Nix on the origin of Abhorsen

NIX: Because the Abhorsens in a way are executioners — they make the dead stay dead. So I went looking for a name that was not particularly well known but that would resonate as an executioner, and I looked through lots of historical sources as well as eventually turning to Shakespeare, and choosing that name from the name of the executioner in Measure for Measure. http://www.wired.com/underwire/2012/05/geeks-guide-garth-nix/