When author Garth Nix OAM was recognised within The King’s Birthday 2025 Honours list, he says ‘it felt like an extra connection to my late father Professor Henry Nix AO’.

“He would have been very pleased to hear of my own award,” he says.  

Garth is an author of mostly fantasy and science fiction books, with over forty published novels around the world. His novels have appeared in the New York Times and The Bookseller bestseller lists, and include The Old Kingdom series, The Seventh Tower series, and The Keys to the Kingdom series.  

“I have always loved writing and telling stories. It is very much a part of my natural being,” he explains.  

“I would always write anyway, but I have been very fortunate that publishers and readers around the world welcome what I write.”

Garth was awarded the Medal of the Order for services to literature as an author.  

He is a multi-award-winning author but says being recognised in this way is particularly important to him.  

“I was very pleased to hear the news [of my recognition], which was entirely unexpected,” he says.  

“It means a lot because I know nominations come from community members and peers.

“I think the Australian honours system, where anyone can nominate someone, is very important, particularly to pay attention and honour people who might not be very visible in politics, business, or the arts, but who contribute a great deal to Australian people, communities and society in general.”