In this first book of his ongoing series titled The Keys to the Kingdom, author Garth Nix introduces us to a young hero-to-be named Arthur Penhaligon. He now lives in Sydney with his wife, two sons and lots of books.Purchase here In January 2002 Garth went back to dedicated writer again, despite his belief that full-time writing explains the strange behaviour of many authors. He did that for a year before joining Curtis Brown Australia as a part-time literary agent in 1999. Garth left publishing to work as a public relations and marketing consultant from 1994-1997, till he became a full-time writer in 1998. Along the way he was also a part-time soldier in the Australian Army Reserve, serving in an Assault Pioneer platoon for four years. After finishing his degree in 1986 he worked in a bookshop, then as a book publicist, a publisher's sales representative, and editor. Garth left Melbourne at an early age for Canberra (the federal capital) and stayed there till he was nineteen, when he left to drive around the UK in a beat-up Austin with a boot full of books and a Silver-Reed typewriter.ĭespite a wheel literally falling off the Austin, Garth survived to return to Australia and study at the University of Canberra. Garth Nix was born in 1963 in Melbourne, Australia, to the sound of the Salvation Army band outside playing 'Hail the Conquering Hero Comes' or possibly 'Roll Out the Barrel'.

By the end, you might be winded from all the fantastic explanation, but you'll definitely be salivating for what's to come. After an action-packed crescendo to the book's middle - when Arthur finally learns his destiny - Nix keeps the drama going and doesn't let it fall. With a weapon-wielding hero and a villain who doesn't make Mondays any nicer, Nix's Keys to the Kingdom launch is imaginative and gripping. Thankfully, Arthur is up to the challenge, but as he finds out, his fight seems to be only one-seventh over. That means getting past Monday's henchmen and journeying to the Dayroom itself. After meeting Suzy Blue and the first part of 'the Will' (a frog-looking entity that knows everything about the House), Arthur learns that he's been selected as Rightful Heir to the House and must get the other part of the clock hand in order to defeat Monday. But when the confused and curious boy discovers that a mysterious virus is spreading through town, he decides to enter an otherworldly house to stop it. Arthur Penhaligon's first days at his new school don't go too well, particularly when a fiendish Mister Monday appears, gives Arthur a magical clock hand, and then orders his gang of dog-faced goons to chase Arthur around and get it back.

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