Cirrus@Austlit

'Two Thousand And Eleven European Delusions is a collection of fragments that were once intended to be a full-length novel. After having a bag stolen on Corfu Island in Greece containing the novel, author Nathan Roche is forced to remember all that happened and to document it before he forgets. Instead of having a sentimental recollection romanticising Europe, it's a shambles of a disjointed essay on taboo topics. Ever wondered why Barcelona tap water taste like a high school swimming pool? Perhaps you'd like to know how much one would lose annually if they donated daily to street beggars. Have you ever had the urge to ride to the top of a mountain in the south of Germany whilst wearing a pair of beach thongs? Is it cheaper to buy beer than pay for public toilets in Paris? All of these questions, which have tormented travelers, will be analyzed and potentially answered.' [sic]

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'Conway Enmore is back on the case and drunk as ever, after a series of failed stakeouts he finally gets offered a job worth taking and it could be the golden ticket for an early retirement. With a new job in the bag being the least of his worries, will he be able to ignore the distractions of his loveable derelict companion Terry and will he bother obeying his therapist Dr. Joel Swartz's medical diagnosis to keep him sane?

'Thrown into a endless race across Melbourne, Enmore gets summoned by a mysterious Carlton priest to help them find a notebook that could destroy their syndicates reputation. He will soon become aware that the alleged suspects, The Luna Knights could very well be the most ruthless organisation in the state. Cheapting husbands, grease monekys, asian grocery store owners, fisherman, athletes and drunken Irishmen.' [sic]

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'Karl Dresden is just another dreamer of a different world, but unlike many, he’s putting his wild and ludicrous plans into action. After successfully assuming the roles of different personas inside stolen baggage from an airport carousel for a year, Karl’s one last steal turns out to haunt him more than he expected. It would also seem that more than one person wants the luggage he’s purposely taken. Sooner or later the whole government is on his tail and he can’t figure out why. A phone call from a mysterious man named Digit forces him to deliver the luggage to Birdsville in South Australia for a large sum payment and potentially the cost of his life. The real concerning question is whether or not Karl Dresden can deliver the luggage before whatever is inside it consumes him entirely. Confused? Well so is the author. With the assistance of a man in a suit, a rural rum distiller, an old man named Old Man plus a science fiction writer from Port Augusta – maybe everything will be explained before the last page. But its highly unlikely'.

'Mark Watson and David Crane were just two twenty-four year old students hoping to finally move out of home. After applying for a rundown house in Sydney they soon find that the place was bordered up for a reason.

'Following a series of disturbing events they go ahead with their per-organised house warming celebration. After the night ends in disaster, the two friends must do all they can to clear their names and to avoid a jail sentence – or risk getting thrown into the mental ward.

'Former alcoholic lawyer Barry Steinbeck might not be able to help them given their case is against a neighbour who might not actually exist. And they might not have any physical evidence to prove their innocence. None of this matters anyway because Lieutenant Callahan and the rest of the police headquarters won’t believe a word of it.

'The clock is ticking and according to their friendly informative neighbour Chuck from down the street their house and the abandoned one next door have been built on sacred land.

'And someone or something is not very happy about it.'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'"It was the hottest day on memory. It felt like the world was in a muggy slow-motion trance - All David Banks wanted to do was go home and sleep and wait until winter.

But the man had obligations and hibernations were not an available option. For he had a business to run and leaving seven hours early before clocking off was just unacceptable. David Banks established and created the first batch of Banks Fine Wine over twenty five years ago to this day. The only thing was the wine he produced wasn't very fine at all. In fact it only came in a 5 liter cardboard cask and was aimed at a demographic of young rowdy teenagers, the homeless and students living on the dole."

'What do a lawyer by the name of Steinbeck, a depressed wine manufacture. A takeaway chicken company using recipes from Nazi Germany and a twenty-cent piece have in common? Well, not a lot except they all somehow freakishly relate to modern consumerism. At least in this book they do.

'"Let's Talk Consumerism" is the second short story collection by Nathan Roche and is pretty similar to the first one. But don't let that put you off because chances are you haven't even read it. Regardless, here's yet another brief journey into the world of satirical absurdism.'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'Conway Enmore isn’t your average detective hell bent on justice and solving cases. He’s got a server [sic] anxiety about leaving his natural surroundings of St. Kilda and is on enough illegally prescribed painkillers to have him locked up for good. With the disappearance of a young girl named Betty Hall, Enmore is sent on the trail of her chaotic path of sex, drugs and exploitation across the corrupt city of Melbourne. With the help of a homeless man named Terry who mysteriously reappears at the most convenient times and the guidance of his therapist Dr Joel Swartz can Enmore find Betty Hall before the town robs her of her innocence?'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'Jack Gibson is a man with no desire to be a successful musician.

'Faced with the pressures and boredom of unemployment in Sydney he decides to tour the country in support of his new album. Unfortunately, he isn't committed to booking shows or really even playing them. Nor does he have a driver's license to travel from city to city.

'Forced to endure his solo journey on crammed Buses from Townsville to Perth,

he finds the experience is filled will the far more entertaining distractions like boozing, beaches, fishing and the unique personal encounters that only a solo entity could go through.

'Furthermore, can he complete his tour before the government cut off his fortnightly payments or before they realise he's not looking for work on a daily basis as his documents and application lodgements otherwise suggest. Join Jack Gibson on his adventures of a failed and poorly organised musical tour which eventually turns into a alcohol-fueled social investigation rather than playing the shows he originally intended.

'And discover through the research collected on how people react to the sight of seeing an unfamiliar character walk about Australia wearing cheap aviators and carrying a guitar.'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'City Wasteland is a collection of ten short stories surrounding the somewhat absurd occurrences and experiences of life in the big smoke. Inside you'll find small documentations of a delightful cast of characters including: Billy The Busker, Old Bill Jeffery's, Chief Wild Cat and some Nevada-based Forensic Investigators. Wrapped in a delusional daydream of factual and fictional real life events, "City Wasteland" delves into the irrelevant stories of hidden city people and their unheard tales. Written in four nights between Tuesday 24th of March and Saturday the 28th 2009, "City Wasteland" is the first collection of short stories to be released following his writings in the Townsville-based ARTGROUND MAGAZINE and serves as a prelude to his first full length debut novel, "A Study Of Solitude".'

Source: Publisher's blurb.