Cirrus@Austlit

'Guardians of the Galaxy: Castaways is the thrilling new adventure featuring Marvel's swashbuckling heroes Rocket Raccoon, Groot, Drax the Destroyer, Gamora, and the ever-charming Star-Lord himself, Peter Quill.

'After a series of missions-some successful, others less so, and most nearly getting everyone killed-the Guardians of the Galaxy are at a breaking point when they crash-land on a strange planet. With no way to repair their ship, the frustrated Guardians go their separate ways, quickly discovering that the planet's inhabitants have never progressed past a medieval stage of development. Quill finds himself a favored member of a powerful duke's court (as well as a favorite of the duke's daughter), and life seems just fine under the circumstances . . . until the duchy comes under attack. When Quill reckons that their foe may be what's keeping the planet's civilization from advancing, he realizes that defeating it–with the Guardians' help–may be their only hope for getting off of that world. . . .

'. . . If he can find his friends in time.'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

Death, the form of a Russian countess, grants her favourite dancer from the Ballets Russes an unnaturally long life.

'A romantic camping trip takes a deadly turn when Jenn and Alex become lost in the remote Canadian wilderness. With no map or cellphone, and running low on food and water, the couple unknowingly stumble into a predatory black bear’s territory—where being lost suddenly becomes the least of their worries.

'And when they are eventually cornered by the terrifying animal, Jenn is faced with a horrifying choice—stay with Alex and defend herself as best she can or try to survive on her own.

'Backcountry is the haunting story of a woman who finds the courage to survive in the face of almost certain death.'

'Could a single human be a match for the hostile environment of the planet Hope?'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

Leaving an inn one night, drunk and minding his own business, Horatio is attacked by a giant–and the giant was sent by a woman who knows exactly who Horatio is.

'In a world divided by war and wracked by food shortages, the Republic of Australasia is an oasis protected by its isolation and the Border Patrol. But, a chance encounter leaves a weary veteran asking whether the price of plenty is too high.'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'Strap yourself in as three tales from award winning speculative fiction author David McDonald take you on a tour of time and space.

'Visit a frozen post apocalyptic Earth, a galactic delivery service, and very Australian dystopia to discover what happens to ordinary people faced with extraordinary choices or challenges.'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'Ice spiders, snow bears and deadly cold are only most obvious of the dangers a young trader faces as she searches for the secrets of the Elders on a post-apocalyptic Earth.'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

A pilot and his self-aware spaceship must out-race a solar storm to deliver cargo to distant colonists.

'The Aussie Spec Fic Snapshot has taken place three times over the past eight years. In 2005, Ben Peek spent a frantic week interviewing 43 people in the Australian spec fic scene, and since then, it’s grown every time, now taking a team of interviewers working together to accomplish! In the lead up to Continuum 8 in Melbourne, this team, consisting of Alisa Krasnostein, Kathryn Linge, David McDonald, Helen Merrick, Ian Mond, Jason Nahrung, Alex Pierce, Tansy Rayner Roberts, Tehani Wessely and Sean Wright, blogged interviews for Snapshot 2012.'

Source: Australian SF Snapshot Project.