Luther King's 'I Have a Dream' speech
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $13,100Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"Sugar Shack" — Jimmy Gilmer & The FireballsBest Picture: Tom Jones
1968Started school
Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert Kennedy assassinated
Gas: $0.34/galHome: $14,950Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"Hey Jude" — The BeatlesBest Picture: Oliver!
1976Became a teenager
Apple Computer founded; US bicentennial
Gas: $0.59/galHome: $29,300Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"Silly Love Songs" — WingsBest Picture: Rocky
1979Could drive
Iran hostage crisis begins; Three Mile Island accident
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $37,900Min wage: $2.90/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"My Sharona" — The KnackBest Picture: Kramer vs. Kramer
1981Could vote
MTV launches; first Space Shuttle flight; AIDS identified
Gas: $1.31/galHome: $52,300Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Bette Davis Eyes" — Kim CarnesBest Picture: Chariots of Fire
1984Turned 21
Apple Macintosh introduced
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $59,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"When Doves Cry" — PrinceBest Picture: Amadeus
1993Turned 30
European Union officially established
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $86,600Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"I Will Always Love You" — Whitney HoustonBest Picture: Schindler's List
2003Turned 40
US invades Iraq; Human Genome Project completed
Gas: $1.59/galHome: $146,000Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"In Da Club" — 50 CentBest Picture: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2013Turned 50
Edward Snowden reveals NSA surveillance programs
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $152,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Thrift Shop" — Macklemore & Ryan LewisBest Picture: 12 Years a Slave
2023Turned 60
ChatGPT goes mainstream; Israel-Hamas war begins
Gas: $3.52/galHome: $361,600Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Flowers" — Miley CyrusBest Picture: Oppenheimer
2026Age 63 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Created the bestselling and critically acclaimed Old Kingdom series, beginning with 'Sabriel', which has become a modern classic of young adult fantasy.
- Authored the inventive seven-book series 'The Keys to the Kingdom', which personifies the days of the week as surreal antagonists.
- His work has sold millions of copies worldwide and has been translated into numerous languages.
- Won multiple Aurealis Awards, Australia's premier speculative fiction prizes, for his novels and short stories.
Did You Know?
Before becoming a full-time writer, he worked as a literary agent for the Australian Society of Authors.
He is a graduate of the University of Canberra.
He has co-written books with other authors, including Sean Williams.
He is a noted collector of vintage children's books.
“I guess people ask me because it sounds like the perfect name for a writer of fantasy. However, it is my real name.”
