Garth Nix

[Roheryn]

I've read only the Old Kingdom series of his books... although I really liked them, Sabriel being my favorite book, but my favorite charrie being the Disreputable Dog...

 

[Lovely_Elm]

Yes! I loved the Disreputable Dog too!
Sabriel was the best book by far, I found Lirael hard going untill near the end (DD notwithstanding!) Abhorsen was good in parts but Sam's character was really annoying and I hated the time spent with his story. The trilogy left an opening for more in The Old Kingdom and I think I would defiantely continue to read them.

I found Mister Monday too young and gave up.........

 

[Saranalos]

I must say that I too found Mr. Monday a bit young for my liking. The Keys to the Kingdom series is all like that I think. I definately did not enjoy it as much as the Old Kingdom books. As far as the Old Kingdom series is concerned, I loved them. I gave them to my mother which she put off reading for ages, thinking she wouldn't enjoy it. However once she read the first she couldn't wait to read the rest.

That was a while ago, and I felt that all parts of the story went together perfectly, unlike a lot of other "Adult" novels which I found to be dreary, and tiring.

 

[Barristan]

Not sure how accurate it is, but Amazon have the "Lady Friday" book listed as a March 2007 release date.

I am a 30 year old "Young Adult" and am enjoying Garth's books thus far. I have read the 4 available Keys to the Kingdom and am halfway through Shades Children.

I find that his material is light reading and entertainment, but we need to do that sometimes and I recommend Garth as a world creator in very few words. I can identify each of the KTTK books by the landscape he built for me in words. So easy to fly off into his visions and dreams.

If you like Garth, also try the "Vampirates" books. 2 are currently released.

 

[Sass]

Not sure how accurate it is, but Amazon have the "Lady Friday" book listed as a March 2007 release date.

That's accurate - I got the date from Garth himself during a "Live Chat" he did on another forum !

I find that his material is light reading and entertainment, but we need to do that sometimes and I recommend Garth as a world creator in very few words. I can identify each of the KTTK books by the landscape he built for me in words. So easy to fly off into his visions and dreams.

I disagree with you about any of his books being light reading - there's actually a lot to think about even in The Keys to the Kingdom series, which is aimed at younger readers than the Old Kingdom series - and the latter has a LOT of depth to it (a central character who goes into the land of the dead to stop them invading the land of living is hardly "light reading" !)

 

[Sass]

I was surprised someone said earlier in the discussion that they felt the premise behind Shade's Children wasn't explained - I felt it was explained, albeit not in huge amounts of detail, towards the end of the story...

 

[Adasunshine]

I've just finished Sabriel, Lirael & Abhorsen.

Must say, I really really enjoyed them. Favourite was Sabriel I think, I liked Lirael though and Abhorsen tied it up nicely.

Favourite characters have to be Desreputable Dog, Mogget, Sabriel's dad (Tisceri or something?) and I liked Touchstone too.

Have heard conflicting things about Mister Monday etc so will probably borrow those from the library before committing to buy.

xx

 

[Barristan]

I disagree with you about any of his books being light reading - there's actually a lot to think about even in The Keys to the Kingdom series, which is aimed at younger readers than the Old Kingdom series - and the latter has a LOT of depth to it (a central character who goes into the land of the dead to stop them invading the land of living is hardly "light reading" !)

Well I'm used something different, and I do believe there is great depth to the storylines, but I found it light reading compared to my regular fare. The vocabulary is sufficiently adapted for the younger audience even if the story is still complex and I found this a lighter read. It wasnt a criticism.

Also, regarding Shades Children, I thought the situation was adequately explained. I do however, want more of the same, but I cannot see how anything else could come of it.

I am about to begin reading the Old Kingdom series, so look forward to it because of all the recommendations.

 

[Sass]

Well I'm used something different, and I do believe there is great depth to the storylines, but I found it light reading compared to my regular fare. The vocabulary is sufficiently adapted for the younger audience even if the story is still complex and I found this a lighter read. It wasnt a criticism.

I suppose it depends what you mean by "light" reading... I think of light reading as something with poorly defined characters, or a plot that lacks depth or complexity - although I am a lover of gorgeous language, I don't use language as a measure of whether something is light reading or not...

 

[Patrick Mahon]

Anyone know when the "Friday" instalment of this series is coming out?

Slightly weirdly, I can now answer my own question: I was in the Waterstone's in Oxford on Saturday, and saw a copy of "Mistress Friday" (I think that was the title ) on the shelves. I've still not read the Wednesday and Thursday instalments, so it'll be some time before I get to this one, but I'd be interested to hear views from anyone who gets it.

 

[Lenny]

It's out already?!

Looks like a trip to Amazon is in order.

 

[Sass]

Slightly weirdly, I can now answer my own question: I was in the Waterstone's in Oxford on Saturday, and saw a copy of "Mistress Friday" (I think that was the title ) on the shelves. I've still not read the Wednesday and Thursday instalments, so it'll be some time before I get to this one, but I'd be interested to hear views from anyone who gets it.

It's called Lady Friday, in fact - and it's not officially out until the end of this week, but some booksellers (including Amazon) do have copies available now. I shall have to wait until I get paid at the end of the week to get my copy... But I'll have to re-read the preceding four before I read LF - I made the mistake of not reading the preceding three before reading Sir Thursday and found I'd forgotten a bunch of little details !

 

[Patrick Mahon]

Anyone seen any launch material for Lady Friday (thanks, Sass )? I seem to recall that the previous volumes in the series came out with a bit of a bang. This one seems to be having a very quiet launch.

 

[Mark Robson]

I think the shops are concentrating on selling Mr Monday at the moment ... or should I say giving it away! WH Smith are giving away a copy free with every pre-order of Harry Potter. Lucky old Garth Nix, I say!

 

[Sass]

Anyone seen any launch material for Lady Friday (thanks, Sass )? I seem to recall that the previous volumes in the series came out with a bit of a bang. This one seems to be having a very quiet launch.

Not a sausage...

I picked mine up from WHS on Saturday. I happened to have a voucher for bonus points if I spent £5 so took advantage of that and the buy one, get one half price offer so I could a second copy for my sister !Funnily enough, as Mark mentions, WHS are giving copies of Mister Monday away if you pre-order HP7. The assistant at the till asked if I'd pre-ordered mine (presumably reasoning that if I was buying kid's books, I'd be interested) - so I pointed out that as I was buying book FIVE in the "Keys to the Kingdom" series, I didn't really want book ONE ! She must have been desperate to persuade me as she offered to swap MM for any other book of the same price (or more) - an offer I think I'll accept when I get paid at the end of the month (which means I can add yet another New Who Adventure novel to my collection ! )

 

[Rosemary]

Lady Friday is selling very well over here. It's at number 18 on the best selling list, although I am not sure how long it has been there.

My eldest informed me that she hasn't read this one yet but lots of her friends have and they thought it was 'awesome'! She and I might have to go and 'browse' in the bookshop very soon I feel...

 

[Sass]

I've no idea how well it's selling here but I did enjoy it. It's probably one of the darkest of the "Keys" books... I'm just wondering if the final book is going to be an anti-climax since it seems that Superior Saturday is the driving force in the campaign against Arthur...

 

[Lenny]

The next book is definitely going to be one of the best, that's for sure.

As for Book 7... it is said that Key Seven is more powerful than keys one to six put together, isn't it? So unless Sunday hands over his Key without a fight, then there should be one hell of a struggle.

Add to the equation all the trouble in the lower parts of the house (not much of which will be solved in a single book, methinks) and it looks like it should be a satisfying ending rather than an anti-climax.

However, the last two deadly sins are Hope and Charity (each Trustee has been one of the seven deadly sins), which means that Sunday will probably not be as bad as some of the other Trustees. Personally I think that Saturday will be Hope and Sunday will be Charity.

 

[Sass]

Er, what ? The last time I checked, neither hope nor charity were deadly sins, but heavenly virtues ! So what do you mean ?!

These are the seven deadly sins: Lust, Gluttony, Greed, Sloth, Wrath/Anger, Envy and Pride...

 

[Lenny]

Shock! Wikipedia has failed me.

In fact, no it hasn't! It's the Will that will be Hope or Charity.

I'll just post the extract and save myself from further embarassment.

The Keys to the Kingdom appears to contain many examples of religious symbolism and references, particularly in Judeo-Christian tradition. The key example is the affliction of each Morrow Day with one of the seven deadly sins, due to their choice not to obey The Will.

• Mister Monday: Sloth.
• Grim Tuesday: Greed.
• Drowned Wednesday: Gluttony.
• Sir Thursday: Wrath.
• Lady Friday: Lust.
• Superior Saturday: Either Pride or Envy. (More likely envy towards Sunday's power)
• Lord Sunday: Either Pride or Envy. (Most likely pride in himself being the strongest of the Morrow Days and first son of the Architect)

Conversely, each paragraph of The Will embodied appears to hold a virtue. Each piece of the Will holds one of the four Cardinal Virtues (Prudence, Temperance, Fortitude and Justice) or the Three Theological Virtues (Faith, Hope, Charity). Each part of the will also seems to act in a way of the seven deadly sins, different from what their forms imply. The bear for instance seems to act slothful, and the carp seems to embody pride, whilst the frog itself seems wrathful.

• Part One - The Frog: Fortitude
• Part Two - The Bear: Prudence
• Part Three - The Carp: Faith
• Part Four - The Snake: Justice
• Part Five - The Dragon: Temperance
• Part Six: Unknown: possibly Hope or Charity
• Part Seven: Unknown: possibly Hope or Charity