Reading Order List β€” Book Series Reading Order Guide
Garth Nix

Garth Nix Reading Order

16 series Β· 139 books Β· Born 1963

Garth Nix is an accomplished Australian writer renowned for his captivating children's and young adult fantasy novels. With a remarkable portfolio of 139 books spanning 16 series, his notable works include the acclaimed Old Kingdom series, Have Sword, Will Travel, Left-Handed Booksellers of London, and The Keys to the Kingdom. Nix has been a significant voice in the literary realm since 1990 and continues to engage readers through 2026.

Anthologies Series

Ongoing

39 books (1999–2026)

Start with Fantastic Worlds, the first of 39 books in the Anthologies series.

#Title
1
Cover of Fantastic Worlds
Fantastic Worlds
2
Cover of Love and Sex
Love and Sex
3
4
Cover of Gothic!: Ten Original Dark Tales
Gothic!: Ten Original Dark Tales
5
Cover of Kids' Night In
Kids' Night In
6
Cover of Midnight Feast
Midnight Feast
7
Top Stories 2
8
Cover of Wizards / Dark Alchemy
Wizards / Dark Alchemy
9
Cover of Fantasy: The Best of the Year, 2008 Edition
Fantasy: The Best of the Year, 2008 Edition
10
Cover of Fast Ships, Black Sails
Fast Ships, Black Sails
11
Cover of The Mammoth Book of Best New SF 22
The Mammoth Book of Best New SF 22
12
The Year's Best Science Fiction & Fantasy, 2009
13
Cover of Twenty-First Annual Collection
Twenty-First Annual Collection
14
Cover of Year's Best Australian Science Fiction and Fantasy, Volume 4
Year's Best Australian Science Fiction and Fantasy, Volume 4
15
Cover of Geektastic: Stories from the Nerd Herd
Geektastic: Stories from the Nerd Herd
16
Cover of The Dragon Book
The Dragon Book
17
Cover of Legends of Australian Fantasy
Legends of Australian Fantasy
18
Cover of Ghosts by Gaslight
Ghosts by Gaslight
19
Happily Ever After
20
Teeth: Vampire Tales
21
Cover of The Thackery T. Lambshead Cabinet of Curiosities
The Thackery T. Lambshead Cabinet of Curiosities
22
Cover of After: Nineteen Stories of Apocalypse and Dystopia
After: Nineteen Stories of Apocalypse and Dystopia
23
Cover of Under My Hat: Tales from the Cauldron
Under My Hat: Tales from the Cauldron
24
Cover of Fearie Tales
Fearie Tales
25
26
The Best Science Fiction and Fantasy of the Year, Volume Nine
27
Cover of The Best Horror of the Year: Volume Seven
The Best Horror of the Year: Volume Seven
28
The Starlit Wood
29
Infinity Wars
30
The Book of Swords: Part 1
31
Cover of The Unicorn Anthology
The Unicorn Anthology
32
Cover of Three Sides of a Heart
Three Sides of a Heart
33
The Book of Magic: A Collection of Stories
34
35
Tor.com Short Fiction Winter 2020
36
Relics, Wrecks and Ruins
37
Shapers of Worlds Volume II
38
Cover of The Book of Witches
The Book of Witches
39
Cover of All Hallows Eve
All Hallows Eve

Aussie Bites Series

Complete

4 books (1998–2005)

Start with Nathan And The Ice Rockets(By: Debra Oswald), the first of 4 books in the Aussie Bites series.

#Title
1
Cover of Nathan And The Ice Rockets(By: Debra Oswald)
Nathan And The Ice Rockets(By: Debra Oswald)
2
Cover of Frank & The Emergency Joke(By: Debra Oswald)
Frank & The Emergency Joke(By: Debra Oswald)
3
Cover of Serena and the Sea Serpent
Serena and the Sea Serpent
4
Frank and the Secret Club(By: Debra Oswald)

Best Horror of the Year Series

Ongoing

18 books (2009–2025)

Start with The Best Horror of the Year: Volume One, the first of 18 books in the Best Horror of the Year series.

#Title
1
Cover of The Best Horror of the Year: Volume One
The Best Horror of the Year: Volume One
2
Cover of The Best Horror of the Year: Volume Two
The Best Horror of the Year: Volume Two
3
The Best Horror of the Year: Volume Three
4
Cover of The Best Horror of the Year: Volume Four
The Best Horror of the Year: Volume Four
5
The Best Horror of the Year Volume Five
6
Cover of The Best Horror of the Year: Volume Six
The Best Horror of the Year: Volume Six
7
Cover of The Best Horror of the Year: Volume Seven
The Best Horror of the Year: Volume Seven
8
Cover of The Best Horror of the Year: Volume Eight
The Best Horror of the Year: Volume Eight
9
Cover of The Best Horror of the Year: Volume Nine
The Best Horror of the Year: Volume Nine
10
The Best Horror of the Year: Volume Ten
11
The Best of the Best Horror of the Year: 10 Years of Essential Short Horror Fiction
12
The Best Horror of the Year: Volume Eleven
13
The Best Horror of the Year: Volume Twelve
14
The Best Horror of the Year Volume Thirteen
15
The Best Horror of the Year, Volume Fourteen
16
Cover of The Best Horror of the Year, Volume Fifteen
The Best Horror of the Year, Volume Fifteen
17
Cover of The Best Horror of the Year, Volume Sixteen
The Best Horror of the Year, Volume Sixteen
18
Cover of The Best Horror of the Year, Volume Seventeen
The Best Horror of the Year, Volume Seventeen

Have Sword, Will Travel Series

Complete

2 books (2017–2018)

Start with Have Sword, Will Travel and read in order.

#Title
1
Have Sword, Will Travel
2
Let Sleeping Dragons Lie

Into Shadow Series

Likely Complete

7 books (2022–2022)

Start with Out of the Mirror, Darkness, the first of 7 books in the Into Shadow series.

#Title
1
Out of the Mirror, Darkness
2
Persephone(By: Lev Grossman)
3
The Candles Are Burning(By: Veronica G. Henry)
4
The Garden(By: Tomi Adeyemi)
5
The Six Deaths of the Saint(By: Alix E. Harrow)
6
Undercover(By: Tamsyn Muir)
7
What the Dead Know(By: Nghi Vo)

Left-Handed Booksellers of London Series

Likely Complete

2 books (2020–2023)

Start with The Left-Handed Booksellers of London and read in order.

#Title
1
The Left-Handed Booksellers of London
2
Cover of The Sinister Booksellers of Bath
The Sinister Booksellers of Bath

Old Kingdom Series

Likely Complete

9 books (1995–2021)

Start with Sabriel, the first of 9 books in the Old Kingdom series.

#Title
1
2
3
4
Cover of The Creature in the Case
The Creature in the Case
5
6
Cover of To Hold the Bridge
To Hold the Bridge
7
Doctor Crake Crosses the Wall
8
Cover of Goldenhand
Goldenhand
9
Cover of Terciel and Elinor
Terciel and Elinor

Shade's Children Series

Complete

1 book (1997–1997)

#Title
1
Cover of Shade's Children
Shade's Children

Short Stories/Novellas Series

Ongoing

6 books (2013–2025)

Start with Fire Above, Fire Below, the first of 6 books in the Short Stories/Novellas series.

#Title
1
Fire Above, Fire Below
2
Dislocation Space
3
The Case of the Somewhat Mythic Sword
4
The Necessary Arthur
5
The Sisters of Saint Nicola of The Almost Perpetual Motion vs the Lurch
6
Asymmetrical

Short Story Collections Series

Complete

4 books (2005–2015)

Start with Across the Wall: Tales of the Old Kingdom and Beyond, the first of 4 books in the Short Story Collections series.

#Title
1
Cover of Across the Wall: Tales of the Old Kingdom and Beyond
Across the Wall: Tales of the Old Kingdom and Beyond
2
Cover of Sir Hereward and Mister Fitz
Sir Hereward and Mister Fitz
3
Cover of One Beastly Beast: Two Aliens, Three Inventors, Four Fantastic Tales
One Beastly Beast: Two Aliens, Three Inventors, Four Fantastic Tales
4
Cover of To Hold the Bridge
To Hold the Bridge

Spirit Animals Series

Complete

7 books (2013–2015)

Start with Wild Born(By: Brandon Mull), the first of 7 books in the Spirit Animals series.

#Title
1
Cover of Wild Born(By: Brandon Mull)
Wild Born(By: Brandon Mull)
2
Cover of Against the Tide(By: Tui T. Sutherland)
Against the Tide(By: Tui T. Sutherland)
3
Cover of Blood Ties(With: Sean Williams)
Blood Ties(With: Sean Williams)
4
Cover of Fire and Ice(By: Shannon Hale)
Fire and Ice(By: Shannon Hale)
5
Cover of Hunted(By: Maggie Stiefvater)
Hunted(By: Maggie Stiefvater)
6
Rise and Fall(By: Eliot Schrefer)
7
Cover of The Evertree(By: Marie Lu)
The Evertree(By: Marie Lu)

Standalone Novels Series

Ongoing

7 books (1990–2026)

Start with The Ragwitch, the first of 7 books in the Standalone Novels series.

#Title
1
Cover of The Ragwitch
The Ragwitch
2
Cover of A Confusion of Princes
A Confusion of Princes
3
Cover of Newt's Emerald
Newt's Emerald
4
Frogkisser!
5
Cover of Angel Mage
Angel Mage
6
Cover of We Do Not Welcome Our Ten-Year-Old Overlord
We Do Not Welcome Our Ten-Year-Old Overlord
7

The Keys to the Kingdom Series

Complete

7 books (2003–2010)

Start with Mister Monday, the first of 7 books in the The Keys to the Kingdom series.

#Title
1
Cover of Mister Monday
Mister Monday
2
Cover of Drowned Wednesday
Drowned Wednesday
3
Cover of Grim Tuesday
Grim Tuesday
4
Cover of Sir Thursday
Sir Thursday
5
Cover of Lady Friday
Lady Friday
6
Cover of Superior Saturday
Superior Saturday
7
Cover of Lord Sunday
Lord Sunday

The Seventh Tower Series

Complete

6 books (2000–2001)

Start with Aenir, the first of 6 books in the The Seventh Tower series.

#Title
1
2
3
4
Cover of Above the Veil
Above the Veil
5
Cover of Into Battle
Into Battle
6
Cover of The Violet Keystone
The Violet Keystone

The X-Files: Young Adult Series

Complete

16 books (1996–2000)

Start with Bad Sign(By: Neal Shusterman), the first of 16 books in the The X-Files: Young Adult series.

#Title
1
Cover of Bad Sign(By: Neal Shusterman)
Bad Sign(By: Neal Shusterman)
2
Cover of Control(By: Cliff Nielsen,Everett Owens)
Control(By: Cliff Nielsen,Everett Owens)
3
Empathy(By: Ellen Steiber)
4
Cover of Eve(By: Ellen Steiber)
Eve(By: Ellen Steiber)
5
Cover of Fresh Bones(By: Les Martin)
Fresh Bones(By: Les Martin)
6
Cover of Our Town(By: Eric Elfman)
Our Town(By: Eric Elfman)
7
Cover of The Calusari
The Calusari
8
Cover of The Host(By: Les Martin)
The Host(By: Les Martin)
9
Cover of Howlers(By: Everett Owens)
Howlers(By: Everett Owens)
10
Cover of Hungry Ghosts(By: Ellen Steiber)
Hungry Ghosts(By: Ellen Steiber)
11
Dark Matter(By: Easton Royce)
12
Cover of Grotesque(By: Ellen Steiber)
Grotesque(By: Ellen Steiber)
13
Cover of Quarantine(By: Les Martin)
Quarantine(By: Les Martin)
14
Regeneration(By: Everett Owens)
15
Cover of Haunted(By: Ellen Steiber)
Haunted(By: Ellen Steiber)
16
Cover of Miracle Man(By: Terry Bisson)
Miracle Man(By: Terry Bisson)

Troubletwisters Series

Complete

4 books (2011–2014)

Start with The Monster, the first of 4 books in the Troubletwisters series.

#Title
1
Cover of The Monster
The Monster
2
Cover of Troubletwisters
Troubletwisters
3
Cover of The Mystery
The Mystery
4
Cover of The Missing
The Missing

Frequently Asked Questions

How many books has Garth Nix written?
Garth Nix has written 139 books across 16 series. Their published works span from 1990 to 2026.
What is the first book in each Garth Nix series?
Here are the first books in Garth Nix's series: Anthologies: Fantastic Worlds; Aussie Bites: Nathan And The Ice Rockets(By: Debra Oswald); Best Horror of the Year: The Best Horror of the Year: Volume One; Have Sword, Will Travel: Have Sword, Will Travel; Into Shadow: Out of the Mirror, Darkness.
What order should I read Garth Nix's books?
We recommend reading Garth Nix's series in publication order. Each series can be read independently.
Is Garth Nix still writing new books?
Yes, Garth Nix has 4 ongoing series: Anthologies, Best Horror of the Year, Short Stories/Novellas, Standalone Novels.

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