Grim Tuesday

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Title Grim Tuesday
Author Garth Nix
Cover artist Sandra Nobes/Hofstede Design (paperback, Allen & Unwin)
Country United States
Language English
Series Keys to the Kingdom
Genre(s) Fantasy, Young adult novel
Publisher HarperCollins (UK)
Scholastic Paperbacks (USA)
Released 1 January 2004
Media type Print (paperback, hardcover)
Pages 390 pg (paperback, HarperCollins)
ISBN ISBN 0-00-717503-5 (paperback, HarperCollins)
Preceded by Mister Monday
Followed by Drowned Wednesday

Grim Tuesday is a novel written by Garth Nix in 2004, and was first published in the USA by Scholastic Press and in Great Britain by HarperCollinsChildren'sBooks. It is the second book in the Keys to the Kingdom series, and it focuses on Arthur Penhaligon’s quest to regain his place as the rightful heir. This book deals with the deadly sin of avarice (greed).

[edit] Plot summary

The Harper Collins cover. Cover artist: Larry Rostant
The Harper Collins cover. Cover artist: Larry Rostant
Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.

Arthur once again finds himself thrust into the House as mysterious people, Tuesdays’s Grotesques, set the plan to demolish his house and otherwise ruin his life. On returning to the House, he finds himself enslaved to Grim Tuesday by working in Tuesday's nothing mine, the Pit. He must then stop the outbreak of Nothing before it consumes the Far Reaches, and, quite possibly, the House.

Our young hero has barely returned from Mister Monday's domain, when the telephone hotline starts ringing again. Arthur quickly learns that Grim Tuesday has found a convenient loophole in the Trustee agreement, and that all Mister Monday's substantial debts have been passed on to him as the new Master of the Lower House. Arthur eventually realizes that he has no choice but get the second key and some added responsibility that he can well do without.

Greedy Grim Tuesday runs a huge "nothing" mine using slave labor, and makes all the gadgets needed by the Days and anybody with the right currency. Lots of new and deadly creatures await Arthur, some of whom are allergic to salt and some to silver, but all have the common goal of inflicting upon him as much pain as possible. With the help of his friend Leaf (from book one) he finally finds the entrance to Tuesday's mineshafts, and begins his new quest, going deep, deep undercover as one of Tuesday's slaves.

Fortunately for him, he gets a little help from Suzy Turquoise Blue, Japeth the walking Thesaurus, Captain Shelvocke, the sea-faring brother of the Pied Piper, and, to a lesser extent, a hairy, materialistic bit of fluff formally known as "eyebrow". Soon he's sailing off into very strange waters to retrieve the second fragment of the Will, with a heavy heart, a broken leg and almost more problems than he can bear.

Spoilers end here.

[edit] External links